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Two Powerful Challenges, One Important Mission.

Updated: May 9


Living with a chronic illness—like Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, autoimmune conditions, and so many others—can feel like climbing a mountain no one else can see. Symptoms shift without warning. Progress is unpredictable. And the victories that take the most strength are often the ones no one else notices.


At Not Defined By FND, a nonprofit public charity, we believe those moments matter. Every step forward—especially the small, quiet ones—deserves to be acknowledged.


That’s why we’re launching two connected social media challenges designed to celebrate both the strength of living with chronic illness and the power of those who support from the sidelines:


✨ #EverydayVictory – for individuals living with chronic illness

💛 #SupportSquadChallenge – for the people who show up and walk beside them


These aren’t just hashtags—they’re movements. Together, they’re about shifting the narrative. They’re about making space for real resilience, honoring invisible strength, and showing how love and support can thrive even in the hardest moments.


While Not Defined By FND is dedicated to the FND community, we know the journey of living with any chronic condition often looks and feels the same—no matter the diagnosis. The long search for answers, the daily effort it takes just to get through the day, the feeling of being misunderstood or unsupported—these are struggles that transcend diagnoses. These experiences are shared across communities, which is why both challenges are open to all chronic illness warriors and their support networks.


Because strength is universal. And we see you.



✨ #EverydayVictory: Celebrating Strength in the Small Things 


There’s no guidebook for chronic illness. Some days, just existing is the bravest thing you do. 

Living with FND or any chronic condition means facing tasks that can feel monumental: getting out of bed, brushing your hair, making a meal, or making a hard decision to rest. These aren’t failures or signs of weakness—they’re wins. Hard-fought, deeply personal victories that deserve to be honored. 


The #EverydayVictory Challenge is your space to do just that. 


Because: 

  • Showing up when it’s hard is a victory. 

  • Choosing rest is a victory. 

  • Still being here is a victory. 


By sharing these moments, we’re raising awareness for what life with chronic illness truly looks like. We’re validating each other’s experiences. And we’re building a community rooted in realness, resilience, and recognition. 


Whether you live with FND, POTS, ME/CFS, endometriosis, lupus, or another chronic condition—this challenge is for you. Your story matters. 


💛 #SupportSquadChallenge: Honoring the Love Behind the Scenes 


Behind every chronic illness warrior is someone offering care, comfort, and support—often without ever asking for recognition. They may not have a formal title, but their impact is undeniable. 


They’re the ones: 

  • Holding space on the hard days 

  • Showing up at appointments or through flare-ups 

  • Offering a ride, a kind word, or quiet understanding 

  • Adapting and loving without conditions 


These are the support partners. The emotional anchors. The people who steady us when our world feels upside down. 


The #SupportSquadChallenge celebrates them. 


Whether you’re a parent, partner, sibling, friend, roommate, nurse, or chosen family member—your support matters. Your presence is powerful. And your love deserves to be seen.  Support isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about being there, again and again. These everyday acts of love and understanding deserve just as much recognition.


🫶 How to Join the Movement 


Participating is easy—and powerful. Here's how: 


✔️ Step 1: Share Your Moment 

Create a post—video, reel, carousel, or caption—on any social media platform.  Choose one (or both!) challenges and share your story: 

No moment is too small. No story is too ordinary. If it mattered to you, it matters to this community. (See below for caption ideas and example posts.)

✔️ Step 2: Use the Hashtag 

Tag your post with #EverydayVictory, #SupportSquadChallenge, or both so others can find, celebrate, and connect with your story. 

✔️ Step 3: Tag & Uplift Others (Bonus Challenge!) 

Want to keep the momentum going? Take the tag challenge: 

  1. Tag 3 friends in your post who you think would benefit from sharing their story or lifting someone else up. 

  2. Encourage them to join in by sharing their own #EverydayVictory or honoring their #SupportSquad. 

  3. On platforms like TikTok or Instagram, stitch or remix their video/post to create a chain of encouragement—linking victories, support, and connection across timelines. 


Let’s create a ripple effect of real, raw, and uplifting stories. 


🌟 Why This Matters 


FND and many chronic illnesses are still widely misunderstood. People are dismissed, misdiagnosed, and told their experiences aren’t real. That kind of invisibility can be incredibly isolating. These challenges are here to shift the narrative—to raise awareness and amplify the lived realities of chronic illness in all its complexity. 


By sharing victories—whether it’s brushing your hair, advocating for yourself, or showing up for a loved one—you help others understand that chronic illness takes real strength. 

You remind someone else they’re not alone.  You educate those who might not know what this life looks like.  You create a digital space rooted in: 


✔️ Realness – because these stories are raw and true  

✔️ Resilience – because surviving the hard days takes strength  

✔️ Recognition – because every step forward deserves to be seen 


💬 Final Thoughts 


You are more than your diagnosis.  

You are more than your support role.  

You are part of a movement that is bold, compassionate, and full of hope. 


Let’s fill our feeds with stories that matter.  Let’s celebrate the strength it takes to keep going.  Let’s honor both the people living it and the ones who help carry the load. 


👉 Join the #EverydayVictory + #SupportSquadChallenge today (be sure to tag @NotDefinedByFND so we don’t miss it).  Share your moment. Tag your people. Help shift how the world sees chronic illness—one powerful story at a time.  We’re gathering inspiring posts from these challenges to highlight on our Celebration Space—check it out at notdefinedbyfnd.org/showupandshine. Let’s fill it with honesty, hope, and the power of showing up.


✍️ Need caption ideas? 


For #EverydayVictory, try something like: 

  • “Today’s win: I listened to my body and took a break. #EverydayVictory” 

  • “This may look small, but it took a lot of strength. #EverydayVictory” 

  • “Chronic illness is unpredictable, but today I’m proud of this. 💛 #EverydayVictory” 

  • “My #EverydayVictory today: I made it to my appointment even though my symptoms were flaring 💪” 

  • “This took a lot of effort today, but I did it. #EverydayVictory” 

  • “Resting when I needed to was hard… but it’s a #EverydayVictory too. 💛” 


For #SupportSquadChallenge, try something like: 

  • I don’t always have the right words. But I show up. Because they’d do the same for me. #SupportSquadChallenge 💛 

  • Being part of someone's support squad means adjusting, learning, loving, and sometimes... just listening. And honestly? It's the most important role I’ve ever had. #SupportSquadChallenge 

  • Chronic illness doesn’t come with a manual. But love, patience, and respect? That’s my playbook. 💛 #SupportSquadChallenge 

  • I’m not here to be a hero—just a teammate. One step, one breath, one day at a time. #SupportSquadChallenge 

  • Sometimes I’m the driver, the snack-bringer, the symptom-Googler, or just the silent Netflix buddy. Always, I’m in their corner. #SupportSquadChallenge 

  • Being part of a support squad means adapting on the fly, laughing when you can, and holding space when you can’t. And I wouldn’t trade it. #SupportSquadChallenge 


Post Examples:



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