What happens when your body stops functioning? And the neurologist simply says " Deal with it".. Suggesting its all in your head? In this powerful episode, Brad shares his personal journey from collapse and confusion to finding his voice in the FND community. Diagnosed with functional Neurological disorder after a barrage of symptoms and no clear answers, Brad was left to navigate the system alone. But instead of staying silent he took action: We talk about *The moment it all started * The trauma of misdiagnosis and dismissal *Brads current petition to improve FND care The emotional Toll of FND and how it reshapes identity The importance of community support and speaking out This is a story of courage, advocacy and refusing to be invisible. If you live with FND or love someone who does this ones for you.
What happens when your body stops functioning? And the neurologist simply says " Deal with it".. Suggesting its all in your head?
In this powerful episode, Brad shares his personal journey from collapse and confusion to finding his voice in the FND community. Diagnosed with functional Neurological disorder after a barrage of symptoms and no clear answers, Brad was left to navigate the system alone. But instead of staying silent he took action:
We talk about
*The moment it all started
* The trauma of misdiagnosis and dismissal
*Brads current petition to improve FND care
The emotional Toll of FND and how it reshapes identity
The importance of community support and speaking out
Follow Brad:
Youtube : @unshakenbrad
Instagram: @fndwarrior2024
Tiktok: @unshakenbrad
Click here for Brads current petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727063?utm_medium=social&utm_source=heylink.me
Other current petitions that are on Change.org
ALSO if you are in NZ or just wanting to find out more about FND FND AWARE NZ
Music by soundstripe licensed to be used on this podcast:
Nu Alkemist : At a glance
Alsever : Paper Treats
Matt Wigton: Thoughts are free
Map zoom in
Thankyou for listening to the FND PODCAST we are not sponsored by these organizations however they do tremendous work in the FND community.
FND AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT SERVICES
A wonderful resource for people in Australia with FND: from reasearch into FND, finding medical specialists and services and just information about FND. Solely dedicated to all things FND and helping those with FND in Australia.
IF you would like to support FND Australia Services and would like to have a look at some merchandise click here
FND ACTION : https://www.fndaction.org.uk
FND Action is a patient-led charity who offer a caring and supporting hand to people living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in the UK.
FND GUIDE.
A website all things Functional neurological Disorder written by Professor Jon Stone who is the leading FND researcher and Consultant Neurologist in Edinburgh, ScotlandDr Mohsin Butt is an excellent doctor who explained what FND is perfectly click here to watch his explanation
FND DIMENSIONS
FND Dimensions aims to develop a network of ‘peer support groups’ across the UK either in face to face meetings or online via methods such as Skype. By bringing people together on a regular basis, this helps alleviate the isolation that many FND patients feel. It also gives opportunity for others to open up dialog and to talk to others in a similar position about the day to day challenges, issues or concerns with one another. They have an amazing FND Survival Kit click here to have a look
The FND Society is a welcoming and informative space created by people with FND for people with FND. It offers a growing range of resources — including guides, videos, interviews, real-life stories, and practical support — to help you understand your condition, connect with others, and feel empowered in your journey.
It’s not just information — it’s community. It’s validation. And it’s a reminder that you’re not alone.
they are also a great resource into learning more about FND.https://www.neurokid.co.uk/\
A website for young people and families living with NEAD and neurological symptom
Information on Non Epileptic Seizures or NEAD
https://www.sth.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/Epilepsy/pil2072.pdf
Health Professionals who want to learn about FND, and recommending to learn and follow or if you just want to learn more about FND:
Haseel Bhatt Neuro Physiotherapy
Instagram: Functionalneurologicaldisorder
Website: Neurology Rehab ( Click to go to website)
For training about FND especially if you are a health professional or allied health please check this website out for courses available
Jason Kreuzman: Peadiatric Occupational Therapist FND
Instagram: FND_OT
Website: RewireOT (click here to go to website)
A great resource for carers, families and health professionals who want to learn about FND also register your interest in a course for FND
Nada! A MUST FOLLOW
Instagram: Fnd_revolution
Podcast: FEM AND STEM podcast (click here to listen)
Youtube: FND REVOLUTION TV
She is a brilliant FND advocate and warrior. I cannot recommend her enough please follow her, subscribe and watch.
