

Up to 60% of those with narcolepsy have these experiences, often frightening. These are also thought to be examples of REM sleep (in this case dream content) intruding upon wakefulness. Hallucinations may happen upon falling asleep (hypnagogic), or upon awakening from sleep (hypnopompic). People often worry that they are going “crazy” and are worried to mention these symptoms. seeing bugs on the walls, or hearing noises in the home. Hallucinations: Vivid and frightening hallucinations, e.g.

60%) will experience this symptom, but this can also occur in those without narcolepsy. The paralysis is thought to be REM muscle paralysis intruding upon wakefulness. It can be a terrifying experience, and usually occurs often upon awakening from sleep, or just before sleep.

Cataplexy: Sudden brief episodes of muscle weakness that occur with a strong emotional trigger.Understandably, this can cause severe problems with school, work and home life.

Uncontrollable “sleep attacks”: Sleep attacks are irresistible urges to sleep, and one simply falls asleep during any activity, at anytime during the day.“A whole night’s sleep can feel like a five minute nap - and a five-minute nap can feel like a whole night’s sleep.” And despite feeling sleepy throughout the day, people have poor night-time sleep, with repeated awakenings, sometimes with vivid dreams. Unrefreshing sleep: Even when they appear to get what seems to be enough hours of sleep, it is not refreshing.Excessive daytime sleepiness: It can range from mild “mental cloudiness” to irresistible sleepiness that makes it impossible to function.Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder where people may notice: If you have answered YES to more than a few questions, read on because you might have narcolepsy… What is Narcolepsy? Ever feel paralyzed when waking or falling asleep?.Ever see or hear things while falling asleep or waking up? (e.g.like neck might droop, dropping something, or your knees might buckle if you don’t grab on to something?) someone tells you something funny, surprised, angry or sad), your muscles get weak? (e.g. Find that if you experience strong emotions (e.g.Feel excessive sleepiness all the time, even when you have gotten an appropriate amount of sleep in the night?.She has seen doctors and been tested for hormone, vitamin deficiencies and diet issues, but no one has found anything. It is so bad that she couldn’t finish high school, and hasn’t been able to keep any job due to her fatigue and inability to wake up on time for work. The sleepiness is so bad that she’ll fall asleep on public transit, and even while talking with friends. Nowadays however, no matter how much sleep she gets at night, she is always exhausted. This is extremely frustrating, because when younger, she was extremely active and athletic. Jennifer is in her 20’s and has extreme problems with sleepiness.
