mental health 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…)

01Feb 2019 by Kayla No Comments

Tell me how you take time to love yourself!

Narcolepsy

Write down the five things that are most important to you in the whole world. I'll wait a moment while you do that…. If you are anything like me, your list may include values like independence or peace; it may consist of goals or aspirations, or people like your family or friends. But tell me, are YOU on that list? (more…)

12Dec 2018 by Kayla 4 Comments

Breaking up with Keto – Stopping the Ketogenic Diet

Mindset, Personal Story

So, I've got a theory about stopping the ketogenic diet. It is a theory that I am ready to test out; my mind is more powerful than my body. You see, my whole life I've worked to try to fix my body, trying to do things to it to make it better, to change it. For as long as I can remember, I have fought with my body. Today I've decided to surrender. Narcolepsy My parents and I searched for something to explain my insurmountable sleepiness and lack of energy. When I was about 13 years old, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that disturbs the sleep-wake cycle. But little did I know, its more than just feeling sleepy. I took that diagnosis and wrapped it…

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…

01Oct 2018 by Kayla 1 Comment

Accepting Narcolepsy

Mindset, Narcolepsy

I believe I have tried almost everything available to treat narcolepsy. I have a strong desire to feel better. Like many people with narcolepsy, I am not lazy. I am actually overly ambitious and often do more than my body can handle and later face the consequences. I think I have worked pretty hard to feel as good as I feel now, but I always desire to feel better. (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…)

29Mar 2018 by Kayla No Comments

EFT for Narcolepsy

Lifestyle, Mindset, Narcolepsy

When I say that I deal with pain every day, I think many people can relate. We all have little aches and pains that plague us throughout our lives; that knee injury from high school, back and shoulder pain from stress, or recurring headaches that can't be explained. I even include emotional pain in this definition. Physical chronic pain has become a widespread issue affecting more than 100 million Americans while remaining an invisible illness. It doesn't receive attention because there is no way to compare levels of pain or measure how much it improves or gets worse. We all can believe our pain is worse than others' but that doesn't help us feel better. (more…)

21Mar 2018 by Kayla 2 Comments

Do You Use Mindfulness for Narcolepsy?

Mindset

An elderly Myanmar man was dangling his parasol from one finger while he placed his hands on his back and swiveled his hips in a circle, stretching. I felt myself smiling. Another middle-aged couple was barefoot in the grass performing some exercises together in the morning breeze. Young boys on bicycles whizzed by and plenty of locals were relaxing by the water on shaded benches. Loving Myanmar Today I set out on a walk having no idea where I wanted to go. It was early and I wanted to take advantage of some cool air before the sun burned through the haze and turned the sidewalk into a human frying pan. I set out around the lake, focused on my breath, and tried to let the thoughts that entered my…

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…)

16Mar 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Before Going Keto – Try This!

Diet, Lifestyle

Maybe at this point, you are thinking about trying the keto diet out for yourself. Have you read about what you can do before going keto? You may be feeling positive about your future and believe you are ready to take the plunge. If so, that’s great! Go for it! If you are a bit more hesitant, here is my advice on some smaller changes you can make before going keto, or even deciding if it is right for you. Tips to try before going keto Eliminate Sugar from your diet [caption id="attachment_990" align="alignright" width="300"] Keto fruit pizza![/caption] Start with sugar. First the big stuff, like sugary beverages and sugar-filled desserts. Pay special attention in the morning and monitor your energy levels. Later you can start reading labels and finding…

15Mar 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Positive Affirmations

Mindset

Harsh rays of sunlight are scratching at my eyelids, begging to be let in. I squint trying to lift the heavy lids and figure out where I am at. It doesn't feel like my pillow or my bed, and my window faces West. I'm never harshly woken like this in the morning. It's a hotel, and the "blackout curtains" they boasted about on their page do not reach the ceiling. It must be nearly 7:00 am anyway, so its time to wake up. Even on vacation, I don't dare sleep in and disturb my circadian rhythms. That would send me crashing into a cycle of narcolepsy symptoms that I don't like dealing with. I can read all the tips for wakefullness in the world and work on my sleep…

14Mar 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

Mindset

How many of us feel guilty when we can't do all that we think we should do? Why put yourself second? I don’t think you have to have an illness to have this experience. Whether it’s commitments at work, with your friends, or with yourself, sometimes you just aren’t up for what you have planned. Most of us tend to cut out what we planned to do for ourselves to not let others down. Self-Care Benefits Everyone But if we don't take care of ourselves, we won't be at our best to do our jobs or to be a good friend. PWNs (People with Narcolepsy) may be able to relate to this scenario: You go out with your friends when you are too tired. Later you have almost no recollection…

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…