{"id":890,"date":"2026-04-18T12:18:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/living-in-the-in-between-my-life-with-fnd\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T12:18:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:18:25","slug":"living-in-the-in-between-my-life-with-fnd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/living-in-the-in-between-my-life-with-fnd\/","title":{"rendered":"Living in the In-Between: My Life with FND"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Some days, my body feels like a stranger I\u2019m forced to share space with.<br><br>Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is not something you can fully explain to someone who hasn\u2019t experienced it. It\u2019s unpredictable, complex, and often invisible. One moment, I can feel almost like myself again \u2014 moving, thinking, existing with a sense of normality. And the next, my body rewrites the rules without warning.<br><br>There are days when my hands tremble without permission, when my legs feel heavy and disconnected, when even the simplest tasks require immense effort. It\u2019s not just physical \u2014 it\u2019s mental, emotional, and deeply personal. FND doesn\u2019t just affect how I move; it affects how I see myself.<br><br>What makes it harder is the misunderstanding. From the outside, I might look \u201cfine.\u201d But inside, there\u2019s a constant negotiation happening \u2014 between what I want to do and what my body will allow. It teaches patience in ways I never asked for, and resilience I didn\u2019t know I needed.<br><br>But here\u2019s the truth I\u2019ve come to hold onto: I am still here.<br><br>Even on the hardest days, when frustration creeps in and exhaustion takes over, I am learning to listen to my body instead of fighting it. I am learning that rest is not weakness, that slowing down is not failure, and that my worth is not defined by my productivity.<br><br>Living with FND means living in the in-between \u2014 between strength and struggle, progress and pause, hope and uncertainty.<br><br>And somehow, in that in-between, I am still finding pieces of myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"395\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/16\/forging-strength-my-self-made-full-body-challenge\/website-logo-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Website Logo\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-2.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some days, my body feels like a stranger I\u2019m forced to share space with. Living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is not something you can fully explain to someone who hasn\u2019t experienced it. It\u2019s unpredictable, complex, and often invisible. One moment, I can feel almost like myself again \u2014 moving, thinking, existing with a sense [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[166],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-my-life-with-fnd","tag-fndwarrior-chronicillnessjourney-invisibleillness-resilience-healinginprogress"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG-20260417-WA0012-scaled.jpeg?fit=1440%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":895,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/waking-up-paralyzed-the-reality-of-living-with-fnd\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":0},"title":"Waking Up Paralyzed: The Reality of Living with FND","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"24 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I woke up and couldn\u2019t move my legs at all. Complete paralysis. It lasted about an hour\u2014but in that moment, it felt endless. Fear set in quickly. I didn\u2019t know what to do, so I stayed still, waiting, hoping. Slowly, the feeling came back.But the day didn\u2019t get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#FNDAwareness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicStruggle #NeurologicalDisorder #KeepFighting\"","block_context":{"text":"#FNDAwareness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicStruggle #NeurologicalDisorder #KeepFighting","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/tag\/fndawareness-invisibleillness-chronicstruggle-neurologicaldisorder-keepfighting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_000000009d4071f7bb79019dbd70fba6.png?fit=651%2C868&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_000000009d4071f7bb79019dbd70fba6.png?fit=651%2C868&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_000000009d4071f7bb79019dbd70fba6.png?fit=651%2C868&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":893,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/from-paralysis-to-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":1},"title":"From Paralysis to Power","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"24 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today felt like a completely different world compared to yesterday. Waking up unable to move, facing that moment of paralysis, was terrifying. But today, I was back on my feet\u2014at the gym, moving, pushing, and feeling somewhat like myself again.A constant tremor in my right arm stayed with me, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing\"","block_context":{"text":"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/tag\/fndwarrior-chooselife-strengthinstruggle-invisibleillness-keepgoing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000b04471f587cb8544c8b4665d-1.png?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000b04471f587cb8544c8b4665d-1.png?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000b04471f587cb8544c8b4665d-1.png?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":897,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/my-body-pauses-my-spirit-doesnt\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":2},"title":"My Body Pauses, My Spirit Doesn\u2019t","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"27 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I woke up with my legs paralysed again. That familiar fear crept in\u2014but so did something stronger: determination. As the feeling slowly returned, I stretched, breathed through it, and made a decision\u2026 I was going to run.Connor, my usual partner in crime, is recovering after surgery, and my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing\"","block_context":{"text":"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/tag\/fndwarrior-chooselife-strengthinstruggle-invisibleillness-keepgoing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":886,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/falling-hard-rising-stronger\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":3},"title":"Falling Hard, Rising Stronger","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"18 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Last Sunday reminded me just how quickly things can change. I headed out for a 15km trail run with my GSP, chasing the usual sense of freedom that comes with the open trail. About 7km in, the ground had other plans. Loose rocks beneath my feet sent me slipping, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A Week at the Gym&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A Week at the Gym","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/fitness\/a-week-at-the-gym\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG-20260417-WA0009.jpeg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG-20260417-WA0009.jpeg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG-20260417-WA0009.jpeg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":818,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/16\/building-strength-the-day-i-chose-health-over-cigarettes-and-alcohol\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":4},"title":"Building Strength: The Day I Chose Health Over Cigarettes and Alcohol","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"16 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Five years ago, my mornings looked very different. Before the sun had even risen properly, I would be standing outside with a cigarette in my hand. Coffee in the other, smoke curling into the morning air. It had become routine \u2014 something I hardly questioned anymore. Alcohol followed closely behind.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fitness&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fitness","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/fitness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260316_081035-scaled.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/dancing-with-heat-and-rivers-my-trail-marathon-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":890,"position":5},"title":"Dancing with Heat and Rivers: My Trail Half Marathon Story","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"8 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The sun was already fierce when Connor and I lined up at the start. At 29 degrees, the air shimmered, heavy with promise and challenge. My German Shorthaired Pointer wagged his tail, eyes bright, already scanning for the rivers he knew would be waiting.\u00a0 We set off at a steady\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Trail&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph3bPZ-em","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}