Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a disorder characterized by suddenly falling asleep as many as several times a day that may last for as brief as a few seconds or as long as several hours. If you are suffering from narcolepsy, you will find the sleep attacks uncontrollable and sudden. It is caused by the patient's brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally

Some sufferers also deal with brief paralysis during both waking and sleeping hours as well as some hallucinations during the sleep period.

The true cause of narcolepsy is unknown and it normally starts from adolescence or early adulthood, persisting to further life. I had a teacher from high school who suffered from narcolepsy and he seemed to have adjusted well with it, always taking precautions for his condition and constantly taking stimulants (like caffeine or amphetamines) during the time he worked in class.

There are some medication available for aiding narcolepsy (such as medafinil) so consult your doctor for prescriptions if you suspect you are suffering. Bear in mind that all medication are merely aids to control your narcolepsy but the condition itself is uncureable as of the moment.

Wikipedia lists the classic symptoms of narcolepsy, which are:

* Cataplexy: sudden episodes of loss of muscle function, ranging from slight weakness (such as limpness at the neck or knees, sagging facial muscles, or inability to speak clearly) to complete body collapse. Episodes may be triggered by sudden emotional reactions such as laughter, anger, surprise, or fear, and may last from a few seconds to several minutes. The person remains conscious throughout the episode.
* Sleep paralysis: temporary inability to talk or move when waking up. It may last a few seconds to minutes. Often frightening but not dangerous.
* Hypnagogic hallucinations: vivid, often frightening, dream-like experiences that occur while dozing, falling asleep and/or while awakening.
* Automatic behavior: Automatic behavior occurs when a person continues to function (talking, putting things away, etc.) during sleep episodes, but awakens with no memory of performing such activities. It is estimated that up to 40 percent of people with narcolepsy experience automatic behavior during sleep episodes.