The FND Podcast song of the week:
Fix you by Coldplay
https://open.spotify.com/track/7LVHVU3tWfcxj5aiPFEW4Q?si=c2eecb790ac24dfd
It's a song that has got me through a couple of times XO
Here re two essential reads on FND that are highly recommended by Chrissie and now myself Click on the titles to gain access on the articles.
The Cadenza for fractured consciousness From Medium.com on the fnd portal
The Road to Functional Neurological Disorder by Gabriel Brownstein
FND is not fake or Malingering
Just a quick reminder that while we love sharing insights and stories here, this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It’s not meant to be medical advice tailored to your specific needs. We always encourage you to chat with your GP or a medical professional regarding any health concerns or questions you may have. This is a story of courage, advocacy and refusing to be invisible. If you live with FND or love someone who does this ones for you.
Detty: [00:00:00] Brad has a new petition you can sign right now, and it's all about pushing for better education, understanding and support for FND across the uk. If you're wondering where the petitions really make a difference though, here's the result of his first one.
Brad: If you're seeing this video, then it means only one thing we've done it.
We've hit 10 K, 10,000 signatures on the petition to fund awareness and training for functional neurological disorder. That now means that the government has to respond to that petition.
Just knowing [00:01:00] that the government will be aware of the petition that I started. To raise awareness to such a debilitating condition means so much to me, and I know it means so much to so many other people. I am overwhelmed with so many emotions right now. Today has been in a day of so many emotions. I, I knew this moment was coming, but now that it happened.
I, I've got no words. I just wanna say thank you to absolutely everybody that has supported this petition from day one.
Government response: All to hear about the important work, um, the Hospital is doing in his [00:02:00] constituency. We are investing 350,000 pounds in research on interventions which support people with functional neurological disorders, uh, to rehabilitate them within the community. And of course, our plan for change invested, um, 25 billion pounds.
Uh, to cart waiting list, speed up treatment, and shift all care into the community.
Detty: You are listening to the FND podcast where we are talking all things FND. Hi everybody, and welcome to the FND podcast where we hold space for real conversations, connection and change in the world of FND or functional neurological disorder.
I'm your host Detty, and I hope you're doing well wherever you are in the world. Well, I'm joined by Brad and Brad's a passionate advocate. He's also an FND warrior. And he also is taking his lived experience and turning it into action. Uh, we talk about what it's really like to live with FND, the fear, [00:03:00] the confusion, the stigma, and a shocking lack of support that far too many of us face.
But also we shine a light on the strength, the courage, and the power of the community when we stand together. So if you've ever felt dismissed or told to deal with it yourself or just handed a website and sent on your way, this conversation is for you. And if you've ever thought there has to be more that we can do, you're right.
And Brad's actually showing us what he's doing and it's pretty amazing. Well get yourself a cover or settle down and get comfy, and let's just dive right in. Here's Brad. Well, welcome to the FND podcast and also to Brad's new podcast who was listening here. First things first. Um, tell us about, firstly, your journey with FND.
[00:04:00] How did it begin? What's your story?
Brad: Um, so yeah. Um, but I was better listening. I'm Brad. Um, um, I started having symptoms about just over two years ago.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Brad: And it started with like, headaches leading to blurred vision, double vision, and it just almost seemed to be a cycle of going to the doctors back and forth.
And with that it was like I was having tests done and they was finding nothing until the headache started to get more severe. And then I had MRIs done, which found an incidental arachnoid six, but that wasn't the symptoms of anything that I was having. So then, um, going back to February last year. It was, it was [00:05:00] almost like it was just a normal day at work and this is why I so unpredictable.
