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View stories from other people living with narcolepsy as they share how they describe their symptoms, the impact on everyday life, and helpful tips for managing their day to day.

 
Nicki Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Impact Video image
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Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Its Daily Impact

Nicki

Excessive daytime sleepiness has significantly affected Nicki’s life, especially due to “surprise naps” that have caused her to sleep through her own birthday celebration.

Matt Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Video image
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Recognizing Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Matt

In college, Matt recognized that he was always the first one to leave the party, but he didn’t know it was because of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.

Emily Diagnosis Video image
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People With Narcolepsy Are Often Misunderstood

Emily

Emily knows those living with narcolepsy are no different from anyone else. Listen to her story as she shares how narcolepsy symptoms can be mislabeled by others who don’t understand the disorder.

Emily EDS With Narcolepsy Feels Like Video image
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What Does Excessive Daytime Sleepiness With Narcolepsy Feel Like?

Emily, Scott, Sharon, & Sean

Four Personal Stories: Four people living with narcolepsy share their experience of what excessive daytime sleepiness feels like for them.

Nicki Cataplexy Triggers Video image
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What Cataplexy Can Feel Like

Nicki

Nicki describes what triggers her cataplexy and what it feels like when she loses muscle control.

Sean Emotional Cataplexy Triggers Video image
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Emotions That Can Trigger Cataplexy Attacks

Sean

Cataplexy attacks have interfered with big moments in Sean’s personal and professional life, like when he got engaged. Narcolepsy with cataplexy affects everyone differently, but attacks are often brought on by strong emotions.

Sean Avoiding Emotions Video image
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Avoiding Emotions to Control Cataplexy

Sean

Partial cataplexy in his face has impacted Sean's life. Avoiding emotions to control attacks has become part of his personality.

Sharon Social Cataplexy Triggers Video image
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Social Situations Triggered My Cataplexy

Sharon

After experiencing cataplexy while holding her infant son, Sharon started to avoid social situations.

Narcolepsy Symptoms Montage Video image
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Narcolepsy Symptoms Can Include Sleep Paralysis, Hypnagogic Hallucinations

Emily, Sean, Sharon, & Scott

Narcolepsy symptoms can go beyond excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. People living with narcolepsy share their experiences with hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disrupted nighttime sleep.

Gina Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis Video image
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What Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis Can Feel Like

Gina

As a person living with narcolepsy, Gina describes what it feels like when she experiences hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Scott Support Video image
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My Advice for Living With Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott shares his experience living with narcolepsy and offers advice to others living with the disorder. Hear his thoughts about finding support, the right doctor, as well as the inner resilience needed to manage life with narcolepsy.

Emily Daily Life Video image
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Living With Narcolepsy Day to Day

Emily

Hear the narcolepsy tips and tricks Emily has to share about the small changes she has made to help her day to day.

Montage Video of Personal Stories image
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Personal Stories of Living With Narcolepsy

Ijeoma, Matt, Sean, & Leah

People with narcolepsy share their personal stories, perspectives, and insights on living with narcolepsy. They share their thoughts on living a full and productive life with narcolepsy.

Montage Video of Tips for Living With Narcolepsy image
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Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

Katie, Sharon, Ijeoma, & Leah

Hear tips for daily living with narcolepsy from people who have narcolepsy. From building a daily routine to practicing mindfulness, people living with narcolepsy share how they have learned to manage their day to day.

Ijeoma Narcolepsy Story Video image
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My Narcolepsy Story: Living Above the Diagnosis

Ijeoma

For Ijeoma, her narcolepsy symptoms create many challenges in her professional and personal life. Despite these obstacles, she knows that narcolepsy does not define her.

Andre Being an Active Participant in Your Narcolepsy Journey Video image
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Being an Active Participant in Your Narcolepsy Journey

Andre

Andre shares how he took control of his journey with narcolepsy by becoming an active participant in his story.

Tim Narcolepsy Diagnosis Story Video image
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Putting My Health First – Tim's Narcolepsy Diagnosis Story

Tim

It took years for Tim to receive a narcolepsy diagnosis. He shares the challenges he faced along his journey and how he learned the importance of putting his health needs first.

Scott Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
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Biggest Impact of Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott shares why he believes narcolepsy changed the way his friends and family saw him and how the disorder set the course for his life today.

Emily Managing Symptoms Video image
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Narcolepsy Doesn’t Rule Her Life

Emily

Emily shares how narcolepsy is a part of her life, but doesn’t rule it. Hear about what symptoms she experiences and how she lives her life with narcolepsy.

Matt How to Explain Narcolepsy Video image
Watch Video

How to Answer, “What Is Narcolepsy?”

Matt

What is narcolepsy? Getting other people to understand the impact of narcolepsy symptoms is not easy. Hear from Matt on how he explains his narcolepsy symptoms to others.

