I sometimes forget I have narcolepsy

I find myself always making excuses as to why I’m so tired, and there is always a simple answer. I have narcolepsy. I don’t know anyone else that has it, and I’m so used to being undiagnosed and needing an excuse to be tired.

I’ve had symptoms since I was a teenager but everyone always had to “out-tired” me, so I just got used to brushing it off. Now that I’m an adult and diagnosed I still never let it be as simple as “I have Narcolepsy.”

This was prompted because my nap was interrupted and I found myself having to keep myself going long enough to make dinner. I didn’t have the energy to take the dog out so I asked my boyfriend, and he did without question. Despite that I felt the need to explain why I felt so damn tired, and somehow the very last thing to come to mind was the actual fact that I’m diagnosed narcoleptic.

It’s almost disappointing to remember but also validating, like for the first time I finally get to just be tired.