Scared of the Dark: The Narcolepsy Symptoms That Nobody Talks About

Scared of the Dark: The Narcolepsy Symptoms That Nobody Talks About

Narcolepsy, Personal Story
One night around age eight, I was lying in bed thinking of the fun I had had that day with my family. I opened my eyes slowly to see a huge, hairy, manlike monster hovering above me on the ceiling. His appendages stuck to the plaster effortlessly, like a giant spider, and I could see his gigantic teeth waiting to sink into my flesh. I was completely paralyzed. So much that I couldn’t even scream. I lay there on my Care Bear sheets, trapped in my own body, unable to even clench my fists, or turn my head away from the terrifying sight above me. He dropped onto my chest, and I could feel the enormous pressure of his weight. The next thing I knew, it was morning. As a…
Read More
Digital Nomad or Hobo – Which label fits?

Digital Nomad or Hobo – Which label fits?

Mindset, Narcolepsy, Personal Story
Am I a digital nomad or hobo?  The label of "Digital Nomad" generally calls up images of social media influencers, relaxing on the beach, posting pictures that make everyone jealous.  While I do enjoy sharing my travel experiences, I am not quite on that level. But am I a hobo? I am an English teacher who just happens to work online. I use that advantage to travel as much as possible. But how did I get here? Was it a choice? Which phrase fits, digital nomad or hobo? (more…)
Read More
Accepting Narcolepsy

Accepting Narcolepsy

Mindset, Narcolepsy
I believe I have tried almost everything available to treat narcolepsy. I have a strong desire to feel better. Like many people with narcolepsy, I am not lazy. I am actually overly ambitious and often do more than my body can handle and later face the consequences. I think I have worked pretty hard to feel as good as I feel now, but I always desire to feel better. (more…)
Read More
5 Things You Can Do NOW to Manage Narcolepsy

5 Things You Can Do NOW to Manage Narcolepsy

Lifestyle, Narcolepsy
Can Narcolepsy be cured? While narcolepsy can still not be cured, there are lots of things we can do to manage narcolepsy.  There are so many different narcolepsy treatments available, we don't have to give up.  Everyone has to find the narcolepsy treatment options that work for them! Some people choose to treat narcolepsy naturally.  There are ways for us to mitigate our symptoms without taking narcolepsy medication. We want to beat the brain fog, fight fatigue, and take back control over how we feel.  This list is about short-term goals!  Try one or more of them NOW! (more…)
Read More
Going Keto

Going Keto

Lifestyle, Mindset, Uncategorized
I have tried to start with the easy stuff. Not easy to do, but easy to swallow and say, okay this is simple enough I’ll at least try.  And most of these are beneficial to anyone and everyone, regardless of if you have narcolepsy or another illness or if you are the healthiest person in the world!  There are plenty more to talk about. But not everything I have done to radically change my life has been so simple. Sometimes to get radical results we have to make radical changes.  The biggest one, I know many are resistant to or have some reason that it is not feasible for them, so I will not judge you if this is not for you.  But even if my way isn’t the way…
Read More
Loving Myself with Narcolepsy

Loving Myself with Narcolepsy

Mindset
Maybe the most important lesson I have learned about feeling better is just loving myself with narcolepsy.  I'm not going to lie and say it's easy.  But I do think this is especially important for people with a chronic illness. I have ups and downs and I'm constantly working to try to do it more consistently.   It's easy to get into negative patterns and tear ourselves down. It takes a lot of practice to reverse that so that we are consistently giving ourselves positive messages. (more…)
Read More
Gratitude Shifts Your Mindset

Gratitude Shifts Your Mindset

Mindset
Using gratitude to help manage your mindset can really have a huge impact on how much narcolepsy affects your life. What you focus on you feel If you don't believe me, try this exercise. [caption id="attachment_830" align="alignright" width="300"] Image by 1388843 from Pixabay[/caption] Take a moment to think of the worst day in your life, close your eyes and really visualize that day and feel the emotions you were feeling.  Stay there for a minute or two.  Open your eyes and notice the physical sensations in your body.  You may have clenched your fists, hunched your shoulders, or tightened your neck. Now think of one of the best moments in your life, where you felt a sense of accomplishment or pride for example.  Let yourself stay in that emotion for…
Read More