Leah Social Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
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How to Manage the Social Impact of Narcolepsy

Leah

Leah shares the impact of narcolepsy on her social life. If things don’t go as planned, she remembers that every day is a new opportunity.

Scott Being a Parent With Narcolepsy Video image
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A Parent’s Perspective: Being a Parent With Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott, a stay-at-home dad, shares his journey navigating fatherhood while living with narcolepsy.

Emily Support Group Video image
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Support System for People Living With Narcolepsy

Emily

Emily shares the importance of having a support system and who she includes in hers.

Sharon Finding Your Narcolepsy Support Group Video image
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Finding Your Narcolepsy Support Group

Sharon

Finding your support group may take time, but be patient and remember that you are not alone.

Katie Preparing for Next Appointment Video image
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Preparing for Your Next Doctor Appointment if Diagnosed With Narcolepsy

Matt, Leah, Ijeoma, Katie, & Sharon

Living with narcolepsy can be very challenging. Hear people living with narcolepsy explain their approach to working with their physician.

Gina Relationship Video image
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Managing Relationships and/or Social Life With Narcolepsy

Gina

Hear Gina talk about her experiences and share advice about setting boundaries with the important people in her life.

Andre Relationship Video image
Watch Video

Talking to Your Friends and Family About Narcolepsy

Andre

A narcolepsy diagnosis can impact the whole family. Hear Andre describe how he sat down with the people in his life and began a journey of education and understanding.

Nicki Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Impact Video image
Matt Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Video image
Emily Diagnosis Video image
Emily Diagnosis Video image
Nicki Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Impact Video image
Watch Video

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Its Daily Impact

Nicki

Excessive daytime sleepiness has significantly affected Nicki’s life, especially due to “surprise naps” that have caused her to sleep through her own birthday celebration.

Matt Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Video image
Watch Video

Recognizing Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Matt

In college, Matt recognized that he was always the first one to leave the party, but he didn’t know it was because of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy.

Emily Diagnosis Video image
Watch Video

People With Narcolepsy Are Often Misunderstood

Emily

Emily knows those living with narcolepsy are no different from anyone else. Listen to her story as she shares how narcolepsy symptoms can be mislabeled by others who don’t understand the disorder.

Emily EDS With Narcolepsy Feels Like Video image
Watch Video

What Does Excessive Daytime Sleepiness With Narcolepsy Feel Like?

Emily, Scott, Sharon, & Sean

Four Personal Stories: Four people living with narcolepsy share their experience of what excessive daytime sleepiness feels like for them.

Nicki Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Sean Emotional Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Sean Avoiding Emotions Video image
Sharon Social Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Nicki Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Watch Video

What Cataplexy Can Feel Like

Nicki

Nicki describes what triggers her cataplexy and what it feels like when she loses muscle control.

Sean Emotional Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Watch Video

Emotions That Can Trigger Cataplexy Attacks

Sean

Cataplexy attacks have interfered with big moments in Sean’s personal and professional life, like when he got engaged. Narcolepsy with cataplexy affects everyone differently, but attacks are often brought on by strong emotions.

Sharon Social Cataplexy Triggers Video image
Watch Video

Social Situations Triggered My Cataplexy

Sharon

After experiencing cataplexy while holding her infant son, Sharon started to avoid social situations.

Sean Avoiding Emotions Video image
Watch Video

Avoiding Emotions to Control Cataplexy

Sean

Partial cataplexy in his face has impacted Sean's life. Avoiding emotions to control attacks has become part of his personality.

Sean Avoiding Emotions Video image
Sean Avoiding Emotions Video image
Narcolepsy Symptoms Montage Video image
Watch Video

Narcolepsy Symptoms Can Include Sleep Paralysis, Hypnagogic Hallucinations

Emily, Sean, Sharon, & Scott

Narcolepsy symptoms can go beyond excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. People living with narcolepsy share their experiences with hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and disrupted nighttime sleep.

Gina Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis Video image
Watch Video

What Hypnagogic Hallucinations and Sleep Paralysis Can Feel Like

Gina

Gina shares what it feels like when she experiences hypnagogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Scott Support Video image
Emily Daily Life Video image
Montage Video of Personal Stories image
Montage Video of Tips for Living With Narcolepsy image
Montage Video of Tips for Living With Narcolepsy image
Andre Being an Active Participant in Your Narcolepsy Journey
Tim Narcolepsy Diagnosis Story Video image
Scott Support Video image
Watch Video

My Advice for Living With Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott shares his experience living with narcolepsy and offers advice to others living with the disorder. Hear his thoughts about finding support, the right doctor, as well as the inner resilience needed to manage life with narcolepsy.

Emily Daily Life Video image
Watch Video

Living With Narcolepsy Day to Day

Emily

Hear the narcolepsy tips and tricks Emily has to share about the small changes she has made to help her day to day.

