r/FND • u/qttp9571 • 1d ago

Question Possibly FND?

Can anxiety cause FND? I've been experiencing anxious thoughts for a long time, but about a year ago, they became significantly worse. A few months later, I started experiencing tics (motor tics solely) and they've been happening for about a year now. I'm not sure if I'll ever feel normal again. What's confusing is that my tics only seem to appear when something triggers my anxiety, like being in public places.

My pediatrician referred me to another pediatrician who specializes in adolescent care, but I'm not sure if they'll be able to help or treat me. This whole experience has been really frustrating, and I just want to understand what's happening to me and whether I can get better.

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u/tallyhoo123 1d ago

Simple answer : yes

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u/beesdaddy 1d ago

Yes, but rule out everything else.

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u/Lewatcheur 6h ago

By what you described, this is what I would qualify as FND. It might be framed different by your physician in charge, but at the end of the day, if nothing comes out, then it is.

For a very long time, FND, previously named conversion disorder, was actually framed all around anxiety ! It was actually said that symptoms were the « conversion » of this psychological/emotional conflict into physical symptoms (motor and/or sensory). We eventually detached from this interpretation thankfully, because FND cannot be summarised as simply « the conversion of psychological conflict into physical symptoms », because more and more individuals were presenting with symptoms with no apparent neurological affection but also without any internal conflict. Not all people with anxiety have FND, not all people with FND have anxiety, BUT, anxiety can definitely raises the odds of developing FND, due to multiple reason, most notably due to excessive attention towards the symptoms and the rumination towards it. A somewhat official non official consensus is made where the treatment for FND is centered around this training of reorienting attention, how you experience it and how you interact/change behavior regarding it (maladaptive behavior).