On this page
How it can feel
- One moment walking, next moment on the floor.
- Little warning — “I was just minding my own business.”
- Unsure whether you fully blacked out.
- Able to get up sooner than after a long seizure for some people.
- Bruising, embarrassment and fear of the next fall.
Day to day
- Avoidance of stairs, crowds and hard floors.
- Confidence knocks that reduce independence.
- Need for medical assessment to rule out other fall causes.
Understanding this FND symptom
Some drop attacks sit on a spectrum with brief dissociative attacks or functional motor collapse. Other medical causes of falls must be considered — assessment matters.
What can help
- Proper medical work-up for falls.
- If functional, clear explanation and safety planning.
- Physio for confidence, strength and safe recovery techniques.
- Review of related seizure-like episodes, weakness or dizziness.
This is information, not a treatment plan. Personal care decisions belong with you and your clinicians.
FAQs
Are drop attacks the same as faints?
Not always. Mechanisms differ. History and examination separate causes — do not self-diagnose.
About this guide & further reading
Written and published by FND Connect. This is general information for people living with FND and those supporting them. It does not diagnose a symptom or replace advice from your clinician.
- Neurosymptoms: Drop attacks
- North Bristol NHS Trust: functional neurological symptoms
- Neurosymptoms: when new or different symptoms need reassessment
External resources provide further reading; their inclusion does not mean their authors have reviewed or endorsed this FND Connect guide. Page updated 3 October 2026.
Take this to your next conversation
Note what happens, how it affects your day and what you want to ask. An appointment pack can help you organise that conversation.