Montage Video of Personal Stories image
Watch Video

Personal Stories of Living With Narcolepsy

Ijeoma, Matt, Sean, & Leah

People with narcolepsy share their personal stories, perspectives, and insights on living with narcolepsy. They share their thoughts on living a full and productive life with narcolepsy.

Montage Video of Tips for Living With Narcolepsy image
Watch Video

Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

Katie, Sharon, Ijeoma, & Leah

Hear tips for daily living with narcolepsy from people who have narcolepsy. From building a daily routine to practicing mindfulness, people living with narcolepsy share how they have learned to manage their day to day.

Ijeoma Narcolepsy Story Video image
Watch Video

My Narcolepsy Story: Living Above the Diagnosis

Ijeoma

For Ijeoma, her narcolepsy symptoms create many challenges in her professional and personal life. Despite these obstacles, she knows that narcolepsy does not define her.

Andre Being an Active Participant in Your Narcolepsy Journey Video image
Watch Video

Being an Active Participant in Your Narcolepsy Journey

Andre

Andre shares how he took control of his journey with narcolepsy by becoming an active participant in his story.

Tim Narcolepsy Diagnosis Story Video image
Watch Video

Putting My Health First – Tim's Narcolepsy Diagnosis Story

Tim

It took years for Tim to receive a narcolepsy diagnosis. He shares the challenges he faced along his journey and how he learned the importance of putting his health needs first.

Scott Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
Emily Managing Symptoms Video image
Matt Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Video image
Leah Social Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
Scott Being a Parent With Narcolepsy Video image
Scott Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
Watch Video

Biggest Impact of Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott shares why he believes narcolepsy changed the way his friends and family saw him and how the disorder set the course for his life today.

Emily Managing Symptoms Video image
Watch Video

Narcolepsy Doesn’t Rule Her Life

Emily

Emily shares how narcolepsy is a part of her life, but doesn’t rule it. Hear about what symptoms she experiences and how she lives her life with narcolepsy.

Matt How to Explain Narcolepsy Video image
Watch Video

How to Answer, “What Is Narcolepsy?”

Matt

What is narcolepsy? Getting other people to understand the impact of narcolepsy symptoms is not easy. Hear from Matt on how he explains his narcolepsy symptoms to others.

Leah Social Impact of Narcolepsy Video image
Watch Video

How to Manage the Social Impact of Narcolepsy

Leah

Leah shares the impact of narcolepsy on her social life. If things don’t go as planned, she remembers that every day is a new opportunity.

Scott Being a Parent With Narcolepsy Video image
Watch Video

A Parent’s Perspective: Being a Parent With Narcolepsy

Scott

Scott, a stay-at-home dad, shares his journey navigating fatherhood while living with narcolepsy.

Emily Support Group Video image
Sharon Finding Your Narcolepsy Support Group Video image
Katie Preparing for Next Appointment Video image
Katie Preparing for Next Appointment Video image
Andre Relationship Video image
Emily Support Group Video image
Watch Video

Support System for People Living With Narcolepsy

Emily

Emily shares the importance of having a support system and who she includes in hers.

Sharon Finding Your Narcolepsy Support Group Video image
Watch Video

Finding Your Narcolepsy Support Group

Sharon

Finding your support group may take time, but be patient and remember that you are not alone.

Katie Preparing for Next Appointment Video image
Watch Video

Preparing for Your Next Doctor Appointment if Diagnosed With Narcolepsy

Matt, Leah, Ijeoma, Katie, & Sharon

Living with narcolepsy can be very challenging. Hear people living with narcolepsy explain their approach to working with their physician.

Gina relationship video
Watch Video

Managing Relationships and/or Social Life With Narcolepsy

Gina

Hear Gina talk about her experiences and share advice about setting boundaries with the important people in her life.

Andre Relationship Video image
Watch Video

Talking to Your Friends and Family About Narcolepsy

Andre

A narcolepsy diagnosis can impact the whole family. Hear Andre describe how he sat down with the people in his life and began a journey of education and understanding.

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Read stories from people living with narcolepsy on Know Our Stories: A Narcolepsy Blog.

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Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Occurs at night and includes dreams; muscles are not active to prevent people from acting out dreams.

People with type 1 narcolepsy can be diagnosed by their cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin (also known as orexin).

The cause of type 2 narcolepsy is unknown.

Restorative sleep state with decreased muscle tone.

Daytime and evening habits to improve sleep.

Brief total loss of voluntary muscle control when falling asleep or while waking up.

Also known as orexin, hypocretin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness and prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from occurring at the wrong time.

Unintentionally falling asleep due to excessive daytime sleepiness; “sleep attacks.”

The inability to stay awake and alert during the day; a constant need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.

A naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness.

Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Frequent shifts between different states of sleep and wakefulness at night.

Difficulty focusing or concentrating.

Brief loss of muscle tone with retained awareness, often triggered by strong emotions.

Performance of routine tasks without awareness or memory.