I don't think I'm narcoleptic, but I fall asleep all the time.I'm 25. Since junior high, I have fallen asleep in classes, lectures, and meetings, but only if I'm not doing anything else. This is so, so embarrassing at work, and I need to fix this for my job as well as for impending grad school. My various coping strategies over the years have included sudoku, crosswords, and the internet. Things that don't work include taking notes (I will fall asleep writing), doodling or other engaging activities with pen and paper, and active listening; I promise you, I have tried these over and over and over. I try very, very hard to listen and to stay engaged. I am not bored or usually even tired when I fall asleep. I just fade out. If I am expected to listen to a lecture or meeting, I will just start slipping into sleep. This afternoon, at a weekly department meeting, I was out for a good forty minutes of it. It is not subtle. I do not know when I am starting to sleep, either; I was taking minutes during the meeting but still drowsed off. I often fall asleep during movies and plays, even though I love these events. I have, on occasion, fallen asleep sitting up at my desk while working if I am just editing a document or something non-engaging. I've always been good at school and a hard worker, so I haven't been in big trouble for this yet. My hypothesis is that my brain just needs to be doing something, and it can't just sit there and be quiet. If I can't mentally grab on to something, my brain seems to just take that as, "well, I'm not doing much anyway, so I'll take full advantage of this rest time." Health stuff: I take an SSRI and thyroid medicine. I work out 3-5 days a week. I eat tons of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and fat. (I've eliminated a lot of sugar from my diet, because I've noticed that I crash during the day if I eat it.) I sleep at least seven hours a night. I wake up and go to bed at the same time almost every day, even weekends. I consume a cup of coffee every morning. (Caffeine will not keep me awake during these meetings, no matter how hard I try.) I don't drink a lot. What is the deal, and how can I stop sleeping like this? Is this a doctor-worthy issue?
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