A good memoir isn't a life story; it's a peek into a time in your life when you had genuine feeling, a genuine experience. Try to keep your memoir to a narrow focus on one time period or aspect in your life, ultimately drilling home a larger message. If written well, this one topic or time you went through will become universal and all audiences will be able to relate. Start thinking of writable material. What's something you can't deny? What or who did you leave behind? What's something you did that you no longer understand? What are you sorry you never did? What physical characteristic are you proud to pass on? When did you unexpectedly feel compassion? What do you have too much of? When did you know you were in trouble? They will bring to mind the experiences you could write about. If possible, go to the scene and relive the events in your mind. Just because you can't remember it off-hand doesn't mean you shouldn't write about it. Memoirs are all about self-exploration and there's more to you than just you, after all. You are the places you go, the people you love, and the things you have, too. This is one moment when your mind should be playing second fiddle to your heart. And if the emotions are scary, nonsensical, painful, or downright terrifying, all the better. Bringing these to the surface will help you stay in the moment and write with passion, purpose, and clarity. If a train of thought gets close to a nerve, don't close the doors and draw the curtains. If you stop, your writing will go flat and you'll end up dancing around subjects. Take your mind to a place it may not want to go. Hiding behind those first thoughts may be something worth knowing, worth writing about. Listen to music that can metaphorically take you back in time or noticeably changes your mood. Anything that stirs your emotions and allows your mind to be absorbed back into that moment can shed light on the past. This not only gives you one or two hours a week to get mindfully organized, but it allows your writing to be organic and creative and not the therapy itself. A memoir is not to find closure, it's to be shared with others, to expose a bit of yourself. It's totally normal to feel like you're going crazy. Digging around your old emotions will surely bring them to life and make them feel real. All you have to do, then, is write them down on paper and soak in the catharsis. You may even find that the story is writing itself and the conclusion you never even saw coming is looming right in front of you.
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One-sentence summary -- Start narrowing it down. Pull out old pictures, diaries, and objects of nostalgia. Allow your emotions to flow. Give therapy a shot.

Developing good sleeping habits can help combat the daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. There are a variety of habits that can improve sleep/wake cycles that may be effective if you're suffering from narcolepsy. Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends. Our bodies have an internal clock that signals roughly when we should wake up and go to bed. If our sleeping habits are erratic, this clock is disrupted. Go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each night, even on the weekends or on mornings when you do not need to be awake early. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. This means engaging in calming behavior, like reading or a warm bath. Reduce exposure to bright lights or electronic screens, which are stimulating and can suppress melatonin production, a hormone that makes you sleepy. Your relaxing routine can help you separate sleep time from daytime activities that cause stress, excitement, and anxiety. Keep your bedroom comfortable. The ideal sleeping temperature is 60 to 67F (15.6 to 19.4C). If need be, invest in fans or air conditioners to keep things cool. Make sure your room is free from bright lights and loud noises; use blackout curtains to keep light out and use a sound machine or earplugs to block out loud noises. Keep the room free of any allergens that may disrupt sleep. While small naps during the day can cause sleep problems for many, they may actually be effective in fighting narcolepsy. Planning naps that last for 15 or 30 minutes throughout the day can prevent sudden bouts of sleep. Napping before an important event can make it less likely you will fall asleep. These substances can dramatically affect sleep cycles. If you suffer from narcolepsy, they're best avoided. Nicotine is a stimulant. Smoking, especially before bed, can cause undue restlessness. Also, as narcoleptics fall asleep unexpectedly, there's a risk of falling asleep with a cigarette in hand and causing a fire. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. Not only does smoking affect narcolepsy, it can lead to a host of other health problems. While alcohol can help you fall asleep faster, the sleep you have is of lower quality overall. When you fall asleep after drinking, brain patterns indicate restlessness and people often report fatigue after drinking even if they've had enough sleep. Alcohol consumption, even moderate consumption, is discouraged if you suffer from narcolepsy. Caffeine is often the go-to for narcoleptics as it's a powerful stimulant that can ward off sleepiness during the day; however, caffeine cannot replace sleep. It merely keeps us alert by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and producing adrenaline. Caffeine stays in the body for a long time. It takes six hours for half of the caffeine consumed to be eliminated, so drink caffeine in moderation and avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon and evening. Exercise can be a powerful natural stimulant. It increases alertness during the day and helps promote health and wellness overall. During breaks at work, take a 30-minute walk or do simple exercises to stretch the muscles. This can wake you up and ward off unexpected bouts of sleep during work hours. Be careful about when you exercise. While daily exercise can help with your overall sleep schedule, you should not work out before bed. Physical activity has a stimulating effect on the brain. Aim to get exercise in four of five hours before bedtime. Certain foods and eating habits can promote sleepiness. If you have narcolepsy they're best reduced or eliminated altogether. Large meals should be avoided three or four hours before bedtime, as such meals can disrupt sleep. Aim for lighter dinners, earlier dinners, or breakup dinner into two meals. Your diet should consist of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, and lean protein. Heavy sugar intake and processed carbs like white bread and rice increase blood sugar rates rapidly. When these rates drop, sleepiness follows. Try avoiding such products. Meals should be scheduled and you should eat small meals throughout the day, especially if you have certain obligations. Large meals can cause sleepiness. Narcoleptic episodes can be triggered by intense emotions, so it's very important you keep stress levels in check. Exercise can help manage stress and emotions, particular long walks or runs. As previously stated, make sure to only exercise four or five hours before bedtime. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and art and music therapy have all been used to successfully manage stress. Look for classes, seek out therapists, or do research online or at the library to learn more about such techniques. Relaxation techniques that involve refocusing your attention on something calming can also be used throughout the day. Autogenic relaxation involves repeating words and suggestions in your mind. Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and relaxing each muscle in the body. Visualization involves imagining a calming situation or scene to try escape a stressful situation mentally.
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One-sentence summary --
Work on your sleeping schedule. Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Exercise daily. Alter your diet. Minimize stress.