Due to narcolepsy, the brain is largely unable to regulate sleep and wake patterns. This often presents as the following symptoms: Excessive daytime drowsiness • Difficulty concentrating and staying awake during the day • Falling asleep suddenly and without warning (this is also known as ‘sleep attacks’) • Temporary loss of muscle control • Weakness and possible collapse in response to certain emotions (this is known as ‘cataplexy’) • Sleep paralysis. This is the short-term inability to move or speak when falling asleep or waking up. • Excessive dreaming • Hallucinations. This often occurs as you fall asleep (hypnogogic hallucinations) or during waking (hypnopompic hallucinations) • Waking up frequently in the night Narcolepsy can have a significant impact on one’s day-to-day life and can be very tough to handle mentally and emotionally. A sleep specialist can help you develop a treatment plan to limit and manage your symptoms in a way that is both safe and healthy.