🎙️ The JJ Segment: Catching Up with Jess – Working, Writing, and Living with FND In this deeply honest and joyfully heartfelt episode of The FND Podcast, Detty sits down with the wonderful Jess for a long-overdue catch-up on the JJ Segment. From moving states, to getting married, to navigating life with FND while diving headfirst into a blue-collar job — Jess shares it all with her trademark humour, grit, and glowing resilience. Together, we unpack what it’s really like returning to work with Functional Neurological Disorder, from workplace seizures and flare-ups to pacing, planning, and the importance of telling your employer. Jess opens up about her journey from overdoing it to finding a more manageable balance — and how she's learned to adapt rather than fight her FND. But that’s not all — Jess is also a published author! We chat about her newest fantasy release "Woman of Wolves", her passion for storytelling, and how she balances creative life with chronic illness. You’ll laugh, nod, maybe even tear up — and definitely walk away feeling inspired. ✨ In this episode: – Jess’s journey with FND & employment – Coping with seizures at work – The emotional evolution of living with FND – Why communication with employers matters – Writing through chronic illness – Creating a fantasy world… and lifting 3 tonnes of flour a day?! 💪 – The gift of self-acceptance and finding your pace 📚 Want to support a fellow FND warrior? Check out Jess’s books on Amazon and follow her on TikTok @jessmcfarlane – links in the show notes! A massive thank you to Jess for being so open and shining your light. And to our listeners: you’re not alone. Your journey with FND is your own, but we’re right here beside you. Stay safe, love hard, and peace — see you on the flip side 💛
🎙️ The JJ Segment: Catching Up with Jess – Working, Writing, and Living with FND
In this deeply honest and joyfully heartfelt episode of The FND Podcast, Detty sits down with the wonderful Jess for a long-overdue catch-up on the JJ Segment. From moving states, to getting married, to navigating life with FND while diving headfirst into a blue-collar job — Jess shares it all with her trademark humour, grit, and glowing resilience.
Together, we unpack what it’s really like returning to work with Functional Neurological Disorder, from workplace seizures and flare-ups to pacing, planning, and the importance of telling your employer. Jess opens up about her journey from overdoing it to finding a more manageable balance — and how she's learned to adapt rather than fight her FND.
But that’s not all — Jess is also a published author! We chat about her newest fantasy release "Woman of Wolves", her passion for storytelling, and how she balances creative life with chronic illness. You’ll laugh, nod, maybe even tear up — and definitely walk away feeling inspired.
✨ In this episode:
– Jess’s journey with FND & employment
– Coping with seizures at work
– The emotional evolution of living with FND
– Why communication with employers matters
– Writing through chronic illness
– Creating a fantasy world… and lifting 3 tonnes of flour a day?! 💪
– The gift of self-acceptance and finding your pace
📚 Want to support a fellow FND warrior? Check out Jess’s books on Amazon and follow her on TikTok @jessmcfarlane
A massive thank you to Jess for being so open and shining your light. And to our listeners: you’re not alone. Your journey with FND is your own, but we’re right here beside you.
Stay safe, love hard, and peace — see you on the flip side 💛
To work or not to work with FND that is the real question. It's a hard one to gauge and safely decide and it's definitely not for everyone. Here's a short conversation we have with Katherine Gill from Australia Support Services and also a sneak preview to the upcoming episodes.
This Episodes notes:
Job Access : the guide to disability employment : click here for more details
Disability support services Australia in Victoria click here for more details
Employment programs: disability *Aus government.