It's a normal day at work and as the blue, I just felt this like wave of pressure from over me in my head and I collapsed and went into at what I thought was the time, a full blown seizure. So that then started the journey of more. Scans and tests being done, but they all came back clear. So I was referred to a neurologist and because this became more frequent, I ended up like going to hospital, seeing different doctors and seeing a neurologist, which initially said it was just non-LEP disorder.
Mm-hmm. Um, which falls the umbrella? Following on from that, they gave me medication to try and lower the symptoms, [00:06:00] but then I started experiencing like loss of speech moment, and I then, I then got the functional fem in both my arm and my leg, and it just, it just went from that, it just went from headache to having blackout moment.
Non and like the tremors. Mm-hmm. And then all the time I was diagnosed with FND Complex FND because of all my symptoms and my journey. That's my journey so far off, but it's not over. And as I tell everyone, I'm still, I'm still learning new things about it as we speak right now. I'm still under like neurologist to try and see if there's anything else going on.
Yes. But the initial diagnosis being complex, FND, um, I guess it's just been something I've [00:07:00] had to process and try and learn really.
Detty: Yeah. So it's only fairly recently that you'd just been diagnosed yourself, so you never had any other symptoms prior to you having the headaches and the
Brad: No, not really. No. I mean.
I was all fit and healthy. Difficult to talk about it in that way, like obviously that, going back to that part, but I was all fit and healthy in a full-time job doing like four 50 hours a week.
Detty: Yeah,
Brad: 50 hours a week shift and it like in the blink of a night I went to work fine and then it, it just stemmed from there.
Initially I thought it was theoretical. Mm-hmm. But having scans done on that and going along with what was needed to be done that way.
Detty: Yeah.
Brad: That hadn't changed. There was no, um, indicators that it was that. It was just, I think it was just frustrating reading, knowing everything [00:08:00] was coming back clear and like, right, where do we go from here?
Detty: Yeah. Um, walk us through the feelings that you were going through when you first, uh, gone through all those symptoms, um, and how you feel now about it.
Brad: Well, initially it was quite frightening knowing that was happening and like being around my family and my partner and. All the times I tried to work and it kept happening.
It was kind of like, it was worrying because I was like, what's happening? Why am I suddenly like this kind of thing. Yeah. And but initially they was like, oh, it could be epilepsy. We'll do all the, all that. And then when they came back there, it was kind of just questioning of like, well, something's going on.
So. What is it? What, what are you missing? And I think over time it's just been a case of having [00:09:00] to kind of delve into my own research and kind of like learn things from other people's experiences. Mm-hmm. And research stuff online whilst selling it. Um, confirm.
I think over time it's like I've come to accept what it's, yes. And it's just been a journey of like accepting what's happening because at the end of the day, I mean, sometimes it just feels like a fight and battle between yourself and
Detty: Yes.
Brad: And I think at day. Mm-hmm. You kind of just like have to accept like right.
I've go from the what's next, if that makes sense.
Detty: No, that, um, that makes perfect sense. And I think, um, you know, even for myself now, uh, it's still a [00:10:00] constant battle of acceptance and, you know, just trying to come to terms what we've lost. Like, for example, yourself here, you were, you were completely healthy, you were completely fine.
Yeah. And so you know, the old you and the now you are completely two different people that you know, you never expected to ever happen.
Brad: Yeah. It's like I look at myself now and my way of putting it is, I say this for people, like, you don't realize what you have and you don't realize what you're taking advantage of until.
You physically can't do that.
Detty: Yes,
Brad: and I think going from being full-time work open about socializing to having to manage your health daily, you go up for even weekly up to not being able to work. Mm-hmm. It's the little thing you [00:11:00] notice, all that you wouldn't have even paid attention to. When you look at all the little things and.
And you look at like what you actually are missing.
Detty: Mm.
Brad: And like even just taking a walk sometimes, like the ability of being able to do that walk without feeling pain, without getting outta breath or without like. New perspective on how I love it.
Detty: Yeah. I think another aspect, um, you may find this is when someone invites you to do something.
