Cataplexy
Cataplexy is a brain disorder in which there is sudden loss of muscle strength or muscle control. Most people experience cataplexy because they suffer from type 1 Narcolepsy, which is experiencing uncontrollable attacks of sleep anytime, at any moment of the day.
Living with cataplexy is very challenging. It massively impacts on everything an individual does. Cataplexy is triggered by strong emotional responses, this includes laughter, crying, anger, excitement and fear. People with cataplexy find themselves falling over, their knees buckled, their head bobs and face drools over, they may also fall down if they are standing because the leg muscle weakens and loses control.
- Some common symptoms of cataplexy include:
- Feeling paralysed while falling asleep.
- Hallucinations before falling asleep.
- Hallucinations when waking up in the middle of the night.
Cataplexy makes people quite vulnerable in certain situations and they start to avoid being in those situations.