Myth: Narcolepsy is only about being sleepy all the time.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), characterized by an uncontrollable urge to sleep (often at inappropriate times) is only one of the five major symptoms of narcolepsy. Aside from feeling #AlwaysSleepy, other major symptoms are:
- Cataplexy – a weakening of muscle tone that may look like drooping eyes, jaw sag or buckling knees that is brought on by strong emotions like laughter
- Sleep disruption – poor-quality sleep, where you fall asleep easily but have trouble staying asleep
- Sleep paralysis – feeling unable to move or speak when waking up or falling asleep
- Hypnagogic hallucinations – vivid dreamlike states, usually nightmares, when waking up or falling asleep
Dr. Clark makes clear that a narcolepsy diagnosis is not solely based on symptoms. “It also requires sleep testing to include polysomnography and multiple sleep latency tests,” said Clark. Before speaking with a specialist, take a simple quiz to learn more about your symptoms at FeelingTheFog.com.
Myth: Narcolepsy isn’t a big deal.
Lots of people often feel tired, but narcolepsy is more than feeling tired; it is a real condition involving nerve cells and chemicals in the brain. Narcolepsy is a lifelong, chronic condition that not only comes with severe drowsiness, but also insomnia, temporary paralysis, brain fog, inability to focus, memory lapses, hallucinations, and even depression. Quality of sleep and of life are greatly compromised, making narcolepsy a frustrating and dangerous condition.