The Subtle Differences Between Nightmares and Night Terrors: A Personal PerspectiveLiving with narcolepsy type 1 (with cataplexy) has given me a unique relationship with sleep. I’ve become quite adept at handling the complexities of daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, but my...reactionscomments
Putting a Ring On It: Getting Married While Managing a Sleep DisorderSome might have noticed my recent name change from “Craine” to “Bhavnani.” As of my writing this, I exited the dating realm and entered the “married and living together” realm...reactions1comment
What’s the Deal With Stimulants?Stimulants can potentially be helpful for those of us with narcolepsy. When I was first diagnosed with narcolepsy, though, sodium oxybate was the first drug introduced to me as a...reactions8comments
Narcolepsy and the Root of MisdiagnosisThe journey to receiving a narcolepsy diagnosis often resembles a rollercoaster, fraught with misdiagnoses. It can take a long time to get diagnosed correctly. Since initiating my advocacy journey in...reactions14comments
Traveling with the Right TribeAs an avid traveler living with narcolepsy, I have had a wide variety of travel experiences. Often times I travel with friends or people who know me and have an...reactions4comments
NOT “Fat and Lazy” – Just NarcolepticLiving with narcolepsy as a person of a larger size can bring some added complications. I’d been overweight all my life when my narcolepsy onset, so I was well used...reactions1comment
Keeping Your Family Connected When Raising a Child With a Rare DiseaseEditor's Note: This article was written by Elle Cole and originally appeared on our partner site RareDisease.net. Raising a child with a rare disease extends beyond medical hurdles – it...reactionscomments
Hot Sleepy Girl SummerWhile I do not have a summer break from work like I did in school, a lot of activities still happen during the summer: friends inviting me to hang out...reactionscomments
Parental Partnership: Supporting Families With a Child Affected by a Rare DiseaseEditor's Note: This article was written by Elle Cole and originally appeared on our partner site RareDisease.net. When I became a mother at 26 years old and my husband a...reactionscomments
Beyond Sleep: Navigating Memory Loss and Aging with NarcolepsyI not long ago had a poignant conversation with a friend who, like me, suffers from narcolepsy. Our discussion centered around the common yet distressing issue of fatigue and, more...reactions13comments
Narcolepsy Rest DaysI keep wondering, when will I feel better? I keep waiting for life to get easier with narcolepsy. So far it hasn’t. Something that helps me recover from the worst...reactions2comments
How NOT to React to a Cataplexy AttackCataplexy is a sudden, brief loss of muscle tone often triggered by strong emotions. If you have never witnessed a cataplexy attack, it can be difficult to describe. Despite suffering...reactionscomments
When You’re ALWAYS Tired…A typical day with a sleep disorder like narcolepsy can look like this… Wake up. Lay in bed. Bask in the morning sun. Wish you could have one morning feeling...reactions15comments
Narcolepsy Letter to My 21-Year-Old SelfI went for lunch recently with a dear friend, someone I've known since I was 11. As we sat reminiscing, she posed an intriguing question: "What would you say to...reactionscomments
Reading With NarcolepsyI love everything about books. Always have. From the crisp smell of their pages, to the buttery-soft feel of their words beneath my fingers, to the worlds they allow me...reactionscomments
Explaining Narcolepsy to OthersSharing a chronic diagnosis with others often feels scary. A narcolepsy diagnosis brings added challenges. Many people do not understand narcolepsy. Others have wrong ideas about the disease. Sometimes, it...reactions7comments
Fighting for Narcolepsy Medication CoverageHave you ever had to prove to insurance that your narcolepsy medication is worth covering? This is unfortunately a common issue that many people in our community end up having...reactionscomments
Worrying About Graduate School and Accommodations for Idiopathic HypersomniaIn December 2023 I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in English. It wasn't easy being a college student with idiopathic hypersomnia. I struggled at maintaining a busy schedule since I...reactionscomments
How It Feels To Experience A MicrosleepLiving with narcolepsy is like living with an extra, constant shadow by your feet, not just as a medical condition, but as a relentless companion in my life. It's more...reactions7comments
I'm Proud of You“I’m proud of you,” my friend said, smiling. And my stomach dropped. I’d taken extra stimulants, four caffeine pills, and two cups of coffee to get through this day of...reactions7comments
