Why do you resonate more the term narcoleptic or person with narcolepsy?

I have never used the term narcoleptic to describe myself in the 30 years since I was diagnosed. Usually I tell people that I have narcolepsy. While narcolepsy is a big part of my life, it’s not who I am, and not how I want people to think of me.

I used to refer to myself as a person with narcolepsy. However, after living with this disorder for 24 years, I am okay with saying I am a narcoleptic. Even though I refer to myself as a narcoleptic I do not feel my narcolepsy defines who I am. However, I think that the symptoms can have such a huge impact in my life that it is important to educate people should a symptom happen in front of them. This is for my safety as well as there peace of
mind.

Personally, I feel differently. As someone newly diagnosed with narcolepsy, I prefer to use the term "narcoleptic." I see it as identity-first language-much like how we say "autistic person" rather than "person with autism." You cannot separate the person from something as pervasive as narcolepsy, which affects so much of how our brains work and how we see the world, for better and for worse. I think it would be helpful to explore narcolepsy within the framework of neurodiversity because it absolutely belongs in this space. I also disagree that identity-first language propagates stigma. If people's ableism is so entrenched that they don't see a person as a person unless they're explicitly reminded in the first part of a sentence, then they have more work to do. Neurology is not an accessory!

I resonate with a "person with narcolepsy", because I am a person who happens to suffer from narcolepsy. Calling myself a narcoleptic, to me, signifies that having narcolepsy is all I am, when I am so much more.