Returning back to work presentation on FND Australia Support Services Channel : Click here for more details
Transitioning from school to work with a disability: click here for more details
If you feel like you would like to Volunteer in Australia : click here for more details
Caitlins story with FND and work :
If needing to more information and support on working with a disability here is the Fairwork Ombudsman information : click here for more details
Note: the links are related to those in Australia however it is a good idea to look up your disability supports in your country. Here are a few that I've found so far however there is more out there :
For USA from what I could see : Job Training and programs for people with a disability
Americans with Disability Act : protecting people with disabilities from discrimination
Office for disability employment policy click here
For Canada: Canadian Association for Supported Employment click here
Canada employment Strategy for Canadians with disabilities click here
For England: Employment disability rights click here:
Careers and work for disabled people from Disability rights UK click here
Ability Net : Information about Disability and Employment
Music used in this Podcast is from Soundstripe : licensed for use
Flowstate by Pala
This and That by Nu Alkemi$t
Life in Pastels by Matt Wigton
Map zoom out
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 :https://fndaus.org.au/fnd-symptoms/
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. :https://neurosymptoms.org/en/
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: http://fnddimensions.org/
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
A website for young people and families living with NEAD and neurological symptom
Amazing website with information and links to fnd
Information on Non Epileptic Seizures or NEAD
https://www.sth.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/Epilepsy/pil2072.pdf
The FND Podcast song of the month:
Rise above by Alberto Giurioli and Geoff Lawson
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
The published research Paper on FND by Haseel Bhatt
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.
Detty: [00:00:00] The FND podcast would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We would also like to pay our respects to the people, the cultures, and elders past and present. You are listening to the FND podcast where we're talking all things FND.
It's so nice to see you. Hello? Hello. I had a shiny new widow's flame book in my hand.
Jess: Yeah, which, okay, so that's crazy. It's been a hot, miniute it has been. Definitely tell your employer don't hide it, because even if you.
Because unpredictable.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: And they need to know how to deal with it. Whether they [00:01:00] need to call an ambulance lot, because we all know like a lot of the You don't need to.
Detty: Yes. Unless
Jess: goes for more than you know. Yeah. Five minutes. I'd say five. I'd say like three. Pretty much on, yes.
Detty: Hello everybody and welcome back to the FND podcast. I'm your host, Detty, and welcome back to the JJ segment. I'm so glad you are here. Well, today on the JJ segment, we're finally catching up with our gorgeous Jess, and let me tell you, this chat was long overdue. Now, Jess has come such a long way in her FND journey and honestly.
Just watching her grow and glow has been one of the biggest joys, and I feel so lucky to be part of it and even luckier to share it with you. So go [00:02:00] on, grab your cup, snuggle in, and let's catch up with Jess together. Let's dive right in. Guys,
Thank You for coming on the podcast. It's been a very, very long time since we last talked too long.
It has. We've just.
Jess: It sort of makes sense because like life,
Detty: well, yeah, everything happened. I know you moved from New South Wales down to Victoria. Mm-hmm. Welcome. I think the weather's not so great. Um,
Jess: no, it's, um, I've been here What?
I'm used to the weather now.
Detty: Yeah. Oh
Jess: good. I like it. I like it here. She's acclim ated
Detty: very good. Yeah.
Jess: Um, yeah, no, it's, um, I like where I am is just, it's [00:03:00] perfect for me and Alex because it's just quiet and.
Detty: Yeah,
Jess: we just kind of cruise along. Um, and it suits us a lot. Yeah. Nice,
Detty: nice.
Jess: It's good.
Detty: Yeah. And um, I think you recently got married.
Congratulations. Yeah. So everybody listening here,
it's so beautiful.
Jess: It's not really.
Detty: She did both her, she, she did both her ring , like ring fingers here. So she's double taken. Guys, just in case you were confused. Yeah.
Jess: Just in case the ring didn't, didn't make you realize. No. Um, I was gonna get it on my ring finger as well because I've take with the work that.
I'm in a blue collar job now, guys. Nice.
Detty: And it's a mullet. She, she's a, she's an Aussie [00:04:00] blue collar woman now, actually. Um, do, are you allowed to wear a chain on your
Jess: Um, I think I'm, but I don't think. I, so I work in a flower mill. Yes. And I get like flour all, all, yeah. And just get in the ring.
I.
Um, yeah. Yeah. So
Detty: it's
Jess: what, it's,
Detty: I was just thinking since you are now working, I don't think the last time I was talking to you, you were, yeah. So what happened to help you to get to back to working? Like, what's your story there with FND?
Jess: Um, so the move
Detty: mm-hmm.
Jess: Symptom [00:05:00] free. Um, up until like, I, like we got here and I was kind of just like, I guess I had like that sort of like, yeah, start on life. Like I just moved, um, we got like, I sold my previous car and we got just like a, a run around little Corolla for me. I was like, yeah, you can't, it's not, it's like 2009 model, but new to me.
