FND affects each person differently. Here is a detailed breakdown of every symptom type — motor, sensory, cognitive, and dissociative — with descriptions of what each feels like.
For a full introduction to what FND is and how symptoms are diagnosed, read What Is FND? — the comprehensive guide. This page is a detailed reference for each symptom type.
Motor symptoms affect the body's ability to move. They range from mild weakness to full paralysis, and include involuntary movements that can look like tremor, dystonia, or gait problems.
Loss of strength in an arm, leg, or one side of the body. Power may vary significantly from one moment to the next — 2/5 on one test, 4/5 on the next. Often described as "heavy" or "not responding."
Shaking, usually in a hand or limb. Key feature: the tremor changes or lessens when the person is distracted (e.g., tapping the opposite hand). May also change frequency unpredictably.
Sustained muscle tightening causing abnormal posture — a clenched fist, twisted neck (cervical dystonia), or a foot turned inwards. Positions can be painful and may persist during sleep.
Walking difficulties that do not match any neurological lesion pattern. Knees may buckle, feet may drag, or the person may walk with an unusual pattern (the "drag-toe" gait is characteristic of FND).
Sudden, brief jerks in a limb, the torso, or the whole body — similar to the "hypnic jerk" that happens when falling asleep, but occurring at other times without warning.
Weakness on one side of the face, drooping eyelid, or difficulty opening the mouth — mimicking a stroke, but internally inconsistent.
Sensory symptoms affect how the body feels touch, temperature, pain, and spatial position. Unlike sensory loss from nerve or spinal cord damage, FND sensory symptoms often follow non-anatomical patterns.
Reduced sensation or pins-and-needles in a limb, half the body, or other areas. In FND, the pattern does not follow dermatomes (the map of nerve supply) — a key diagnostic clue.
Blurred vision, tunnel vision, double vision, or a sense that vision has changed — without any eye disease. Can come and go and may worsen with attention or stress.
Partial or complete hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing), or muffled sound perception — without inner ear damage. Usually intermittent.
A sense that your body is in a different position than it actually is — or that the world is moving when it is not. Affects balance and navigation.
FND frequently affects thinking, concentration, and speech — sometimes referred to as "functional cognitive disorder" when concentration and memory problems are the primary presentation.
Dissociative seizures — also called Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) or Functional Seizures — are the most widely recognised FND symptom. They resemble epileptic seizures but arise from a different mechanism: the brain's normal protective responses become activated in a way that produces episodic, involuntary events.
Convulsive shaking, jerking movements, thrashing, or whole-body rigidity. The person may cry out, drool, or bite their tongue. Often misidentified as epilepsy.
Staring, unresponsiveness, confusion — appearing "switched off." The person does not respond to their name or environment. May include subtle repetitive movements (automatisms) like lip-smacking, hand rubbing, or picking at clothes.
Seizures that begin with one presentation and transition to another — e.g., staring, then escalating into convulsive shaking.
Episodes dominated by racing heart, hyperventilation, flushing, or a feeling of impending doom — may be mistaken for panic attacks or vice versa.
In PNES, eyes are typically closed during the event. In epileptic seizures, eyes are usually open. PNES episodes often last longer than epileptic seizures and may involve resistance to being held or turned. Up to 1 in 5 people with epilepsy also have PNES — the two can coexist. A video EEG telemetry recording during an event is the definitive test.
The autonomic nervous system — which controls heart rate, breathing, digestion, and other involuntary functions — can also be affected by FND.
FND symptoms can be grouped into categories. Many people experience symptoms from more than one category simultaneously.
| Category | Common symptoms | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | Weakness, tremor, dystonia, gait disorder, myoclonus | Inconsistent; distractible; non-anatomical pattern |
| Sensory | Numbness, tingling, vision changes, hearing loss | Pattern ignores dermatomes; can fluctuate rapidly |
| Cognitive / Speech | Brain fog, memory problems, functional speech problems | Highly variable; worsened by stress and fatigue |
| Dissociative seizures (PNES) | Convulsions, staring, automatisms | Eyes usually closed; variable duration; can coexist with epilepsy |
| Autonomic | Palpitations, breathlessness, abdominal symptoms | Often triggered by anxiety or hyperventilation |
New to FND? Start with the full explainer: What Is FND? (The Complete Guide) — covers what FND is, how it is diagnosed, and what treatment options exist.
CalmCircuit lets you log seizures, tremors, weakness, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and more — every day. Spot patterns, share structured reports with your clinician, use built-in grounding techniques.
Download CalmCircuit — Start your symptom journal free →This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified neurologist or healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.