Sussex woman left unable to walk after work stress triggered condition

Emily Newman, 25, from Crawley, was in the "best shape" of her life before she suddenly had a seizure and was rushed to hospital.

She had lots of scans and tests but doctors couldn't confirm what was wrong.

After Emily experienced bouts of paralysis and couldn't move her legs for up to eight days at a time, she sought a private doctor for a diagnosis.

Emily said she was in 'the best shape of her life' before she fell ill (Image: Emily Newman / SWNS)

She was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) – a condition that causes problems with the brain sending and receiving information.

Doctors believe her sudden symptoms were brought on by "work stress".

Emily now struggles with slurred speech, tic attacks such as hitting herself repeatedly for hours and has to use a walking stick or wheelchair to get around.

Emily, who works in finance, said: "It's such as dire condition. I'm going through grieving different parts - the life I thought I was going to live, the life I'm currently living and before."

Emily decided to get healthier in 2023 and felt in the "best shape" after marrying her husband, James Newman, 28, a firefighter.

She said: "I had decided I was going to get in better shape for myself and my wedding. I was running three times a week. I was working out every day."

But in November 2023 she had a seizure "without realising".

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Emily also struggles with postural tachycardia syndrome (Pots) - where the heart rate increases after getting up - and had put her "fainting" episodes down to that.

She said: "I was convulsing. I thought to myself 'it's that'."

But when she arrived home later that day she had another three seizures and called an ambulance.

Doctors thought it could be MS so Emily was tested to rule that out.

She said: "The week after I had a seizure lasting six to eight hours.

"I got bouts of paralysis.

"I was paralysed in my legs for eight days.

"I thought 'I can't live my life like this'."

Emily with her husband James (Image: Emily Newman / SWNS)

Emily decided to go and see a private doctor, who told her she had FND in December 2023.

She said: "He said there is a 33 per cent chance it will get better, 33 per cent chance it will get worse and 33 per cent chance it will stay the same.

"He asked if I had been through anything traumatic but I said nothing particularly.

"He asked 'were you under a lot of work stress?' 

"I said 'yes'."

Emily does not have the funds to pay for any treatments but FND currently has no cure.

Day-to-day she now struggles with speech and walking. 

Emily now has to use a wheelchair or walking stick to get around (Image: Emily Newman / SWNS)

She said: "I have tic attacks. The other day I was progressively hitting myself for two hours.

"It was really painful."

Emily said her symptoms leave her family "terrified" and she now has 10 seizures on average a week.

She said: "Last week I had 25 in one afternoon."

But Emily is trying to stay as positive as she can.

She said: "I still want to be me and be who I am."