Um, and I started looking for jobs and I was like seeing if I could find something. I was like, work from home or, you know, something I could like physically do.
Detty: Yes. Um,
Jess: because obviously it had been so long since I hadn't worked and at the time I was still.
And I wanted to like ease back into workforce. I didn't.
Detty: That went, [00:06:00] you know what, I think I can do this working with FND and I'm gonna go full time. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And then all of a sudden, like down the track they went, okay, um, I made a mistake. I, I think I should drop a couple of days here or hours here. You know, just, yeah. So did you do that yourself too?
Jess: Well, um, I actually, I started out okay and like, so I, um, the job that I went into was in sales in at a newspaper. Okay. So it was an office job? Yep. It was a half hour drive from home every day. Um, hour. How did
Detty: you, there and back, how did you handle that?
Jess: The driving?
Obviously when you're in rural Victoria, you know how everything is just so far away from everything. Yeah.
Um,
Jess: like the, the nearest like big town for us is, and that is half an hour, that's where I was working. [00:07:00]
Wow.
Jess: And it was sort of just like a, I've just gotta do it. Like I've got no choice.
Yeah.
Jess: And obviously you just hop on the highway and you.
Um, you can go the back way through as well, through like , which I did do on days where I was like, if I need to pull over, I can.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Um, I kind of just did it. I dunno, I just, I was like, I was really, really determined just to get back to work because I absolutely hated being dependable on Alec and I, I was like super keen on just getting like a fresh Yeah.
Um, and I.
I started just doing it. Look, I did push myself like I was there. I don't even think I made it a year. I think it was like nine months, and I went, I need to find a job that's like in the hour, like close to home because I can't keep doing this drive. I did end up having a seizure at work.
Ooh.
Jess: Um, I did have tremors [00:08:00] at work.
Oh my. There were a few.
Obviously it's a big trip.
Yeah.
Jess: Um, so yeah, I, it was a bit of like a slap to the face, like, okay, I wasn't ready, I was pushing myself, but like, it's like, it, it was okay. When I was hired, I warned them.
Detty: Yep.
Jess: Right away, like, look, you know, I have a neurological, neurological position. I haven't had symptoms in a really long time because at the time.
I, I hadn't had symptoms I think in like six months. That is
Detty: incredible.
Jess: Yeah, and I'm talking about like the bad ones. Obviously I get symptoms every day, but these are like, it's not that the
Detty: severe ones or the severe flareups.
Jess: Yeah, exactly. Yep,
Detty: yep.
Jess: Yeah. So, um, I warned 'em about it and they were all cool with it.
So when it did eventually happen, they knew exactly what to do and so it was good.
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: But it was also like, it's just embarrassing regardless, you know, because it's like, it's a very [00:09:00] vulnerable position. It happened in the break room in front of like a few people that didn't know.
Detty: Oh no. So it always looks bad for people, you know, especially the first time they start to really panic, so, yeah.
Yeah. They must have been so shocking for them. Yeah, that's hard
Jess: for sure. It, it was definitely, and they like all cleared out and like the ones who knew about it stayed and helped me and I was fine, like down and I.
A lot of my seizures, like obviously there are those different types. Yes. Um, and a lot of the times I don't lose like, full control of myself. Like I'm still very aware. Yep. So if I'm like sitting in a chair or whatever, I'll, I'm gonna try my best to stay upright or at least like, not fall. Um, I
Detty: know sometimes that doesn't work, but yeah, I'm just like, no, no.
Oh God, my face is going closer to the table. Help.
Jess: Yeah.
Detty: Yeah. Yeah.
Jess: It's, yeah, it's, it's, [00:10:00] I know it just, it's how it works, I guess. Um, but yeah, so I ended up quitting the job, not just for that reason, but a few other reasons as well.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: I that.
Detty: So what you are saying is you went, you went head first into this office job and you went, okay, I'm gonna do this nine to five, and then next thing you're like, oh, there's this job that's really near to my house and it's. Physical ly. I don't know. I dunno how I'm gonna do this, what my limitations are, but good old Jess, we're gonna do, we're gonna do it my way or the highway
Jess: me being me, because I'm [00:11:00] Hell. I'm gonna do it
i,
Jess: I, I, I, I don't, I don't understand myself sometimes, but it's okay. I went and interview for this job and it was, um, I applied for it because it was a four day work week, and I was like, that's nice. I like that. Okay. Plus the, like five minutes, so
yes.
