My best hallucination yet! A Visit from the Phantom Foot Massager

By julie | April 5, 2016 |

During lunchtime today, I went to my nap room at work, cuddled up into my lovely blanket from Ireland and quickly fell asleep. Next thing, I awoke to the most AMAZING foot massage!! Oh la la. My feet were sore from intense yoga classes over the weekend, so I really appreciated the free yummy foot massage from…. um…. my phantom foot…

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What does cataplexy look like? GIF by Eleanor of www.Falling-Asleep.com

By julie | April 3, 2016 |

Check out this amazing depiction of terrifying symptom of ‪#‎narcolepsy‬ called CATAPLEXY – created by Eleanor of Falling Asleep: A Narcolepsy Guidebook. Please note: this character is fully conscious and awake yet crumbling to the ground paralyzed. It’s terrifying.   For more infographics, blogs and resources: www.falling-asleep.com Commentary by Julie Flygare: I was 22 when my knees fight buckled while…

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Ever Met Someone with Narcolepsy? Or Feeling ALONE with Narcolepsy?

By julie | April 2, 2016 |

I recently created my first Flipagram, highlighting the NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE campaign! I hope you enjoy and please share with friends and family. Watch here: Thanks for watching my first Flipagram! NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE has over 1,200 photos of people with narcolepsy and supporters from all 50 U.S. States and 48 countries around the world. Of course, this campaign is not…

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NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE takes over the French Alps!

By julie | April 1, 2016 |

Say HELLO to Ben who shares a monumental message of hope and narcolepsy awareness from 5,800 feet in the air. Thanks to Ben, NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE is now inscribed on a scenic snow-topped mountaintop in the French Alps, along a popular chair-lift route for every single ski resort visitor to see until the next snow…

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Visiting Ireland to Speak at Ireland’s Narcolepsy Awareness Day 2016

By julie | March 29, 2016 |

This National Sleep Awareness Week, I had the honor of traveling to Ireland to be the keynote speaker at Ireland’s 4th Annual Suddenly Sleepy Saturday Narcolepsy Event on March 12, 2016.  This experience, and my entire trip to Ireland, was totally unforgettable and surreal. After the long journey from Los Angeles to Ireland, I arrive in…

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A proud moment – publishing a chapter in narcolepsy clinical guide

By julie | March 3, 2016 |

A few nights ago, I returned home from work exhausted and found a mysterious heavy package on my doorstep. Inside was a brand new copy of Narcolepsy: A Clinical Guide (2nd ed.), edited by Dr. Meeta Goswami, Dr. Michael Thorpy and S.R. Pandi-Perumal. As a patient advocate, it was a HUGE honor to contribute the chapter…

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Sleep in to speak out! Join Project Sleep’s SLEEP IN 2016 today.

By julie | February 29, 2016 |

On March 11-13, Project Sleep is taking to our beds for SLEEP IN 2016 to make PEACE with SLEEP during National Sleep Awareness Week! Challenge yourself to stay in bed for 12-48 hours over the weekend and join an international movement to raise awareness about sleep health and sleep disorders. Register today (it’s free): www.crowdrise.com/sleepin2016 With…

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Nap Shame. I’ve got it. Do you?

By julie | February 13, 2016 |

In this short audio clip, I explore my feelings of shame and embarrassment around taking a nap at work. (Also available here) Do you have nap shame or are you an empowered napper? I want to hear your thoughts!

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Powerful Perspective: Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy

By julie | January 31, 2016 |

Don’t miss this highly captivating post Becoming a Doctor with Narcolepsy, now published on Project Sleep’s website. The author is a third year medical student diagnosed with narcolepsy a year and a half ago, after suffering symptoms since age 15. In this moving reflection, the medical student contemplates a tough decision: whether or not to disclose her diagnosis…

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