{"id":895,"date":"2026-04-24T14:39:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/waking-up-paralyzed-the-reality-of-living-with-fnd\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:39:12","slug":"waking-up-paralyzed-the-reality-of-living-with-fnd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/waking-up-paralyzed-the-reality-of-living-with-fnd\/","title":{"rendered":"Waking Up Paralyzed: The Reality of Living with FND"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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.<br><br>But the day didn\u2019t get easier.<br><br>When I finally got up, my feet felt like they were weighed down. Every step was heavy. Fatigue hit hard and without warning. The brain fog was intense\u2014everything felt slower, harder, like I was moving through resistance just to get through basic tasks at work.<br><br>Physio helped ease some of the pain, but by the time I drove home, I was completely drained. My legs and feet were burning. Getting out of the car felt like a challenge on its own. My eyes were heavy, my body exhausted.<br><br>This is the reality of living with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder).<br>One moment you\u2019re active, strong, independent\u2014and the next, your body doesn\u2019t respond. It\u2019s unpredictable. It\u2019s frustrating. And it\u2019s real.<br><br>I\u2019m holding onto hope that this is temporary. That I will find my way back to a version of \u201cnormal.\u201d But for now, this is my fight. And awareness matters\u2014because so many people are silently going through battles just like this.<\/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=\"422\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/abs-on-fire-arms-pumped-my-full-body-blast\/website-logo-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.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-4.png?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?resize=1024%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Website-Logo-4.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 easier. When I finally [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":894,"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":[1],"tags":[169],"class_list":["post-895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fndawareness-invisibleillness-chronicstruggle-neurologicaldisorder-keepfighting"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_000000009d4071f7bb79019dbd70fba6.png?fit=651%2C868&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":294,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/13\/from-doubt-to-triumph-my-trainers-brutal-challenge-conquered\/","url_meta":{"origin":895,"position":0},"title":"\u201cFrom Doubt to Triumph: My Trainer\u2019s Brutal Challenge Conquered","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"13 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019ve all had those moments where a notification pops up, you take one look at the screen, and your first thought is: \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d That was me this morning. My personal trainer sent over a new challenge for time, and as I scrolled through the list of movements, I genuinely\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\/02\/20260213_205821-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260213_205821-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260213_205821-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260213_205821-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260213_205821-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":283,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/the-21-minute-burn-why-im-hooked-on-the-hustle\/","url_meta":{"origin":895,"position":1},"title":"The 21-Minute Burn: Why I\u2019m Hooked on the Hustle","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"11 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"If you told me a year ago that I\u2019d find \"excitement\" in a 21-minute battle against a ticking clock, I probably wouldn\u2019t have believed you. But today? Today was different. I tackled a brutal EMOM (Every Minute on the Minute) challenge that pushed me to my absolute limit. Here was\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\/02\/20260211_094222-scaled.jpg?fit=649%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260211_094222-scaled.jpg?fit=649%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260211_094222-scaled.jpg?fit=649%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":895,"position":2},"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":849,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/23\/running-through-mist-and-mountains-magoebas-ultra-trail-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":895,"position":3},"title":"Running Through Mist and Mountains: Magoebas Ultra Trail 2026","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"23 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Start Line We ventured into the woods and mountains for the Magoebas Ultra Trail Race 2026, tackling the 30km distance\u2014a first for me. I didn\u2019t fully know how rough this race would be, but I was determined to push my limits.\u00a0 The morning was slightly cloudy, with a cool\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Magoebas Ultra Trail 30km 2026&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Magoebas Ultra Trail 30km 2026","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/magoebas-ultra-trail-30km-2026\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774178901504-1.png?fit=537%2C716&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774178901504-1.png?fit=537%2C716&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774178901504-1.png?fit=537%2C716&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":900,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/finding-freedom-in-movement-pushing-past-yesterdays-paralysis\/","url_meta":{"origin":895,"position":4},"title":"Finding Freedom in Movement: Pushing Past Yesterday\u2019s Paralysis","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"27 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, I felt stuck. It was one of those days where even the simplest tasks felt heavy, almost like my body wouldn't cooperate. I felt limited, mentally and physically\u2014a total contrast to how I wanted to feel.But today? Today, I decided to redefine my limits. This morning, I laced up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Body Transformation&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Body Transformation","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/fitness\/body-transformation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000c1bc71fd986f9e7087beaafc.png?fit=752%2C752&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000c1bc71fd986f9e7087beaafc.png?fit=752%2C752&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000c1bc71fd986f9e7087beaafc.png?fit=752%2C752&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/file_00000000c1bc71fd986f9e7087beaafc.png?fit=752%2C752&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":893,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/from-paralysis-to-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":895,"position":5},"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":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph3bPZ-er","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895","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=895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}