I wish people understood that I do not "sleep all the time" and am actually surviving through a constant state of extreme sleep deprivation.

I wish people could understand we would love to be awake and energetic and sociable, like everyone else. I think most of us look “ok.”Narcolepsy is another invisible condition and people assume because you look fine that your condition is “mild.” Or because you have some good days then you did something to cause your bad day or you should just get over it. For me the mental health issues that come with narcolepsy, the feelings of not being good enough, the isolation, the anxiety are way worse than most of my symptoms. I feel like the mental health aspect should be addressed immediately upon diagnosis. Therapy should be a mandatory part of your treatment. I wish people understood the emotional impact of having a condition that doesn’t have a cure and that you must figure out how to navigate a life of sleepiness. Having a career, a family, getting an education, all of that is greatly impacted by this condition. I have to choose on a daily basis whether or not I have the energy to actually eat or prepare food, the mental capacity to respond to a phone call, text or email or to pay bills. Being able to think do I have enough money in my budget to pay this bill and drawing a complete blank, trying to do simple math because your brain has shut down. It’s so disabling and sometimes I feel so unseen and so misunderstood.

You're not lazy at all dear one. All of us with this condition can relate very well with you. It has nothing to do with being lazy. On them days that you can't get out of bed, then don't and don't worry what others think you know how this condition works and what it does and that's all that matters. Just in case you haven't been told this....you matter!

"I wish I could sleep that much."
I've heard that statement several times after disclosing my NT2 diagnosis. I want to reply, "No, you don't. The constant aching for sleep even when you slept well the night before, the attacks after eating a meal, feeling as if you are sleeping your life away.... It's not something anyone should want... Let alone live with for a lifetime."

That's it's not a joke. I'm not trying to be rude if I fall asleep during a conversation, watching TV, or eating a meal. If I could control it, I would. Don't you people who don't have this horrible disease realize how embarrassing it is for us who do have it? To be falling asleep anywhere and anytime. It's not an easy life with this disease.