Jess: So I applied and I went and interviewed and they showed me around the facility and explained what I was gonna do and they said, look it like very physical work. And they said like, can you lift 20 kg?
I'll give it a go.
Detty: I'll lift for you. But if I black out, yeah.
Jess: An artery in my face, you are paying for,[00:12:00]
Detty: so how did you go physically? How are you going physically with your body the way that it is? And FND.
Jess: Um, I have like gained back my body, um, at least in terms of I've lost a lot of weight.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: Um, and that like to me was a bit of an issue just because like self-esteem reasons. I know it's not an issue for everyone and that's perfectly fine, but my personal preference was I did wanna lose a bit of weight.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: I have my, like I have strength back in my body, which I completely lost being in bed.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: So, um, to be able to actually like, not tire out as fast if I'm like carrying groceries or like playing with the dog or, you know, really simple stuff like that. Yeah. Is really nice. [00:13:00]
Detty: So the strength training went really well with the job. No, the question is, can you now lift 25 kilos?
Jess: I sure can
Detty: There you go.
Literally
Jess: like, so I'm lifting probably three ton a day.
What the heck?
Jess: Yeah. Wow. So I'm, I'm building one ton pallet of 25 kilo. I would say it might even be like closer to six because of all the lifting that is required, like lifting off the scales onto the table. Yep. You gotta fill up the bag and then you gotta lift it again.
And like, there's so many, like, lifting things. So, um, I'm lifting a lot of weight a day. Wow. And, um, it.
I can't even remember. But, um, it's, [00:14:00] I have had a seizure at work and I have had tremors at work.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Both way around Christmastime. Okay. Which kind of makes sense because you know, the dreaded holidays like the stress Well, it's
Detty: stressful. Yeah. You've got everything going on and then you've got work. Yeah.
So that's,
Jess: and yeah.
I,
Detty: mm-hmm.
Jess: Um, or at least didn't help, which was, um, around my 30th birthday I had a seizure and it was because of, you know, something that happened, which I just won't talk about. But, um, I had a seizure, like, I think like a day after it had happened. So I was like, that. That's, there's a connection there.
Like I'm not gonna,
Detty: yeah.
Jess: And I do recall, like when I did see, you know, that psychologist, he did say that like, this can happen. Like if you have something that's like quite emotional, you're [00:15:00] gonna get symptoms.
Detty: Yeah. Because
Jess: it's just, at the end of the day, stress is stress on the body.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: And if that's your trigger, it's gonna happen.
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: So it did happen and like, yeah. So like I haven't been seizure free and I, um, I. Um, and I kind of just fight through 'em. So like with the whole seizure thing, I think I had a day off to recover and then I was back at work and I was fine because like I've always seen my seizures as like the reset.
Yep.
Jess: So it's actually, I see them as like a good thing when they're not happening all the time. That is. Mm-hmm. And don't now.
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: Not anymore. Yes.
Jar is filling up and then overflows, seizure happens, and then that again,
idea scientifically backed up and if that's [00:16:00] actually what is what is happening, but that's how I feel. What's happening happen? Well,
Detty: look, I haven't been talking about FND like on a regular basis for three years again. Yeah, yeah. But, um, I do believe what you are saying with, um, emotional stress or stress, just stress alone can actually trigger you, which is quite right, but also the fact that.
The FND that you had years ago when you first started, when you first got it. Um, it's evolved. I really think that's, yeah. So this is what your FND is like now. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And you're coping with it too, and your workplace, your new workplace now they know how to look after you as well when you have these symptoms.
Jess: Yeah. Um, again, it.
Because again, at the time I just told them like, it's been like a couple of months since I've [00:17:00] had it last. And
Detty: yeah,
Jess: it's not, um, like the, these seizures that I have, like, they're not, they're really, what are they called? Like a grand mal seizure or something? You know, they're really bad ones. Like, they're just like a bit of a glitch and then it's, um, my, um, my legs were playing up.
