Despite the many ways in which narcolepsy can affect a person’s wellbeing, there are many things that can be done to control and prevent negative emotions from taking over.

Apart from doing your best to keep symptoms under control, the best way of coping with narcolepsy is making sure to communicate with others about your feelings. Learn to feel comfortable talking about your condition and try to be open with friends and family about how it is affecting you so that they can show you the support that you need.

Talking to other people with narcolepsy can be very helpful, as they better understand what you are going through, and can help you feel less alone. There are many narcolepsy groups you can join on Facebook, which can be a convenient way to connect with people.

If you feel that talking to those around you is not enough, you may want to see a counsellor to help you work through your feelings and get you on the right track. This can be especially helpful when newly diagnosed, as it can be difficult to come to terms with having a lifelong illness.

Another good way of staying positive is developing new thought patterns. It is easy to let fluctuating moods of sleep deprivation get the better of you, but even simple things like waiting a few minutes after waking up before letting yourself talk to other people can help avoid unnecessary conflict.

Making sure to accomplish at least a couple of small tasks each day can also help to keep you feeling somewhat productive. Something as simple as walking the dog or doing a load of washing can be the difference between feeling good about yourself and feeling like you are sleeping your whole life away.

Art and other hobbies are also great ways to feel constructive, and they can sometimes serve as a good outlet for your emotions as well.