Sleep Attacks: The Sneaky Side of Narcolepsy

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Waking Up Tired: Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained

Di Spillane

8 episodes

1 day ago

Real voices. Real stories. Demystifying narcolepsy one symptom at a time. Host Di Spillane, a person who lives with narcolepsy type one or with cataplexy, with the assistance of each guest, will be Diving into the real-life experiences of individuals living with narcolepsy, by providing detailed information centred around how each guest experienced one of their symptoms prior to receiving a diagnosis. Reading the words and looking up their meaning doesn't provide the knowledge that those with lived experience can.

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Sleep Attacks: The Sneaky Side of Narcolepsy

Waking Up Tired: Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained

18 minutes 21 seconds

1 month ago

Sleep Attacks: The Sneaky Side of Narcolepsy

Waking Up Tired - Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained

Sleep Attacks/ Micro Sleeps

Description:

In episode two, Jana, shares her powerful journey living withnarcolepsy type 1 in Australia. From falling asleep mid-conversation to microsleeps behind the wheel, Jana opens up about the subtle signs, emotional toll, and safety risks of sleep attacks — often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

She reflects on the years before her diagnosis, the shame ofbeing dismissed by doctors, and the relief of finally understanding what was happening to her body. Her story is raw, relatable, and a vital reminder that narcolepsy is more than just being tired — it’s a neurological condition thatdemands awareness and empathy.

What You’ll Hear:

- What sleep attacks (microsleeps) feel like in real life

- The emotional impact of delayed diagnosis

- Subtle warning signs Jana has learned to recognise

- Driving safety and the reality of living with narcolepsy

- How shame and misunderstanding can shape the diagnostic journey

Guest:

Jana – Narcolepsy Type 1 advocate, full-time worker, and mum living in Australia

Host:

Di Spillane – Narcolepsy Type 1 advocate and creator of Waking Up Tired - Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained

A micro sleep doesn’t come upon a PWN with no warning; before having such an experience the PWN will already be feeling quite sleepy. However, unless they have sufficient awareness that they are drifting off and can somehow rescue the situation by actively breaking away by moving about or doing something different, a PWN in such a situation will fall briefly into a micro sleep. It is possible to experience multiple sequential micro sleeps before surrendering unwillingly to full-fledged sleep.

This podcast exists to raise awareness, foster understanding, and help others find the diagnosis and support they deserve — sooner, not later.

Join us next time as we continue exploring narcolepsy through real voices and lived experiences.

Thanks for listening to Waking Up Tired.

https://wakinguptiredcom.wordpress.com/

LIVING WITH NARCOLEPSY IN AUSTRALIA

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