Conversion disorder

Hi, I don't know if anyone is still around, but I too am looking for people to talk with that have conversion disorder. It seems to be a rare disorder and little is known about how to fight it. I got diagnosed in October of 2004. All the journal articles I have read say symptoms can go for weeks or months. Only a few have said years. That is tough to deal with. I too, go one day at a time with this. Anyway if there is anyone still around. I would love to talk. My stymptoms include walking difficulties which require use of a wheel chair and walker, psychogenic seizures on top of the epilepsy I already have, swallowing difficulties that require use of a feeding tube and sometimes Shortness of breath. Hope to hear from soemeone soon! Kerri

Hi, First, congratulations on getting out of the hospital. How long were you in for? My name is Kerri. I am 27 and was diagnosed with conversion disorder in October of 2004. Finding information on conversion disorder is difficult but you can find some if you do some digging. Let me know what types of information you want and maybe I have journal articles on it. I would suggest reading about conversion disorder in general and then focusing specifically on psychogenic seizures which is another name for pseudo-seizures. The following link si from the Epilepsy foundation website. They talk about non-epileptic seizures. Sometimes seizures are caused by physical things like brain tumors as well. But this also talks about psychogenic seizrues http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answe ... ilepsy.cfm I have psychogenic seizures as well as a host of other symptoms. I was diagnosed with epileptic seizures in 2001 and then went into the hospital in September of 2004, for shortness of breath. I was having a bunch of seizures that the doctors considered a typical so they sent me for testing at the Epilepsy Unit in London Ontario and they said the seizures they were seeing were psychogenic. I think the most important thing to do is try and figure out what triggers your seizures. Since psychogenic seizures are related to stress think about what has happened or what you were thinking about just before the seizure. Try to see if there is a pattern. The neuro-psychologist I saw said that by doing this some patients seizures stop altogether, or they diminish. I think getting dignosed with conversion disorder and all the tests causes more stress so hopefully now that you are out of the hospital you will begin having less seizures. As far as what to expect from all this. First expect that most people do not understand or know much about conversion disorder. When I explain it to people I am quick to explain that it is not malingering or faking it and it isn't being done to gain attention that it is sub concious. I have heard that some forms of hypnosis can work for conversion disorder such as EMDR. I can't remember what that stands for, sorry. Recovery can be quick or long term depending on how long you have had the symptoms. According to research seizures are tricky to get rid of, but since you haven't had them very long, maybe you will be lucky and be able to deal with them quickly! Aparently meds won't do anything for psychgoneic seizures. I recomend learning relaxation exercises. They are helping me. The psych is a good idea. long term counseling is what is suggested. Sometimes they can put you on meds for things like anxiety. Like you, I lost a lot of my independence with this too. That is one of the hardest things to deal with. I have to think one day at a time or I get anxious and upset. With time I am told symptoms go away or get under control and then you regain independence. the trick is avoiding relapse. which happens in some people and not in others. Do you have an aura with your seizurs? If so pay attention to tha and get to a safe place to have seizure. What kind do you have muscle shaking or blank out or what? When you pick a psych, ask them what they know about conversion disorder. I think you need one that is at least somewhat familiar to it or can be open to learning about it. Ask a lot of questions. Hope to hear from you soon! Kerri

hello maggie i have been dianoissed with conversion disorder its been goin on almost four months i go into spells like sezziers like that make me really tired i get sick at my stomach somedays i cant talk walk recently after christmas i lost my site all day i never know what i will be facing next this is bigger than i am so i have to put it in the lords hands it has effected my daily living im 37 years old i nevered dreamed of being like this im not able to be alone i have to go to work with my husband every day or stay with family member i cant work cant drive it has took over i just want my life back and i know you want the same what are you doing to get help or is there help out there this is really scarey please write back and lets keep intouch i will keep you and your family in prayer

emotionally im still not sure how to deal with CD, cos when i think about it, it upsets me which can bring on my symptoms. im being sent for cognitive behavioural therapy to try and work out what is the underlying emotional cause. for physical symptoms, i take tramadol and paracetamol for pain, and clonazepam and baclofen as muscle relaxants. i was on sinemet for a while as they thought i had dopamine responsive dystonia but it turned out i didnt. i hate taking all the drugs as i never have any energy and feel sick and stuff all the time. its so awkward

[quote="eo"]hi there, my younger sister has been diagnosed with conversion disorder. she is 21. i am wondering for those of you who say you've been battling this for years, what exactly are you doing to try to fight it. therapy? drugs?[/quote]


Hi sorry I have not been in the forum for some time as my email was going into spam just reading all the posts and catching up

I do not take medication, I know for some there is a need for for them to do so. I manage by being positive and kicking stress out of life. I also go for aromatherapy now and then, I meditate and pace myself as much as possible. It helps me...

I have recently found I my blood count for soft tissues is not correct, this can create the conversion symptoms I get, I have recently started magesium for this to see if it will help.

Gilly.