My legs play up a lot actually, especially around my period. I think again, it's related to like, my endo flaring up my FND.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Um, so that's just another little ance that I just put up with, but it's very much that it's just like something that I live with now, but I don't let it get in the way and I don't think about it all the time.
Detty: Yeah, you've acclimated to it basically. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah,
Jess: yeah. And you know, like my experience is completely unique. Yours is gonna be completely unique. Like your FND is your FND Yep. Mine's mine. Whoever's listening right now that has FND , theirs is theirs.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Um, [00:18:00] and, you know, it's just, we do have that in common, but at the same time, our experiences with it is completely separate.
Detty: Well, my symptoms are completely different to yours. Yeah.
Jess: Yeah.
Detty: We're still, we still have the same conditions, so, yeah. Yeah.
Jess: I kind of find it like fascinating, but it also sort of makes sense because like not every brain is the same. So like of course it's not gonna like
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: You know, like manifest the same.
Detty: The
same.
Detty: Yeah. Yeah. I totally get it. I totally get it. You, um, you've gone through two jobs, now you're up to the second one. How the heck did you find the time to actually do another book? I dunno.
Okay. Don't quote her on this one, guys.
Jess: Um, I [00:19:00] think it's like the, so I do my 40 hour work week in four days. Right. So I do 10 hour days. Yes. Um, and I have every Friday off.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: So, um, I use my Fridays for anything to do with being an author, whether that's writing, editing, marketing. Um, so it was a lot of that and it was also a lot of getting home from work, doing stuff.
It was a lot of spending my entire work at weekend doing stuff. Um, it was very much just like ignoring Alex existence, going, sorry, we do this. Which he completely understands support,
yes.
Jess: Like, you shouldn't name it, " Woman of Wolves", you should name it. Woman of work. Because like that was like, 'cause that's what you were essentially
Detty: doing the majority of the time.
Jess: Yeah,
Detty: yeah,
Jess: yeah. Um, but like, I guess you kind [00:20:00] of just do it. Like if you really want, you just like do it. You make time, you do it.
Detty: How did you manage to do that? Because I know for myself, um, I have difficulty writing now. Well, manually writing, but now writing, writing competency. Yeah. Like the
Jess: cognition sort of side of it.
Detty: Yeah, yeah,
Jess: yeah. I. So like, I don't know whether it is because I've been doing it for so long that it's just like ingrained in me and like it's something I can't get rid of.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: Because I have been doing this since I was like 13. I know. Yeah. So it is like, I don't, I just, I don't think I have the ability to not do it. Yes. No matter what happens inside my brain.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: Um, that's my, I guess, sort of like airy fairy answer.
Honestly, like I think that there is some truth to it too because [00:21:00] like people with dementia and stuff, we do see that. Like they sit in front of a piano. If there's been a penis in their life, they just say know.
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: You know? So I wanna say it's maybe really that same sort of like neural connection.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: Um, and I guess I kind of just lucked out that I was doing it for, so before I diagnosed. Yes. Um, but I mean, you know me, I'm really, really stubborn and I don't like my FNDI
Detty: dunno what you are on about.
Jess: Yeah, not at all. I know. What am I talking about
Detty: with you? It's like what FND.
Jess: Yeah.
Detty: No, but you know how to, you know, how to look after yourself and Yeah, I guess, um, if you guys ever, [00:22:00] ever get a hold of her last book, which is Widow's Flame, I know that it's not out there, but if you ever do find a copy, it is brilliant. Actually, I've been privy to read a couple of Jess's, um, books.
And The truth you have, I've gotta tell you, she's brilliant. She's brilliant. I've yet to read the next one though, because I keep getting interrupted.
I just wanna sit down, read. Oh no, you are, you are brilliant. Um, thank you. I'm wondering, because I do believe you've got a lot of books, uh, behind you that you're going to write, but I noticed that this book. Is Woman of Wolves book one now? Mm-hmm. What's going on there? Are we looking at a series or mm-hmm.
Really?
Jess: Yeah. So the series, um, is called Aris Rule. Yes. [00:23:00] And Woman of Wolves is book 1, 2, 4, book series.
Detty: Wow. Have they already been written or, yeah.
Jess: Um, so I am writing the fourth.
Detty: That is incredible. Oh my goodness. I can't it. Yes. I was just like, yeah, it's
Jess: um,
Detty: I'm getting a collection of, um, just the Jess McFarlane on my shelf here.
