Tag Archives: narcolepsy

Narcolepsy and Mental Health

The consequences of narcolepsy may be many and far-reaching. Cataplexy may interfere with physical activities, and efforts to avoid emotions may lead to social withdrawal. Sleep attacks and cataplexy in public are embarrassing and can cause serious social difficulties. Inability to work and/or drive may result in loss of independence, financial difficulties and various other problems. In these situations, a person can easily lose…

Disrupted Nighttime Sleep (DNS)

Narcolepsy can also disrupt nighttime sleeping patterns. Affected individuals may frequently awaken during the night and may be wide awake for significant periods during the night. Despite disrupted sleep patterns, the total sleep time for people with narcolepsy in every 24 hour period is generally normal because they sleep repeatedly for short periods during the…

Cataplexy

Many individuals with narcolepsy experience weakness and the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone (cataplexy). This often occurs during times of intense emotions such as laughter, anger, elation, and/or surprise. Episodes of cataplexy may occur as short periods of partial muscle weakness and can vary in duration and severity. In some cases, a cataplectic attack…

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder characterized by chronic, excessive attacks of drowsiness during the day, sometimes called excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).Attacks of drowsiness may persist for only a few seconds or several minutes. These episodes vary in frequency from a few incidents to several during a single day. Nighttime (nocturnal) sleep patterns may also be…