Some people would give anything to be able to get take a nap or just fall sleep whenever they wanted too. But that is not the case for someone who suffers from narcolepsy, a brain disorder that is a developmental disability.
The Nitty Gritty of Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, irresistible bouts of sleep that can strike at any time. These “sleep attacks” usually last a few seconds to several minutes.
Narcolepsy can greatly affect daily activities. People may unwillingly fall asleep while
- at work
- at school
- when having a conversation
- playing a game, eating a meal
- when driving or operating other types of machinery
In addition to daytime sleepiness, other major symptoms may include cataplexy (a sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone while awake that makes a person go limp or unable to move), vivid dream-like images or hallucinations, as well as total paralysis just before falling asleep or just after waking-up.
Having uncontrollable sleep-wake cycles and bouts of sleep at any moment can be not only frustrating, but dangerous.
What Can You Do
It is comforting to know that there are many avenues of support now available for you or someone you may know who has narcolepsy. Education about this condition as well as counseling, testing, and advocacy is available for a sufferer and their families. This is only the beginning of what support groups, institutions and other facilities are now staffed to do! Click here to learn more.
Don’t be left sleeping away some of the best parts of your life. Reach out to your doctor and ask what your options are. Be your own voice and rise and shine to a new day of understanding that you can get back control of your sleep pattern and your life. See more here.
