From Triggers to Timing, What I Wish I Had Known
Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 19, 2022
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SPEAKER: So I guess a few things that I wish I had have known when I was first diagnosed-- it's probably helpful-- so something like figuring out a routine. I know that everybody says that, and everyone says oh, your sleep hygiene is important, even if you don't have narcolepsy. But it seriously is, so things like not having your phone with you in bed, necessarily. Not that I'm a saint and don't ever do that, but things like that, like sort of organizing a routine is massive.
Another tip would be I guess just listening to your own body and trying to not feel shame around the situation. So for the first six months, probably, I always felt so guilty when I had to say no to things, or I had to leave a situation to go and have a nap. And I'm just-- just do it unapologetically, because you don't need the shame adding to your tiredness. Because it just builds up on top of everything.
And simple-- not simple, but things that you don't even think about like, like things that will trigger your tiredness. So I know that if I have bread in the morning, I'm wiped out for the rest of the day. So I leave all my carb-y foods until night time, because I'm going to sleep anyway. So little things like that. Obviously, the same things aren't going to trigger everyone, but maybe keeping a journal of what makes your symptoms worse, and then playing around with when you can do certain things.
SPEAKER: So I guess a few things that I wish I had have known when I was first diagnosed-- it's probably helpful-- so something like figuring out a routine. I know that everybody says that, and everyone says oh, your sleep hygiene is important, even if you don't have narcolepsy. But it seriously is, so things like not having your phone with you in bed, necessarily. Not that I'm a saint and don't ever do that, but things like that, like sort of organizing a routine is massive.
Another tip would be I guess just listening to your own body and trying to not feel shame around the situation. So for the first six months, probably, I always felt so guilty when I had to say no to things, or I had to leave a situation to go and have a nap. And I'm just-- just do it unapologetically, because you don't need the shame adding to your tiredness. Because it just builds up on top of everything.
And simple-- not simple, but things that you don't even think about like, like things that will trigger your tiredness. So I know that if I have bread in the morning, I'm wiped out for the rest of the day. So I leave all my carb-y foods until night time, because I'm going to sleep anyway. So little things like that. Obviously, the same things aren't going to trigger everyone, but maybe keeping a journal of what makes your symptoms worse, and then playing around with when you can do certain things.
