What triggers do others with functional neurological disorder notice?

[Tyler.M]

Physics simulations have become incredibly sophisticated tools for both research and education. What role do physics simulations play in your work or learning? I'm interested in everything from simple educational simulations that help visualize physics concepts to complex research simulations that model phenomena we can't easily experiment on directly.

[AdamYW]

I’ve been diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder, and while I understand it’s real and not “in my head,” the hardest part is dealing with the unpredictable limb weakness. One day I can walk normally, and the next my leg just gives out without any warning, which is incredibly isolating. I’m just wondering if others with similar symptoms have found any patterns or triggers they can actually recognize beforehand.

[NicholasL]

Yeah I know the feeling. I had a stretch where I could walk one day and the next my leg just folded. I started keeping a tiny journal of days I felt weak, what I ate, how I slept, even the weather. After a couple weeks I started noticing small patterns: fatigue from lack of sleep, hot weather, long days on my feet. It wasn’t a fix, but it gave me something to bring up with my doctor.

[Michael.W]

For me the pattern seems linked to stress and crowds. When I’m rushed or anxious, the limp seems more likely, even if my legs felt okay earlier. I don’t know if that’s real or just how I feel, but I’ve tried slowing down, taking breaks, sitting before a walk.

[CamilaYH]

I kept a simple log: sleep hours, caffeine, activity, and a note when weakness appeared. After a while I saw a rough link with sleep debt and dehydration. It didn’t stop it, but it gave me something concrete to show in appointments.

[Stephen.H]

Sometimes I wonder if the problem isn’t a trigger but the fear of collapsing. The moment I tense up, the weakness can spike. Maybe the mind is amplifying it, at least for me.

[Scott_M]

One day I was sure a long bus ride would be fine and it wasn’t. The experience of sitting, standing, then stepping again stuck with me long after. It’s isolating, not knowing when it’ll happen next.

[JonathanWW]

I’m not sure there is a real pattern most days. It feels like a moving target, and chasing it is exhausting. I sometimes wonder if the triggers change from week to week rather than staying the same.

[Mia.P]

I did drift a bit and once wondered if the problem might be something else behind the scenes, like sleep quality or a medication blip. Do you think this is the real problem, or could it be pointing at something else entirely?