It’s Barnaby, and I’d like to share some interesting tidbits I learned from my hypnotherapist, Sharon. Sleep disorders insomnia, narcolepsy and others are among the most intriguing ailments suffered by us. Very little is known about the human brain, and even more mysterious are our sleep and dreams. Although much remains unknown about sleep, it is known that without it, we can not live. Sleep — and dreams, too — are necessary for a person to live. Sadly, in some of the severest sleep disorders insomnia people who can not sleep for long durations can entail a fatal result. These cases are extremely rare, and the vast majority of sleep disorders insomnia cases are relatively mild. Nonetheless, I can attest from personal experience that even moderate insomnia can truly impinge upon one’s life.
I have been experiencing sleep issues for several months now, and I have tried sleep aids, changing my sleep environment and a whole list of other potential sleep treatments. My test ruled out sleep apnea, and a professional ruled out the possibility of clinical depression. Recently, I turned to hypnotherapy for help, and my therapist Sharon has been great. Today she was telling me about a patient who suffers from narcolepsy. She advised him that hypnotherapy has not been shown to help narcolepsy at all, and that it was a medical condition requiring serious treatment. He knew this, but was so desperate that he was willing to try anything no matter how remote the chances of it helping. Sharon figured that no harm could come from hypnotherapy, and it might serve to just relax him if not help his sleep condition.
When she was describing to me how much he suffers, I felt almost lucky to have the opposite condition of insomnia. Those with narcolepsy can fall asleep immediately — even if driving or doing other dangerous activities. This presents far more danger than frustrating nights tossing and turning in bed. Hopefully, science makes some inroads and gains insight into sleep disorders, insomnia and narcolepsy — many of us truly need the help.
Narcolepsy is an insidious condition which embodies itself in the form of excessive daytime sleepiness. This can entail drowsiness throughout the day, or even falling asleep at the most inappropriate of times. Those afflicted with narcolepsy can suddenly fall asleep even when in the middle of a conversation. Just like with insomniacs, those with narcolepsy have trouble getting a full night’s sleep. Consequently, many times narcolepsy is erroneously diagnosed as insomnia upon initial examinations. Although much about narcolepsy is not yet understood, scientists do know that those suffering from it enter REM sleep much faster than does the typical person.
REM stands for rapid eye movement, and it is associated with the deepest stages of sleep. Most dreams that you are able to recall with detail occur during REM sleep. Normally, a person enters REM sleep approximately 90 minutes after first falling asleep. Those with narcolepsy enter REM within 10 minutes of falling asleep. Research has definitively shown that narcolepsy is not a mental illness nor a psychological condition. It is a neurological ailment which can wreck havoc within the lives of those who suffer from it. However, research has quantified that those with narcolepsy do not have shorter life spans as a result.
Scientists aren’t certain, but they believe that narcolepsy is a genetic condition. Treatment regimens for narcolepsy are highly personalized — what works for one person might not work for another. Most treatments currently center on pharmaceuticals, and although there is no cure, many with narcolepsy are able to manage the condition using current treatment regimens.
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that is characterized by sudden attacks of sleep. The person most probably experiences disturbed sleep pattern during the night and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).
Causes
The cause of narcolepsy is due to the inability of the brain to normally regulate sleep-wake cycles. Studies have discovered that narcoleptics lack hypocretin or orexin, a chemical found in the brain that is responsible for regulating sleep and activating arousal.
Heredity is also found to be a predisposing factor in narcolepsy.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms found in a person with narcolepsy are Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) and the abnormal REM sleep.
Other symptoms are:
* Cataplexy or loss of muscle control. Narcoleptic persons may experience episodes of sudden loss of muscle control while they are awake. It is commonly triggered by strong emotions.
* Sleep paralysis. This happens either at the beginning or at the end of the sleep wherein the person experiences inability to move or talk.
* Hallucinations. This is characterized by frightening visual or auditory perceptions in the absence of a stimulus. This may take place upon sleeping or upon waking up.
* Wakefulness during the night. People with narcolepsy usual experience problem with falling asleep at night. This condition is sometimes accompanied with elevated heart rate, intense alertness and hot flashes.
* Unusual rapid entry into the REM sleep cycle. This is a unique sleep cycle disorder that is common to narcoleptic people. Normally, people enter the REM or dream phase about 90 minutes after falling asleep, whereas in narcoleptics, they enter this phase immediately right after they fall asleep.
* Microsleep. Narcoleptics experience short sleep episodes that are accompanied with continuous muscle activities like talking.
When to get help
If the symptoms, especially excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), worsens and seriously disrupts personal or professional life, then seeing a doctor is necessary.
Diagnosing Narcolepsy
There are a lot of ways that are used in order to diagnose narcolepsy in a person, but it may sometimes take a year or more before the doctor can finally role in that it is really narcolepsy.
Diagnostic methods for narcolepsy are Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), spinal fluid analysis, epworth sleepiness scale and nocturnal polysomnogram.
Treatment
No cure exists for narcolepsy but there are managements for the control and relief of the symptoms. Common recommended treatments include medications, behavioral changes and counseling.Commonly prescribed drugs that can help manage the symptoms of narcolepsy are the following:
* For excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), central nervous system stimulant medications such as dextroamphetamine, modafinil, methylphenidate, methamphetamine and racemic amphetamine are prescribed.
* For cataplexy and other REM-sleep symptoms, tricyclic antidepressants such as
protriptyline, imipramine, and clomipramine are used.
It may be necessary to reach out to a psychologist, support group, or counselor to help the person and as well as the family to cope up with the emotional effects of the condition. Behavioral and lifestyle changes may also be necessary such as avoiding alcohol, nicotine and caffeine and exercising on a regular basis.
Wow, found another great video on my Youtube search today. All about Narcolepsy, talks about treatment and the different types of narcolepsy and the poor sleep that people with this sleep disorder have. Talks also about treatment of this disorder and also some of the cutting edge new medications like Xyrem and how its related to GHB.
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