When you hear the word “narcolepsy,” you probably think of a slapstick punchline to a joke from a movie or sketch. But the reality of living with this sleep disorder is no laughing matter.
Sarah Elizabeth was recording a traditional Japanese dance tutorial when she accidentally captured what it’s really like to deal with this debilitating condition. She had been exerting herself for hours, which made the attack particularly intense. Combined with cataplexy, a condition that causes people to collapse after intense fits of laughter, Sarah’s narcolepsy makes her life so much harder.
Sarah hopes that the video helps others understand why this disorder is so terrible. Similar to epilepsy, she has no control over when the attacks happen, but she also doesn’t let this hold her back.
