Could You Have Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a relatively rare disorder that is commonly misunderstood. It is usually diagnosed based on the four most common symptoms: excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, and automatic behaviour. All four of these symptoms need not be present for a diagnosis of Narcolepsy, however, the more symptoms experienced the greater the likelihood that a person is afflicted with Narcolepsy.

The four characteristic symptoms of Narcolepsy are as follows:

1. Excessive daytime sleepiness or EDS. EDS is more than just feeling tired during the day. It is an unbearable desire to sleep. A person with EDS will find it difficult to keep their eyes open on a daily basis, even when they received an adequate amount of sleep the night more. They may take frequent naps or find that their mind is frequently wandering throughout the day. They will have difficulty staying awake even while doing activities that they enjoy.

2. Sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is when an individual wakes from sleep and is unable to move or speak. Episodes may last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes and frequently are accompanied by hallucinations or feelings of dread. Some episodes of sleep paralysis may not be remembered.

3. Hypnagogic hallucinations or HH. HH are caused by dreams carrying over into waking life. They occur upon arousal and may be as complicated as entire fabricated worlds or as simple as seeing a spider on the wall. The hallucinations can also be auditory or sensory. A person experiencing HH could hear voices, feel pain, or smell something terrible.

4. Automatic behaviour. Automatic behaviour is when a person is engaging in a menial or repetitive activity and loses active functioning of the brain. It is similar to "zoning out", but much more severe. A person experiencing automatic behaviour could drive to work and not remember how they got there or eat a plate full of food without realizing it.

If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms contact your physician or local sleep clinic. They have tests that can determine whether or not your symptoms are caused by Narcolepsy.