Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a rare sleep disorder that causes you to fall asleep unexpectedly and inappropriately. This is because your brain cannot regulate your sleep and wake cycle. Many people struggle with their sleeping patterns, but narcolepsy causes distinctive symptoms. These include sleep attacks, where you fall asleep without warning; a temporary loss of muscle control called Cataplexy which may cause you to collapse; Sleep Paralysis; and excessive dreaming. Narcolepsy is sometimes caused by the deficiency of a chemical called Hypocretin in the brain, but not always. A few alternative causes might be hormonal changes like puberty and menopause or psychological stress. There are medicines and lifestyle interventions to help manage narcolepsy, but finding support for your well-being should be an essential priority. The resources in this section can offer information and guidance if you have narcolepsy or want to learn more about it.