One hit killed

[Geminimind]

I started NF a while ago when I found Level Up Your Life in my local library. I will admit I mostly did the underpants knower thing. I eventually drifted away as I always do with my research deep dives, but the information did make me improve several aspects of my life. 

 

Which brings me to now. I have been told by a sleep specialist that I most likely have type two narcolepsy (jumping through Insurence hoops to be able to have the proper tests).  Which has made me very worried and sad but also a bit relieved. I never was able to follow through with the “just get up in the morning and do it. I was really down on myself for being that lazy. All those other people were able to find the willpower to push through, I just wasn’t committed enough, didn’t plan well enough, didn’t do my time management correctly.  

 

Now I know that I was beating myself up for no reason. I’m not lazy. I’m actually unable to control my wake/sleep cycles. I don’t lack the willpower to get out of bed in the morning, I have a blurred boundary between my wake and sleep cycles. I don’t daydream too much, I literally have REM episodes while I’m awake. I got a Rx to help with the daytime sleepiness today and for the first time in I don’t know how long I felt like I wasn’t going to fall asleep at my job (was still tired, but baby steps). 

 

I am am starting over with the academy. I will have to take it slow but I am finally going to be able to improve myself. I am going to be an awesome Rebellion Druid. 

[TimovieMan]

Slow is good. Slow is steady. Slow sticks more easily.

 

Welcome to the Rebellion! 

[Guest]

Welcome!

 

How old are you? What does your doctor mean about type 2 vs other types? I've had the same problem from age 14 until a few years ago. There IS hope! A few thoughts:

 

1. There is a chance your brain will repair or age out of symptoms in your 40s, or in my case around 31. (I suspect progesterone birth control was making me tired on top of my brain chemistry quirks however, so that medical change to Paragard may have helped me down the right path.) This idea comes from the evidence that narcolepsy is an autoimmune response: it starts with a genetic predisposition possibly triggered by a flu-like virus. Eventually your orexin receptors can heal, but walking around narcoleptic, you've got about 20% of a functioning orexin system and the brain of someone who hasn't slept in 3 days - your brain wants REM sleep all the time!

2. I personally had terrible experiences being prescribed time-release amphetamines and ritalin-related drugs, but the provigil/nuvigil family is completely different and much gentler.

3. It IS possible to medicate "as needed." I had success medicating only when on work travel when my routine got messed up.

4. Exercise helps. Think of it like boosting your serotonin and endorphin systems to help our your poor sadly-equipped hypocretin/orexin system.

5. There is a tiny bit of evidence that for some people adjusting diet helps. IF you buy the theory that gluten suppresses orexin levels in the gut, then eating less of it may help you with alertness. I wouldn't go that far, but regulating my blood sugar with intermittent fasting and keeping up my levels of protein and fats definitely helped.

6. Keep a routine. It doesn't matter WHAT the routine. You could get up at 4:30 am or 8 am, but the structure will help.

7. Accept that you may have a few bad days, and that you can reset when you need to. I know it can be completely demoralizing to have trouble staying awake for the most basic tasks. This can perpetuate a depressive cycle of being unmotivated to get back at it the next day. Take comfort in a routine and try to be positive. If you are a zombie and need to leave work early, get some sunshine, and take a nap, do it. Next week will be better.

 

I was diagnosed at 22 with a time-to-sleep of 2-8 minutes and a REM percentage of something like 85% of my sleep. For normal people it's 25-35% and takes a couple hours to get there. Good luck on your journey. Let me know if you want to talk more.