You know, I love that.
Jess: Oh, this book since I wrote it. So I wrote this one in 2016 and I'm obviously writing the fourth book now.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: It's been in my life so long that it's like literally the only thing I can,
Detty: living it every single day. Yeah. Yeah,
Jess: so
Detty: writing, writing for so long like that, um, and writing the last book, that would actually be very emotional for you, wouldn't it?
Because you've gotten used to the characters being around all the time. They're almost like real people to you. [00:24:00]
Jess: Yeah, yeah. No, it genuinely is. I, um, I think I'm probably gonna be heartbroken and try and find another reason to write a fifth book. And like I, I was at work the other day and I actually did have like a quick like, sort of flash in my mind and I was like, is there a Facebook?
Because I like saw something happen. Yeah. And I'm like, there could definitely be a Facebook if I really wanted it, but I'll see what happens. I'll see how book four ends.
Detty: You know, I've got a feeling that you might even do just a little novella in between.
Jess: Yeah. Well people are already asking for. Side character backgrounds and stuff.
Nice. That's so good. Yeah.
Jess: Yeah. And I have actually genuinely thought about it, especially with, um, a few of the characters, but one particularly wishes the druid, um, Bre, he's like her adopted uncle. Like he's not actually blood related, but [00:25:00]he's pretty much her uncle.
Yeah.
Jess: Um.
He is very much like ageless. He's had, especially not so much in Book one, but like the later books, he's like the comic sort of relief, like the, the lines that he has make me laugh because he's just, he's so funny and like he calls murdering out for her bullshit all the time.
Book betas at the moment, and I had someone go, if you kill him off, gonna have words. Him. I was like, oh, I was thinking about it and I'm like, I don't, this man die. Like another level of like,
my
Detty: goodness,[00:26:00]
Jess: I. I love it.
Detty: It's almost like if it almost feels like, look, if you are a Dungeons and Dragons person, this book is also for you. If, if you, if you, if you like game them Thrones, then you will also like this book. You know, people have compared Game of Thrones. Yeah. I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't say that.
Okay. I did.
Jess: My author, readers did. Yeah. And definitely it's very
Detty: graphic. I love it.
Jess: Yeah, it's very graphic. Just off
Detty: spoil. I'm so sorry. Just go read the book guys. If you, if you, if you wanna support an FND author, um, go and read a book. Thank you. Read her book. One final question before we go. Right.
What [00:27:00] advice would you give to people who are considering working, um, with FND? Or two questions actually, but that's the first one. Mm-hmm.
Jess: Definitely tell your employer don't hide it because point, even if you.
Because unpredictable.
Detty: Mm-hmm.
Jess: And they need to know how to deal with it, whether they need to call an ambulance, because we all know like a lot of the, you don't need to.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Unless goes for more than, you know. Yeah. Five minutes. I'd say five. I'd say like three. Pretty much on,
Detty: yes. Yeah.
Jess: Um, so yeah, you definitely.
And kind of just, I dunno, take it day by day and just be like me and.[00:28:00]
Detty: People who are listening here with FND considering working. All right. The first person that I interviewed went Gungho. This second one here went Gungho, and they both said the same thing. I did not know that this was going to happen. It was a bit hardcore. Go small and then build up. I reckon that's the best way.
What do you think? I, yeah, no, absolutely. Um,
Jess: try casual work part-time. If you can work from home. There's so many jobs that you can work from home now, so try find that. It's kind of hard, but there are like a lot of office jobs where you can, um, and yeah, try and find places like really inclusive as well.
Detty: The second question that I have for you, and this is the last one, is, um. What would you give to someone? Like advice? Again? Advice, because you've lived with FND for a longer period of [00:29:00] time now, so it's been quite a while now. Mm-hmm. How many years now is it that you've had FND for four? I think like four or five.
Four or five. Has it been that long? Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Alright. Well I know,
well, yeah, I, yeah. Well, per, for a person who's had, um, FND now for five years, what would, what advice would you give to a person who's just newly diagnosed with FND? 'cause I'm, I'm pretty sure the, the Jess that I talked to at the very beginning. Would probably say differently now, knowing what you know now, living with your FND, what would you say?
