Have you heard someone say many times that they are sleepy and feel narcoleptic? This is a very common occurrence, yet most people misunderstand the signs of narcolepsy. Take a few seconds to think about what a narcoleptic person would be like. The common scenario one might imagine is a person yawning constantly and nodding off most of the time. The characteristics of narcolepsy do include a sudden onset of sleepiness, but the true picture is more complex. The sudden onset of sleepiness is the main characteristic of narcolepsy, but it is not the only symptom. Here are the top five signs of narcolepsy. It is important to note that the information on the Internet is not the basis for diagnosis. If you think you have any of the following symptoms, your best option is to consult a doctor. 1. Fragmented sleep People with narcolepsy don’t actually sleep longer than other people. They will have fragmented sleep throughout the day and may have difficulty falling asleep at night. The main problem is that they cannot control when they go to sleep. People with narcolepsy) don’t get more sleep than normal, which is why their REM sleep stages are shorter in duration.” 2. involuntary sleep Most people feel sleepy when they shouldn’t, but most are sleep deprived due to staying up late at night, while another small group of people simply can’t stay awake for a period of time, including in dangerous situations. Frequent onset of sleepiness is characteristic of narcolepsy and can seriously interfere with daily life. What narcolepsy patients confide in their doctors the most is that they go to sleep very quickly. For example, some patients are forced to find the nearest park bench to take a nap, while others even fall asleep while driving. 3. Sleep paralysis Sleep paralysis is a normal symptom of narcolepsy. In the REM sleep stage, the body’s muscles are relaxed to the point of paralysis and weakness – this is normal. However, if sleep is suddenly interrupted, they may find themselves temporarily unable to move. According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke found that these feelings usually improve after a few minutes. 4, sudden collapse According to the Harvard Medical School Sleep Medicine Division, roughly half of patients with narcolepsy have experienced sudden collapse. Like sleep paralysis, sudden collapse is characterized by a sudden, temporary loss of muscle tone, but the cause of this condition is different. Sudden collapse occurs during the person’s waking moments and is usually caused by strong, positive emotions, such as laughing. 5. Hallucinations Finally, narcolepsy is often accompanied by hallucinations when sleep strikes, often referred to as the “half-asleep state”. The National Sleep Foundation reports that these hallucinations are usually visual and may overlap with the surrounding environment. The essence of these hallucinations is “dreaming while awake” and some patients may not even know when they have fallen asleep. Although narcolepsy cannot be cured, there are many good treatments available. If you are experiencing symptoms, you need to seek treatment promptly. It is important to note that narcolepsy is far more common than people think.