Yeah. Like in the future and you tentatively say yes, but you are unsure if you'll actually going to be okay for it. For example, wedding invitation, you know, it's, uh,
Brad: yeah.
Detty: Yeah.
Brad: I think it's. You [00:12:00] never know what's gonna crop up. So you've always got in the back of your mind, am I gonna have to cancel it last minute?
And you then get that fear of, oh, you're letting your friends down, or you are letting family members down. Because even though it's not your fault, you having to cancel on something you possibly planned in advance and then you get some kind of guilt. You know why? And I think. That's one part I struggle with the guilt of having to say I can't do it.
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not in a great space. I'm having a or something. I've got a hospital appointment and you can't plan in advance. Like I think that that one big deal, like. Where the guilt comes into it, because you can't just say, oh yeah, I'm free that day. I'm gonna be absolutely fine because you never know.
Yeah,
Detty: I'm hearing [00:13:00] you. However, I, I've heard that you've done amazing things with FND and the progress over there. Um, tell me what started the petition? Like, what made you go, okay, something needs to be done. What was that aha moment?
Brad: So I think what, what started that? What got back into my mind was.
When I started my awareness page on TikTok and Instagram and my other social media mm-hmm. I was seeing the same repetitive kind of reaction to FD and it was paid off. I've been given a paper with a website on
Detty: Yes.
Brad: And I've been told to go and research and it became, it became not frustrating, but in a way.
Something needs to change here. And I kind of in the, I just started [00:14:00] this position and in all, in all fairness, I didn't expect it to get the attention got. And I think over time that through the support, more people, and obviously we got a government response and it was just case of that was just all.
It's surreal really though.
Detty: How did you go, okay, let's begin and do the whole thing because I truly believe that there might be other people in different countries as well who might be inspired to do this. So what was your process of actually going okay from, let's start it to, alright, now we're setting it up.
Brad: So it was talking to people. Points of views on how they've been treated with getting a diagnosis F. And it was a case of like [00:15:00] getting statistics, looking what the healthcare, yeah, and I think overall it was just showing the same thing. There wasn't really any, well, there isn't really that much out there for.
Fact, right before even the petition government, because I, in my mind, I didn't want them something I was passionate on and I wanted to make sure this is something I'm going to do. I wanted support behind it. So obviously I got their opinion, what they thought, but. It was getting other stories of other people's stories and seeing how they've been treated.
Detty: Yeah.
Brad: And then pulling it all together in a brief summary of what we were asking, [00:16:00] because in my eyes, it wasn't just me that was winning that position. It was all FND, and it was a case of this is what we all want. Yeah. So
Detty: what were you thinking when you got the diagnosis? Like were you relieved that you had an answer or
Brad: the I was relieved to an extent,
Detty: yes.
Brad: I was also, I was also kind of disappointed in a way of being told, this is what you've got. You've got to go on and deal with it yourself. And I think it was hearing them words, deal with it yourself. Actually. Wait, wait, wait.
Detty: Did they actually said deal with it yourself?
Brad: My neur. I just did that at the time.
Deal with it yourself. And I [00:17:00] think hearing that kind of made me feel like my symptoms were invalidated and it was like I was disregarded. That's so
Detty: inappropriate. Sorry. Just so like from someone saying, okay, here's a website, you know, go check it out to someone saying like a health professional who's delivering this, like, life changing, you know, diagnosis.
Well, you, you just gotta deal with it yourself. I mean, cheapest.
Brad: Yeah. And it was like, at the time I was told, no, you know what it is? You can stop having symptoms. Whoa. And in my head, that's what I was told in my head. I was like. You've just gave me an answer and now I'm magically going to stop having symptoms.
Which, can you just repeat that?
Detty: Can you repeat that again for me? Because that I, I can't believe what I'm hearing, like of, I'm just mind blown here. So,
Brad: yeah, so the words I got told was, now you have an answer. You can stop your [00:18:00] symptoms. Your symptoms will go away. Now that you know what it. And in my mind I was like, I cannot believe that was even said, like,
Detty: I'm sorry.
