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Day: July 10, 2020

Over Stimulation

Over Stimulation

I heard this word a bunch with Dr. Andrews. I knew what it meant, but I needed to make sure that I understood what Dr. Andrews was talking about in regards to my disorder – Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

According to the Learners Dictionary, over stimulation is to cause (someone or something) to become too active or excited: to stimulate (someone or something) too much.

What was overstimulating for me? Really, there are so many things which can cause me to get active or excited:

  • Pretty Girl (Smart Girl)
  • Smart Girl’s child
  • Playing with children
  • Laughter
  • My kids
  • Good book
  • Bicycling
  • Yoga
  • Playing in pool
  • Going to beach
  • Good sermon
  • Share the gospel
  • Checklist
  • Meet new people
  • Concerts
  • Yardwork
  • Work
  • Running a business
  • Accomplishment
  • Life
  • Travel

The list can go on and on, but the definition mentions “too” or “too much.” Do all these things over stimulate me?

I have always been excitable and active. I could handle many things at one time. I could juggle many activities. I liked to move, to do, to progress, to succeed, and to accomplish. I had a checklist, and I wanted to check things off my list. I felt  good when I make that checkmark

Once again, checking a checklist is not going to make me so overstimulated that I can not function, or I lose control. Or can it?

According to Dr. Andrews, it is not the checklist; it is the activities or the consequences of overdoing the activities. If I do too much, then it can overstimulate me and shut me down, especially if I am fatigued or experiencing slight episodes of the disorder. My triggers can activate, and they can be much worse.

What triggers FND?

  • Fatigue
  • Stress
  • Complicated problems
  • Doing too many things at one time
  • Work to long
  • Work too hard
  • Unreal expectations
  • Unsolvable problems
  • Irritants
  • Controversy
  • Pain
  • Illness
  • Disagreements
  • Arguments

What over stimulants trigger me?

  • Sunlight
  • Pain
  • Disagreements
  • Complicated Instructions
  • Tired
  • Stress – mental, physical, emotional
  • Negotiations
  • Complicated and long verbal conversations
  • Long-drawn out stories
  • Overindulge in exercise or work
  • Unnecessary questions
  • Lies
  • Selective memories
  • Illogical jibberish

How do you live in society if these things overstimulate you where you shut down or go into a rage?

  • Learn triggers
  • Reduce triggers
  • Avoid triggers
  • Simplify life
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Stop doing too much
  • Learn how to rest triggers
  • Quit judging
  • Learn CBT
  • Learn DBT
  • Be grateful
  • Get back on Amitriptyline which has worked the best over last six years

Yes, I think some of what I write is redundant. I need to get a better grip on what is happening to me and how I need to proceed.

Does anyone know who teaches Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)? West Tennessee, Memphis, or Nashville?

Functional Neurological Disorder

Functional Neurological Disorder

I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) on Wednesday on July 8th. According to National Organization for Rare Diseases, FND is a medical condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body sends and/or receives signals, rather than a structural disease process such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson or stroke.” This disorder is an improvement over my self diagnosed diseases and disorders. I am happy that I have it than the other alternatives.

For six years, I have struggled with a many weird issues which came and went at random. These issues are unpredictable and debilitating. I struggled with the unknown. When no one tells you, what is wrong with you, then you begin to wander through the possibilities. I found and latched on to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) two years ago. I had 8 of 12 symptoms, and it was the only disease or disorder that described me. The doctors did not think I had it because I was too strong, but what were the alternatives? I sank into depression and anxiety.

I ran the gambit of possibilities. How long do I last? Will it be a painful death? Will I make it three years? Will I suffer? I did not believe the doctors who said you are too strong because they were not giving me any alternatives. These were no solutions; just wait until it manifests itself.

I did not want to wait until it manifests itself. I wanted answers now. Who wants to wait until it manifests itself, and then they say, “Oh, you had PSP sorry. Now, you will die in a year or 2.” To me, that was pure craziness!

A few weeks ago, Cynthia (Smart Girl) found Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and we studied upon it on various websites. I got an appointment with a doctor in Little Rock who understood FND. I found him on FNDhope.org. I made an appointment with Dr. Andrews.

I visited Dr. Andrews on Wednesday, July 8th. Dr. Andrews and I talked for an hour. He says, yes, you have Functional Neurological Disorder, and Dr. Andrews believes my right leg trauma with knee replacement, hip surgery, and replacement and blood clots with the extreme pain made FND activate. I was delighted when he said you are too strong for PSP, and since Mayo and Vanderbilt have eliminated all possible physical symptoms, it has to be FND. I went from a disorder with a death sentence to a disorder you can learn to live with through training.

You must learn what triggers your disorder or attacks so you can react to the triggers better. Also, you need to learn how to reset the triggers to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
Here is a laundry list of things that I need to do to help myself:

• Keep exercising
• Keep doing yoga
• Keep eating a healthy diet
• Learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Learn Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Simplify your life
• Keep it simple
• Learn triggers
• Avoid triggers
• Minimize triggers
• Learn resets – stutter or unable to speak than sing a song and can not walk forwards then walk backwards
• Beware if you disliked something before disorder, then you hate it now.

Here are some examples of what I disliked before, and I now hate:

• I was not too fond of crowds, so crowds activate my symptoms.
• I did not like liars. Now, I hate liars.
• I did not like injustice? I despise injustice.
• I was intolerant of emotional hot-air rhetoric. I wouldn’t say I like rhetoric.
• I do not like drawn-out stories. Now, I have no patience for a long story.
• I do not enjoy genealogy (stuff with past). Wow, I guess it is a huge trigger.

These triggers can set me off to be rude, angry, or go to rage. Big problem!! I have always been feisty, argumentative, fiery, but it is a new uncontrollable level.

I have to learn to deactivate these triggers and not to let them bother me. I hope CBT and DBT give me the tools to do that.

Does anyone know any resets for triggers or a good list of reboots like singing a song for stutter and walk backwards to reset unable to step forward?