Jess: Yeah, um, you are right. I probably would say differently now. Um, I [00:30:00] think the main advice I would give is don't.
The way that you view it.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: It's a, it's a very like maneuver matter sort of situation and, um, when you approach it with patience and love and respect for yourself.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: Um, you can really sort of like switch that whole like sort of ego response you get when. A lot of the diagnosis, I guess, comes with the terrible way of saying it, which is, um, it's in your head and we hate that and we don't like it, but definitely, yeah.
It's in my head anyway.[00:31:00]
Well, technically speaking.
I think when people hear that and when they get suggested to, you know, go see a psychologist or get therapy mm-hmm. There's that immediate defense because they think that that's not the problem at all. And you're right, it's not the entire problem, but the sort of like immediate fight back and lash back.
Something that I think closes a lot of doors that should be left open. Um, and then what I'm saying is those doors are ways to treatment that could actually really help you.
Mm-hmm.
Jess: Um, because it is a multilevel disorder.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: There are so many levels to it. It's not just physical and we know this. Mm-hmm.
So [00:32:00] therapy's not gonna help for everyone. I definitely suggest if you think that it might help for you, even if you think that it doesn't, I didn't think that it would and it did help me. So, you know, um, yes. And then, you know, there's so much more, like there's, you know, the, um, I did a lot of like the physiotherapy, like the neurological stuff, and that was really cool.
Um, and I think just staying open-minded really helped bring out those avenues to therapies that were actually really, really beneficial. Like settle back into myself and go, this is a condition that is extremely diverse and like really intricate. Yes. And it's not just like black and white. It's a really gray area
Detty: I was saying.
And we still dunno everything. Yeah, I was saying that was complex. Yeah, absolutely. It's, it's not like, oh, you got diabetes. Oh, okay. These are the symptoms. If you have low blood sugar, these are the symptoms [00:33:00] with the high. Exactly. And it's one for everyone. Everyone experiences the same thing.
Jess: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Absolutely. Like that's, um, that is the word that I was trying to find, so thank you. Um, it's extremely complex and, um, so yeah, I think staying open-minded and just like not panicking. Just accepting
Detty: Yeah.
Jess: Will really, really help you. And like, I know that sounds like bullshit, but when you actually just like put it into practice, you'll, you'll find out what I'm saying.
You'll understand what I'm saying because, um, keep
Detty: calm and carry on is what my motto is sometimes too. Keep calm. Well, yeah. And carry on. It will pass. Deal with whatever you've got right now and Yeah.
Jess: Yeah, yeah. And I.
I was really defensive when I first got diagnosed and I had a psychologist walk up to my hospital bed. I was like, I [00:34:00] was blown. I was so offended.
Detty: Yes.
Jess: But I really think that it plays on the, you know, societal view of mental health, which is so wrong because mental health is just as important and crucial as physical health.
If you have depression mm-hmm. You're just as valid as someone has ms. That's true. Or cancer. Yeah. Debilitating
lifeing. Mm-hmm. Medical conditions. So what if FD is psychological? I'm not saying that it's, but I'm just saying so what, for people who are just about to jump
Detty: up and like, you know, look, FND is very physical. Very physical. It's very physical. There is evidence of um, you know, of it actually affecting us on the physical kind of way.
It changes the shape of your brain.
Yeah. Well, I wanna thank you again for being on the podcast and, um, having the, your [00:35:00] segment.
That was our beautiful Jess on the JJ segment. Jess, thank you so much for catching up with us. It was an absolute joy talking with you as always. Now you've come such a long way in your journey with FND, and I'm just really proud of you. And did I mention, again, you've heard it on this episode, but she's now a fully fledged author, so if you'd like a.
Good book binge, or if you are a fellow book talk fan, Jess is one to keep your eye on. So you can find her on TikTok at jess McFarland and you can check out her books on Amazon. I'll pop all the links in the show notes for you. It's always so good talking to you, Jess. Your strength and honesty light up every conversation.
And seriously, I can't wait for our next chat end. Laugh to everybody else listening. Thank you for tuning in and being there with us, and until next time, stay safe, love, [00:36:00] heart, and peace, and I'll see you on the flip side. 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 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 [00:37:00] 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.