It was for those who are listening it for context, I am absolutely dumbfounded by what was told to you. I just, I'm, I'm in shock. Sorry. I'm just really,
Brad: I was in shock. I was in shock at the time.
Detty: No one should be told that. So the aim of the, um, the petition, the goal was, um, to get some, garner some attention, but obviously it got funding.
Now what are your hopes that are going to change with this funding to educate?
Brad: Well, so obviously I did a bit of research into where that [00:19:00] funding was going, and I know a lot of other people. I've obviously seen where that funding is going.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Brad: My initial response was, oh, that's great. They're funding awareness.
They're funding the training, but it wasn't being funding UK wide, it was being directly all sent to one hospital. And I personally think that wasn't not in because it was a lot of money. It wasn't fair for it, just go to one hospital because where I'm in the UK and where other people are, they're nowhere near getting the treatment where that hospital is and that research is being done.
Mm-hmm. And I think personally it was just a bit of shock. Like it was, it was great to see that it got mentioned, like it got recognized as a condition. Mm-hmm. [00:20:00] But I think they could have been a bit more lenient with funding and sharing it across like treatment centers and hospitals to get the research in all places either.
Detty: Mm-hmm. Yeah. So it was just on to one. So what's next on your agenda then? Like what are you aiming to do?
Brad: So, um. Obviously, I'm not sure if you have seen it, but I did kind of, the first petition in my eyes wasn't enough. I have submitted another petition to the government, the UK government, on the basis of NHS that need understanding A and e understanding because I've so many horrific.
Or they get told it's nothing. [00:21:00] And on this deposition I basically said we are demanding more funding for hospitals specifically and GP and awareness to be UK wise, not in one place
Detty: education wise. Yeah.
Brad: Yeah.
Detty: So do you have like the information for the petition for that one? Um, available.
Brad: So that position is like, um, it's in my TikTok file and it's in my Instagram file.
Mm-hmm. It's on my file for all my social media platform. It ly has about 500 signatures. Amazing. Obviously, yes, it'll need to reach 10 signature to get a response again, but I'm already certain it will get back. Obviously it has a six and we, before it was even deadline. [00:22:00] I'm certain.
Detty: So we're doing a call out guys, we're doing a call out to actually get this, uh, petition signed out again, because literally, uh, this is an amazing, an amazing event here that, you know, you could take part on, take part of history of.
You know, getting education out in the uk, um, I guess we could all, it would be so good if we could do this all over worldwide. But for the meantime, I think, um, the only people who can actually sign up for this petition is in, um, uk. Is that correct?
Brad: Um, yeah. The, there, there is the UK one, um, there is quite a few global positions that are.
Running for FND. Mm-hmm. There is one by myself, which is also in my bio, on my platform, but there are other people that have done petitions for multiple [00:23:00] demands for FND because we could be stuck here asking some funding and awareness, but then we're missing so much more like treatment from air plans.
Yeah. And there is a lot of global position. Change org. So that is another place
Detty: to go to if you want to sign. People wanna Yeah. And make a change,
Brad: sign a position.
Detty: Yes. So if you would like to make a change, change.org, check it out. And, um, you know, we can actually participate worldwide and, you know, get change happening for FND out there, basically in regards to getting awareness out.
Uh, so you started your TikTok. How did that happen? Like what, what made you go, okay, I want to start doing TikTok. I wanna start promoting?
Brad: Putting it on TikTok was kind of like spur of the moment thing. I kind of, [00:24:00] because at the time I didn't know what was going on. I, I was, I was having all these mixed emotion and it was kind of a way to share my story and kind of.
At the same time, and it still is because it's still ongoing. And I guess in a way, I also use it as my personal journey. Yes. To kind of look back on where I started and how far I've gone. Mm-hmm. But it was also seeing that I wasn't alone. And I think that's one of the big things to point out is. I never heard of FND before I was diagnosed, but there are so many people that have been raising awareness for five years, 10 years, and I know a person that had it 30 years.
