What is FND?

Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder

About Functional Neurological Disorder

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a medical condition where there is a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. This results in neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by another neurological disease or medical condition.

What are the symptoms of FND?

FND can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms that can vary in severity and may come and go. Common symptoms include:

Limb weakness or paralysis
Abnormal movements (tremors, dystonia, gait problems)
Sensory symptoms (numbness, tingling, pain)
Functional seizures/non-epileptic attacks
Speech problems (slurred speech, difficulty speaking)
Cognitive symptoms (brain fog, memory issues, concentration problems)
Fatigue and sleep disturbances
Visual disturbances

How common is FND?

FND is actually quite common. It's the second most common reason for a neurological outpatient visit after headache/migraine. It accounts for up to 30% of neurology outpatients, yet many people have never heard of it before receiving their diagnosis.

What causes FND?

FND is a complex condition that doesn't have a single cause. It's best understood using the biopsychosocial model, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors:

Biological factors: Abnormal brain functioning, genetic predisposition, physical injury, illness
Psychological factors: Stress, trauma, anxiety, depression (though not all people with FND have psychological issues)
Social factors: Life events, cultural influences, social support network

Importantly, FND is not "all in your head" or something people consciously control. It is a real neurological condition that requires appropriate medical care and understanding.

Treatment Options

Treatment for FND typically involves a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each individual's specific symptoms and needs. Treatments may include:

Physical Therapy

Specialized physical therapy can help retrain movement patterns and improve mobility for those with motor symptoms.

Psychological Therapy

Psychological approaches like CBT, mindfulness, and stress management can help improve quality of life.

Occupational Therapy

This can help individuals adapt to their symptoms and maintain independence in daily activities.

Speech Therapy

For those with speech or swallowing difficulties related to their FND symptoms.

About FND Forward

Designed for Functional Neurological Disorder

FND Forward is a dedicated mobile application designed specifically for individuals living with Functional Neurological Disorder. We provide a comprehensive set of tools to help you track your progress, celebrate achievements, connect with others, and access essential resources—all in one place, designed with your unique needs in mind.

Our Founder's Journey

FND Forward was born from our founder's personal journey with FND. As a dedicated nurse for many years, she found immense fulfillment in helping others through their health challenges. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she began experiencing neurological symptoms that eventually led to an FND diagnosis.

The progressive nature of her symptoms ultimately forced her to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave the nursing profession she loved. During her own recovery journey, she discovered a significant gap in supportive resources specifically designed for people living with FND. Despite no longer being able to care for patients at the bedside, her desire to help others remained unwavering.

With the support and technical expertise of her husband, who works in technology development, she began envisioning a digital solution that would address the unique challenges faced by those with FND. Together, they researched, planned, and developed what would become FND Forward—combining her healthcare experience and personal insights with innovative technology.

"When I had to leave nursing, I felt like I lost a core part of my identity," shares our founder. "Creating FND Forward has allowed me to continue helping others in a different, but equally meaningful way. I've designed this app to be the resource I wish I'd had during the most challenging periods of my own FND journey."

Our Mission

Whether you're just beginning your FND journey or have been managing your condition for years, FND Forward adapts to your specific needs and challenges, providing support every step of the way. We're committed to fostering a community where individuals with FND feel understood, supported, and empowered to navigate their unique path toward wellbeing.

Key Features

FND Education & Resources

Access our comprehensive knowledge hub with evidence-based information about Functional Neurological Disorder. Download shareable guides for various settings (workplace, education, family) to help others understand your condition, and find age-appropriate content to help explain FND to children.

Symptom Tracking & Analysis

Take control of your FND management with our sophisticated symptom tracking system. Record detailed information about your symptoms, identify patterns over time, and recognize potential triggers. Generate visual reports to share with healthcare providers for more informed treatment decisions.

Self-Care & Coping Strategies

Discover personalized self-care activities and coping strategies for managing FND symptoms. From guided breathing exercises to grounding techniques for acute symptom episodes, build a customized library of effective strategies that work specifically for your symptom presentation.

Progress Tracking & Goals

Celebrate your journey with FND through meaningful goal-setting and progress tracking. Set personalized health and wellbeing objectives, visualize your achievements over time, and break larger goals into manageable steps to maintain motivation and confidence in managing your condition.

Activity Management

Optimize your daily activities with tools designed to help you understand how different actions affect your symptoms. Track the impact of various activities on your energy levels and symptom intensity to identify beneficial routines and potential triggers for better daily planning.

Personalization & Data Insights

Experience an app that adapts to your specific needs with customizable profiles that reflect your unique FND presentation. Transform your daily tracking into powerful knowledge with comprehensive reports that reveal patterns in your FND journey and help identify connections between activities, emotional states, and symptoms.

App Preview

Frequently Asked Questions

How does FND Forward differ from general health tracking apps?

FND Forward is specifically designed for Functional Neurological Disorder, with tracking categories and features that address the unique symptoms and challenges of FND. Our app focuses on holistic recovery, including physical symptoms, emotional wellbeing, and social functioning, all with resources specifically developed for people with FND experiences.

How does the achievement system work?

You can set your own personalized goals based on your recovery priorities. These might include symptom management milestones, daily wellbeing practices, or social connections. As you track your progress, the app recognizes your achievements with badges and celebration animations, providing positive reinforcement and a visual record of your journey.

Is the app regularly updated with new content?

Yes, we're committed to continually enhancing the app experience. Our team regularly updates the Knowledge Hub with the latest research findings, adds new tools to the Wellbeing Toolkit, and refines features based on user feedback. We also have exciting new features planned for future updates.

How is my data protected in the app?

We take data privacy extremely seriously. All your personal information and health data is encrypted and stored securely. You control what you share with the community, and you can export or delete your data at any time. We never sell user data and comply with all relevant data protection regulations.

Notify Me

Stay updated on our launch and receive the latest news about FND Forward

Want to be the first to know when FND Forward is available? Contact us at info@fnd-forward.com and we'll keep you updated on our progress.

Simply click on our email address above or send us a message with the subject line "FND Forward Updates" to join our notification list.

We respect your privacy and will never share your information with third parties.

Meet FND Forward