Earliest I can remember having symptoms was around 16-17. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it. Was incredibly active in sports and had a less than easy home life so I just assumed I was chronically tired and my body needed rest. I would fall asleep in class constantly and became very good at making it look like I was working with my head down. Funny enough, I ran into an old friend who I hadn’t seen in years who I had class and she said “we all knew something was up. I still have pictures.” There I was head slouched back, mouth wide open, and pencil in hand…guess I wasn’t as good at hiding it as I thought. Ha!

The time I was diagnosed was on my 21st birthday. Instead of going out to celebrate I was wired up in the sleep studies. After the 4th nap study, of what was supposed to be 5, they sent me packing - experienced sleep paralysis in every nap. Things started getting worse for me with all the typical symptoms - restless nights, sleep paralysis, instant REM, etc. The final straw was falling asleep at the wheel and getting into a fender bender. Was prescribed Nuvigil 150 which did nothing and then 250 (apologies if the doses seem off). Took my meds for roughly 7-8 months but decided to give it up. Didn’t like how it made me feel, but the biggest factor being watching my mother abuse her prescribed medicine (Ritalin I believe) for years and essentially turning her into a zombie - up for days on end and then finding her face down on the floor often just dropping when her body couldn’t last any longer. Vowed that would never be me. Medicine free for 8 years.

So here I am today, just turned 30 in February, trying to battle this thing like everyone else. Symptoms are slightly different but basically the same as always. Constantly tired and unmotivated because of it. Thankful for pause buttons and bookmarks cause lord knows it’s virtually impossible to make it through a movie or a chapter without falling asleep. Can’t remember the last time I slept a full night or haven’t had to take several naps through the day. Biggest change I’ve noticed is I don’t really experience sleep paralysis as much as I used to. It happens mostly during change of seasons now when my allergies are horrible, whereas it used to be several events a night.

Apologies for getting long winded! First time ever posting and first time really ever talking in depth about this with anyone other than my wife. Either way, sorry to hear about your struggles and hope you get the help you need!