Mm-hmm. And I think just seeing that [00:25:00] I wasn't alone kind of gave me the courage to share my journey and it. This day and show my journey and process of, yeah, how far I'm actually coming.
Detty: I think that's really important to notice too, like with your journey is like how far you go. Because for those who are newly diagnosed, you may not realize it, but you do overcome a lot.
So basically in regards to your journey for how far you've come, do you recognize it yourself? Have you seen it within yourself? I'm
Brad: starting to. I'm starting to recently. And I think it on a basis of looking back on when I was first diagnosed, I knew absolutely nothing. I was stuck within four walls, not doing anything.
And over time I've kind of [00:26:00] learned how to notice things. And learn how to kind of pace myself a bit and learn how to do things in a different way. And I think that's the important part of it, is just knowing that you are not limited to what you can do. You've just gotta do it in a different way. And I think over time I come to understand that.
Detty: So, in regards to your podcast here, right? Um, tell us more about your podcast, what it's all about, and what you, you know, what you wanna achieve with it.
Brad: So the podcast is briefly what it does to raise awareness for FND. Mm-hmm. But I also want to bring elements, I want to bring other sides of it into it.
I wanna bring the elements of. Carers of people with [00:27:00] FND. Yes. And I wanna bring the outside perspective of friends and family of someone that, of, of someone that comes FND, because I think over time they don't get the recognition that they should. Mm-hmm. Because there's so many carers that look after people with f and Yes.
So.
Them and touch on other perspectives of living with FD and ultimately just get that word out there and get people listening that usually wouldn't even know what FD is. I kind of just wanna, over time get it going. So.
Um, FD support is out there.
Detty: Yeah. This is, this is important. [00:28:00] You know, it must be so scary. And I think the transition also, like for my husband, between being a partner and husband to being a caregiver, it's, it's really difficult. And they must also feel alone too. You know? That's one big thing.
Brad: Yeah. I think always been.
Obviously my partners have to like be there for me for appointments or be there when I'm having a flare, and I guess it's just kind of like you kind of don't realize that in a way they're having to process this as well. They're having to deal with something that's completely new them.
It's probably scary for them because they're seeing you have
and then told. That's no clear. So I want [00:29:00] to kind of touch base on their point of view, what they think about it, what their initial reactions was when they knew someone that got diagnosed with it. There's so many different elements that don't get pushed on. Mm-hmm.
Detty: Absolutely. So, um, for those people out there, um, you know, who are caregiving, you know, you are not alone, number one and number two, you know, thank you for, you know, doing what you are doing obviously, and, you know, look after yourself.
That's the biggest thing that I can think of when you're being a caregiver, is. Look after yourself, because ultimately it affects everyone that you're looking after as well. And caregiver burnout, that is real. That is absolutely real too. So really and truly take care of yourselves, guys out there. So I guess all the links will be in the notes, the show notes.
So go check them out. And I just wanna say thank you, [00:30:00] Brad, for talking to us. Um. One final question before we go. What is your advice in regards to the newly, the newly diagnosed people with FND? Like what would you say to them?
Brad: My advice would be don't try and deal with it on your own. Don't try and process it just by yourself. Look for support groups, look for awareness pages and talk to fellow FMD sufferers. There's so many groups out there that offer support, and I would just say reach out for it. There's nothing wrong with.
Reaching out for that support. There's nothing, there's nothing wrong with asking for the help. It's okay to [00:31:00] not know what's going on, but just don't deal with it on your own because there's so many ways of support and hearing other people's experiences will help you kind of understand your journey and just know that it.
Every journey, every person we, their journey's different, but we all experience somewhat of the same kind of situation. So I would just say, look for the support, look for the whole and. You will be
Detty: recent updates on Brad's journey.
Brad: Oh, I just wanna take a moment to thank you everyone for the support. As some of you know what I'm going through at the moment.
I also know, just want to take a time to announce that I am an official affiliate of the charity [00:32:00] effing deal where New Zealand. This is a big step for me and this is gonna be helpful for so many people. We are taking FND awareness and support global. This charity originates from New Zealand and they're the most supporting amazing people.
