How Public and Media-Driven Misconceptions of Narcolepsy Could Impact Diagnosis: Julie Flygare, JD

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"It’s important for clinicians especially to be aware of these [media] portrayals because you have to remember that people who are coming to a clinician and thinking that something’s wrong—they might not even quite fully recognize what they’re experiencing."

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and, in some patients, cataplexy, which is sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions.¹ Despite the increasing awareness of the sleep condition, misconceptions and stigma about its presentation remain common among the general public, potentially contributing to delays in diagnosis and management. Media portrayals in film and television have often exaggerated the symptoms of narcolepsy, showing individuals abruptly collapsing or falling asleep in extreme and unrealistic ways, which may not reflect the more subtle and variable manifestations of the disorder.

In a recent interview with NeurologyLive^®, narcolepsy patient advocate Julie Flygare, JD, the president and CEO at Project Sleep, described her experiences with public perceptions of the condition and the misconceptions she has frequently encountered. She highlighted how casual jokes and misunderstandings about the immediacy of sleep can obscure the real impact of the disorder, including cognitive difficulties, intrusive sleepiness, and disruptions in daily functioning. Flygare emphasized that these misconceptions are often deeply ingrained and influenced by cultural representations rather than its clinical realities.

During the conversation, Flygare also discussed the potential implications of these narcolepsy myths in clinical practice. She noted that patients may not recognize or accurately describe their symptoms because popular depictions of narcolepsy focus on dramatic, abrupt sleep episodes rather than the range of subtle presentations, including minor cataplexy or cognitive impairment associated with sleepiness. All told, Flygare explained that clinicians can play an important role in clarifying these misconceptions, using careful history-taking to identify both major and minor symptoms, and providing education to patients about the real-world manifestations of the sleep disorder.

REFERENCES
1. Bulloch MN, Geyer JD. Clinical pearls for the treatment of narcolepsy. Ment Health Clin. 2025;15(6):258-266. Published 2025 Dec 1. doi:10.9740/mhc.2025.12.258