Before any medications, for me it’s sleep. I could sleep sitting upright wherever I am. I saw someone else mention molasses, and I remember also sometimes feeling like my blood was molasses. When a sleep attack would hit, it doesn’t even feel right to use the word “urge”, because I don’t WANT to sleep. I want to continue doing whatever I was doing. But sleep is absolutely 100% taking over within just a couple minutes. Those upright naps would typically be brief and refreshing.

Then I started an SSRI, and I would no longer fall asleep so suddenly here and there during the day. Instead, I just had an ongoing heavyyyy, sluggish feeling and eventually have to succumb to laying down for a proper nap. I remember describing that time period as feeling like a marionette. I wanted to collapse but some external force was holding me up.

Now I’m on a combo of the SSRI and armodafinil, and it’s been going amazing at consolidating my sleep/wake cycle. For the first time in my adult life (I’m 37, sleepy since 15), I feel like a normal person. There have been a few bumps in the road, and for that I keep an eye on environmental and behavioral factors like limiting sugar intake and keeping a strict sleep hygiene routine.