I've mets far and to have an FND Aware UK channel also brings along so much excitement. Just look out for future, future. Events and videos. Now I do have a YouTube FND Aware UK channel. Just type in the name as it is FND, aware uk, but also remember to support and take a look at FND New Zealand. I will tag them in this video.
They do so much beyond the scenes and there is so much [00:33:00] guidance and so much support to soon be coming. And it's time to take things to the next level. Support for FND needs to be more reachable. It needs to be more accessible, and so many people are lacking the opportunities to be able to have support.
And I wanna be one of those people that make a change. And change is coming. The next step is here. Now, if you're with me on this video, repost it. Do what you can. Being an affiliate of FNDA New Zealand is a, an amazing opportunity for myself and big things are coming. So I just wanna say thank you again.
Thank you for all the support. And do go check out those pages, ages.
Detty: And that was Brad. Thank you for joining us today. And thank you again, Brad. Not only for sharing your story so openly, but for [00:34:00] pushing for change that so many of us need. Because FND is real, it's not all in our heads. It's often misunderstood and it's often invisible, but for those of us living with it, it impacts us in every part of our lives.
And you know, we do deserve better. We deserve understanding. And research and accessible care and health professionals who are educated and informed, it does make a difference. And I want to thank everyone who is trying to advocate and who is trying to work so hard towards this, especially all the health professionals out there who are advocating as well.
You know, Brad's petition is one powerful step towards that. So if you are in the uk, please go to the link in the show notes and sign it. And if you're elsewhere, just check out global petitions in change.org and lend your voice. Because awareness. We need it. We [00:35:00] definitely need it. But, um, I gotta say, there was this one lady who signed the petition a couple weeks ago and, um, she felt guilty.
She felt absolutely guilty that she wasn't doing enough or doing what she could, and she was apologizing. And there wasn't any need for that too. You know, for those of you out there, you've got to look after yourself and you first. Um, if you feel guilty that you can't do, don't be, uh, if you can't do more than what you feel you're up to, that's okay.
Don't feel guilty or pressured into advocating. If you're not in a place to advocate right now, that's all right. But existing with FND is already a huge deal. And, um, you don't have to speak out to, you know, be part of the FND community or, you know, just advocating. We do our best. We, we keep doing what we do, which is, and I've seen this time and time again and it's pretty amazing.
We support each other, um, we [00:36:00] share our stories, um, and our experiences and remind each and every person out there with FND you know, that we we're doing the same. There's people like you out there and you know you are not alone. Um, as people have been saying, we're in it together, but also we are, there are people with FND like you may not be the same because we're all individual and all different, but we're here, we're.
So if this episode helped you, please pass it on. Let this ripple out to those who need it, and, um, you know, look after yourself. Be kind to yourself please, and also keep speaking up. Brad, your journey with FND is continuing and evolving and I'm here for it. And thank you [00:37:00] for all that you are doing, really and truly.
Thank you. And, uh, thank you FND awareness New Zealand. Hello to you out there. Well, until next time, please keep speaking up and as always, just do your best. The best is all that you can do. Stay safe, love hard, and peace, and I'll see you on the flip side. Bye for now. Thank you for tuning into another episode of the FND podcast.
We hope you like this episode, and if you'd like to learn more or need support regarding Functional Neurological Disorder, be sure to check out the resources offered by fnd action@www.fndaction.org.uk and FND Australian Support Services. FND oz.org.au or neuro symptoms.org.au. And many other FND [00:38:00] organizations out there with some having their own apps, they are doing fantastic work to raise awareness and provide much needed assistance to those.
Impacted by FND. Now, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so that you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed the show, we'd love to hear from you. So leave a review. So stay connected with us on social media and join the conversation. We'd like to hear your feedback and any topics you'd like us to cover in the future episodes.
Until next time, take care and be kind to yourself. This is Daddy signing up from the FND podcast. Stay safe, love hard, and peace, and we'll see you on the flip side. Bye for now.