'Sudden seizures didn't stop me making music'

Sheffield songwriter and DJ April-Ess was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) in 2023

A singer and DJ from Sheffield who suffered up to eight seizures a day has returned to the stage, saying keeping "fit and healthy" has helped her to reduce their frequency.

April Stocks, who goes by the stage name April-Ess, was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) in 2023, and took a two-year break from the industry.

She has now released a new single, titled The One, saying she has adapted her life and learned to cope with the disorder.

She says: "If there's anybody out there who has it but daren't speak about it, get help, or get out there, it isn't your fault or something you can control - but you can live a moderately normal life."

The condition is also known as non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD).

According to charity FND Action, it arises from how the brain and nervous system send and receive signals, rather than being caused by disease or damage.

Symptoms can vary in type and severity, but the charity says "many people experience significant improvement" with treatment and support, and "effective management can still improve quality of life".

It says the disorder is more commonly diagnosed in women, and is mostly diagnosed during adulthood.

Ms Stocks says she was diagnosed after her second seizure, which meant losing her driving licence and having to quit her job as a social worker.

"It's not scary when they're happening, it's scary going out and not knowing when they're going to happen," she says.

"A lot of the time, people will ring an ambulance and think you're dying, but that's not the case - I feel a bit embarrassed when I come around."

She is still unsure exactly what triggers the seizures, but says keeping "fit, healthy, and happy" has helped to reduce their frequency, and she now has "a few a month rather than a few a day".

She says the warning signs of a seizure are feeling nauseous and her eyes flickering.

Ms Stocks and her fiance have a three-month-old son, but she says that being aware of the symptoms means she can still care for him safely.

Ms Stocks returned to performing in 2024 at the Rock N Roll Circus in Sheffield

Ms Stocks says despite staying away from performing after her diagnosis, she continues to write music while at home.

"When you're feeling down, it's so easy to write - and it helped," she says.

In 2024, she returned to the stage at the Rock N Roll Circus in Sheffield as an opening act for headliner Becky Hill.

"After doing that, it clicked a reset button, and I very, very slowly started to getting back into it," she says.

She hopes to be able to perform more regularly next summer.

"I don't think life will be properly normal again, but I hope it will be as normal as life can be," she says.

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