Narcolepsy Advocate
Narcolepsy in The Mysterious Benedict Society New Disney+ Series
A review of Ep. 1-2 written by a person living with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy. Please note: may contain spoilers. Anyone else excited to watch Episode 3 of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” this weekend? Here’s my review of Episodes 1-2’s portrayal of narcolepsy! On June 25th, the first two episodes of “The Mysterious Benedict Society”…
Read MoreLive Book Events: Reading Narcolepsy Memoir
This Thursday! Join me for the FIRST-EVER online live reading of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy! I will go LIVE via my Instagram (@REMRunner) to read the first chapter of my book: Melting, this Thursday May 13th at 8pm ET. After I read the chapter, I’ll answer any questions you have live about…
Read MoreAm I a TYPICAL person with narcolepsy?
“Am I a TYPICAL person with narcolepsy?” No, I’m not. Here’s why: The majority of people living with narcolepsy are undiagnosed. Up to 75% of “us” are currently either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. So the most TYPICAL person with narcolepsy is walking around unaware of the true nature of their symptoms, questioning their…
Read MoreReady for Awareness? World Narcolepsy Day 2020 is one month away!
Less than one month until World Narcolepsy Day on Sept. 22, 2020, and I cannot wait for this second annual day dedicated to raising narcolepsy awareness on a global scale. World Narcolepsy Day 2020 is co-led by 26 non-profit patient advocacy organizations on six continents around the world. See all the orgs listed here. Last…
Read MoreSpecial Online Event: Presenting My Narcolepsy Story & Book Reading
Join me for a very special FREE ONLINE EVENT! This Sunday, May 10th at 8:00 p.m. EDT, tune in to Project Sleep’s Facebook Page to hear my inspiring narcolepsy presentation and to read a few favorite passages from my memoir. Full details about the broadcast. I’ve presented this around the world in Italy, Ireland, Sweden,…
Read MoreThe Power of Community: Supporting One Young Man with Narcolepsy Lifts Us All
These are unprecedented times in the wake of COVID-19. I am sending virtual hugs, healthy vibes and restful nights to each of you. During a time when things feel pretty heavy, I wanted to share a heart-lifting story from my past week. Background: In late February/early March, Project Sleep (in conjunction with the Sleep Research Society)…
Read MoreExciting News! Giving a TEDx Talk in San Diego
SO beyond excited to share this news: I’ll speak at TEDxSDSU on March 22, 2020 in San Diego, CA! Giving a TEDx talk has been a major life goal for about 7 years now, when i put it in my art journal as one of my major aspirations. And I’ve applied to many over the…
Read More“I will change how I treat my patients because of your talk.”
Last month, I gave one of my favorite presentations at the 10th Biennial Pediatric Sleep Medicine Conference hosted by my alma mater, Brown University. My “TED-style talk” had two key messages: Prescribing social support to people with narcolepsy, Partnering with patients, patient leaders and organizations to develop patient-centered research toward recognizing and addressing stigma. I’d spent…
Read MoreCelebrating 10 years of the REM Runner Blog!
Ten years ago today, I came out as a person with narcolepsy. On November 10, 2009, I started this REM Runner blog, disclosing on the internet for the first time that: “Hi! I’m Julie Flygare, a person living with narcolepsy with cataplexy.” From my original About Me: “Narcolepsy has changed my life for better and…
Read MoreListen Now: Social Experience of Narcolepsy on Sleep Junkies Podcast
“I remember keeping [my narcolepsy] private and always feeling like it was this thing sitting at the back of my throat that I wanted to share, but just stopping myself, remembering ‘you’ll get a bad reaction, this person won’t understand.’” – Julie Flygare, Sleep Junkies podcast “So you went from something being a secret to the…
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