Coping With Narcolepsy

Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski
Are you one of those people who can drop off to sleep anywhere?
Do you find that you are going to sleep at inappropriate times?
Are you constantly fighting to stay awake during the day despite
having a good night’s sleep? If so, you may be suffering from a
condition called Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a condition in which the sufferer has episodes in
which he/she suddenly falls asleep These episodes are
uncontrollable and can last for anything from a few minutes to
hours after which the person will awake feeling refreshed and
fully alert There are usually several episodes in a day
Often, these attacks occur following a meal but they can happen
at any time during the person’s waking hours
The condition does not discriminate on the basis of gender,
race, ethnicity or socio-economic background It does normally
become evident between the ages of 15 to 25 but can affect young
children as well as the elderly
Imagine the effect this condition can have on the lifestyle and
the quality of life of the person The person may be in class or
in a meeting with colleagues when he suddenly just drops off to
sleep He may be at a party, crossing a street, having sex or,
worse still, driving a vehicle when one of these episodes
occurs As you can see, the results of this illness could be
catastrophic for both the sufferer and for the people around him
The cause of Narcolepsy is unknown but it is agreed that it
involves a malfunction of the neurotransmitters, the part of the
brain that controls sleep and awake states It is also possible
that hormones such as melatonin may be maladjusted, thus failing
to do their job which is to control normal sleep patterns
There are also three auxiliary conditions associated with
Narcolepsy These are called cataplexy, hallucinations, and
sleep paralysis
Cataplexy involves sudden, temporary muscle weakness and is the
most common secondary condition to Narcolepsy Cataplexy is
believed to occur during intense emotional states such as anger
or excitement During a Cataplectic attack, the person is
totally aware and has total recall of the attack later on
Hallucinations occur quite frequently in people with Narcolepsy
and can be visual, audible, or tactile These hallucinations can
be terrifying for the person as they are similar to bad
nightmares Historically, people with these hallucinations
accompanying Narcolepsy were misdiagnosed as having
Schizophrenia
Sleep Paralysis describes the feeling of not being able to move
immediately before falling asleep and upon wakening It usually
lasts anywhere from a few seconds to half an hour and is
generally accompanied by hallucinations
Because Narcolepsy is not curable, the condition is treated
symptomatically This involves a strict sleep regime such as
proper night-time sleep, avoidance of shift work and alcohol,
and taking short scheduled naps throughout the day
The main drug therapy used in Narcolepsy is stimulants
Sufferers of this condition are also encouraged to drink more
coffee and caffeinated drinks to help control their need for
sleep
In treating the auxiliary conditions of cataplexy,
hallucinations and sleep paralysis, the person is often
prescribed antidepressants
Prevention of the attacks is obviously a very important factor
and can be assisted by simply following a sensible sleep regime
at night, taking daytime naps where possible, avoiding heavy
meals, and the intake of more caffeine
Emotional support is another important factor The person needs
to have friends and family who can understand what is happening
and not become upset by it, thus increasing the stress and
anxiety that the person is probably already feeling Obviously,
if the person is married or in a relationship, their partner
needs to be very understanding and supportive
In summary, Narcolepsy is characterized by uncontrollable
episodes of falling asleep This may be accompanied by muscle
weakness, hallucinations, and/or sleep paralysis There is no
cure and treatment is symptomatic It is important to take
preventative measures to avoid these episodes so that you can
live a reasonably good lifestyle

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