Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, interoception, neuroplasticity and Dr Bessel's approach to managing FND?

Dr Bessel from the Body keeps score author is the best one to explain the conversion disorder without mentioning FND. I'll leave it to the neurologists and researchers to explain the neurological details.

I like to use Maslow's Hierarchy of needs to visually explain the treatment, but to show the complexity of the treatment. I like oversimplifying complicated things in FND.

The bottom line of FND treatment is to maintain safety: physically, emotionally and mentally= TLC (tender loving care).

If basic needs are not met the body sends a distress signal whether through hormones or FND symptoms.

For example, when we are in pain right, we either rest, take meds, or get professional help? We and people around us, respond better to physical symptoms rather than psychological/emotional pain.

This is to answer why one size, doesn't fit all. Our needs are different. So I like to use principles of Maslow's idea.

How the principles of the treatment works:

1) Applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs in reducing distress signals in the body.

2) I use neuroplasticity to also show how it takes months to years to reduce relapse of FND. Pacing helps to better rewire the brain. Neuroplasticity is a way to maintain and prevent relapse from FND.

I cannot fully say that a person can fully recover from FND. Our needs are complex.

Plus, not enough research data to compare. However, there are other disorders with similar somatic symptoms as FND, which Dr Bessel has compiled. There are others, but his were a lot of longitudal data.

Why it is strongly linked to emotions? When we keep pushing our feelings down. It becomes an unresolved trauma. "Inescapable shock" (the body keeps score) is when our body relives the stress and doesn't know how to shut off the stress signals. The body thinks/learns (neuroplasticity) we are still in danger.

The accumulated stress has to go out somewhere? The body needs a natural way of healing.

3) Interoception is a way to assist in paying attention to internal signals.

Sometimes it requires a Reiki, trauma based physiologists, somatic psychotherapists. Specialists with knowledge of mind and body connection.

References

The body Keeps Score Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk

Interoception kids.frontiersin.org/articl...

Search Kelly Mahler interoception: to understand the process of interoception.

Google Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. (This is the fundamental principles of how clients are treated by medical professionals. It is the blue print of caring for clients.)

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I just like to connect the dots.

I was curious why medical professionals like to ask certain questions, why some of their words have sometimes super powers of healing, why they say be gentle with yourself, why they say to distract yourself, why yoga helps, meditation, deep breathing, why seeing mental health professionals is needed or medications, or take this medication. I was curious why temperature flares up FND or sounds and lights can be awful to a person with FND. Finally, why it was said to be the most second diagnosed in the neurology department?

I was very curious and always asked the why, what, how, When, where. Which includes the connection of emotions to the mind and body.

I was quite appreciative of how people with FND share their personal stories before and after diagnosis. What medical professionals say to them, how their body responds. I was curious about similarities of treatments, body responses and how people got better. It helped me to start looking for patterns.

So this is one way of explaining FND and treating it.

[Lady4]

Thanks for sharing. I am going to send to my teenage son later, currently 2+ weeks of concussion symptoms following a fall (or drop attack?).In conclusion the author said:

Whilst it is important to ask, “How am I feeling?”, we think it is just as important to ask, “What am I feeling?”

I guess this all ties in with understanding our emotions and responding to them (which can depend on the environment we are in), which is a learning process. Together with empathy for others.

[Lady4 in reply to Lady4]

Ps. Maybe I should ask "what are you feeling" when he is awake, rather than "how are you feeling" as its obvious he is in discomfort (trying not to use "charged words", ie pain) as he is holding his head. Guess thats going to take a bit of practice but maybe, just maybe, he will start to ask that question to himself ... worth a shot.

[Lady4 in reply to Lady4]

Pps. And maybe that would encourage him to read the book on his bedside "understanding emotions".

[Hidden in reply to Lady4]

Hi, Lady4. It is quite incredible the things you do for your son. I am sure it is distressing and can be horrifying to see him struggle and to be in chronic pain everytime. I am sure you have tried different medical recommendations to make him feel better and even researching the connections of mind and body.

Emotions are a difficult topic to any generation and culture. It is also the hardest to notice, name, identify and understand. Others are really good at hiding them. It is great that he has a book on hand. If he feels ready to read them and you help him identify it. And yeah it takes practice.

Human connection is a very vital remedy it helps them to feel worthy of themselves or feel valued. It might not fully cure the disease, but it is sure as hell, it does release endorphins/dopamine to relieve a little bit of pain. I am sure having you around reminds him that he is not alone.

When we feel valued, we feel safe, then we start to try and be vulnerable with our feelings to others.

However, if a person gets bullied or feelings devalued, human connection becomes impossible. We still want to connect, but it becomes difficult. Hence, most people would seek out different ways, others turn to psychologists for help. Anyway, using psychologist is a different topic to discuss and why they can be helpful to some. Because talk therapy, the talking is just a way to open up unresolved emotions and experience them safely. It is not about the content. It is feeling the feelings.

If sharing emotions are too hard and he doesn't want to share them, that's ok too. Journaling if possible? It might not cure a lot, but at least he can express them and let out whatever he wants to say or he doesn't even to express emotions, he can just write what he is thinking. Then he can delete or burn them. It really is just emptying.

At times, every human being has this altruistic behaviour. We tend to care for others Wether it is emotionally, medically, physically or mentally and it doesn't matter the cost. Most people self sacrifice because they love to love and make people happy. So at times, we don't want to share emotions, not to burden our loved ones. Most of the time, we minimise our pain for that as well.

So a long explanation and different variations to why emotions can be a hard topic for everyone.

I think what you are doing is remarkable though.

[Lady4]

Thanks, it certainly is a roller coaster and I have learn't to live each day as it comes but clearly a connection with school although not consciously aware of anything, other than he doesn't like or dislike, not much to go on there.

We have just been abroad for a family wedding and although there was the language barrier, he coped fine.

This morning, first day back at school after Covid (we believe) and our long weekend away, experiencing "that falling feeling", connected with anxiety disorder. Yet as we all know FND is subconscious and scored "normal" on an anxiety test.