growth Archives — Page 3 of 3

27Feb 2019 by Kayla No Comments

How to Treat Narcolepsy

There are a million resources out there that will tell you how to treat narcolepsy medically including various stimulants, or other medications like Baclofen, or Xyrem. There are also some new medications being tested that sound promising, but I don't have any personal experience with those. For some people, when they receive the right combination of medications, their narcolepsy is managed well and they go on with their life, which is amazing. But for many of us, the medications alone don’t give us the results we desire. Physically our bodies are all different and mentally we are all in different places as well. So, it makes sense we all need different things to treat narcolepsy symptoms. (more…)

14Feb 2019 by Kayla 4 Comments

From Self-Hate to Self-Love

Mindset, Personal Story

Her small hands hesitate just the slightest bit as they brush over the thick pink scars. Brown eyes meet mine and then immediately flick back down to the rushing water of the pedicure chair. Her eyes pry, "What happened to you?" or "Who did this to you?" I can't be sure which. (more…)

03Jan 2019 by Kayla No Comments

My New Year’s Revolution

Mindset, Narcolepsy

Most New Year's Resolutions I have made in the past have been about changing myself. They could be changing my appearance, like losing weight or taking better care of my skin. Others have been about making more money or saving more money in the hopes of feeling a certain way. Some have been about exercising more, doing more meditation, or reading more books. But this year I am going to try something different. (more…)

31Oct 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Scared of the Dark: The Narcolepsy Symptoms That Nobody Talks About

Narcolepsy, Personal Story

One night around age eight, I was lying in bed thinking of the fun I had had that day with my family. I opened my eyes slowly to see a huge, hairy, manlike monster hovering above me on the ceiling. His appendages stuck to the plaster effortlessly, like a giant spider, and I could see his gigantic teeth waiting to sink into my flesh. I was completely paralyzed. So much that I couldn’t even scream. I lay there on my Care Bear sheets, trapped in my own body, unable to even clench my fists, or turn my head away from the terrifying sight above me. He dropped onto my chest, and I could feel the enormous pressure of his weight. The next thing I knew, it was morning. As a…

12Oct 2018 by Kayla 5 Comments

Digital Nomad or Hobo – Which label fits?

Mindset, Narcolepsy, Personal Story

Am I a digital nomad or hobo? The label of "Digital Nomad" generally calls up images of social media influencers, relaxing on the beach, posting pictures that make everyone jealous. While I do enjoy sharing my travel experiences, I am not quite on that level. But am I a hobo? I am an English teacher who just happens to work online. I use that advantage to travel as much as possible. But how did I get here? Was it a choice? Which phrase fits, digital nomad or hobo? (more…)

06Jun 2018 by Kayla 1 Comment

5 Things You Can Do NOW to Manage Narcolepsy

Lifestyle, Narcolepsy

Can Narcolepsy be cured? While narcolepsy can still not be cured, there are lots of things we can do to manage narcolepsy. There are so many different narcolepsy treatments available, we don't have to give up. Everyone has to find the narcolepsy treatment options that work for them! Some people choose to treat narcolepsy naturally. There are ways for us to mitigate our symptoms without taking narcolepsy medication. We want to beat the brain fog, fight fatigue, and take back control over how we feel. This list is about short-term goals! Try one or more of them NOW! (more…)

19Mar 2018 by Kayla 2 Comments

Loving Myself with Narcolepsy

Mindset

Maybe the most important lesson I have learned about feeling better is just loving myself with narcolepsy. I'm not going to lie and say it's easy. But I do think this is especially important for people with a chronic illness. I have ups and downs and I'm constantly working to try to do it more consistently. It's easy to get into negative patterns and tear ourselves down. It takes a lot of practice to reverse that so that we are consistently giving ourselves positive messages. (more…)

14Mar 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Gratitude Shifts Your Mindset

Mindset

Using gratitude to help manage your mindset can really have a huge impact on how much narcolepsy affects your life. What you focus on you feel If you don't believe me, try this exercise. [caption id="attachment_830" align="alignright" width="300"] Image by 1388843 from Pixabay[/caption] Take a moment to think of the worst day in your life, close your eyes and really visualize that day and feel the emotions you were feeling. Stay there for a minute or two. Open your eyes and notice the physical sensations in your body. You may have clenched your fists, hunched your shoulders, or tightened your neck. Now think of one of the best moments in your life, where you felt a sense of accomplishment or pride for example. Let yourself stay in that emotion for…