Typically, when a doctor informs you that you are suffering from a disorder that does not, at present, have a cure, the normal response is not celebratory.
In my case, I felt a sense of relief when I was told that I was narcoleptic. Twenty-four hours spent in a sleep lab had delivered a sense of self-worth that I had been struggling to attain for 22 years. I wasn't lazy. I had narcolepsy.
“I felt a sense of relief when I was told that I was narcoleptic.”
This startling response to an unfavorable medical diagnosis made me realize three unfavorable aspects of how sleep is perceived in our society today: (1) sleep + success, (2) sleep + sociability, and (3) sleep + health.
1. Sleep + Success
Growing up, my mom’s explanation for my drowsy disposition was that some people just required more sleep than others. While this isn't a false statement, it was particularly disconcerting to me as an ambitious youngster.
“As burning the midnight oil was out of the question for me; I, in turn, questioned my ability to realize my career goals.”
It has been widely publicized that successful individuals such as Winston Churchill and Richard Branson, among others, required no more than 5 hours of sleep per night. As burning the midnight oil was out of the question for me I, in turn, questioned my ability to realize my career goals.
As an undergrad at Duke University, I relied on a steady diet of Red Bull and coffee in order to get by on six hours of sleep vs. the eight that I knew I needed. I felt completely inferior to my "pulled another all-nighter, man" peers. My perception of inferiority was not only due to a yet-to-be-diagnosed sleeping disorder but also rampant use of non-prescribed stimulants -- which, somewhat ironically, I am prescribed today to treat narcolepsy.
In 2014, an article on CNN.com reported that "college students were twice as likely to have used Adderall non-medically" compared with those who were not full-time students. The article also stated that researchers estimated about 30 percent of students use stimulants non-medically at private and "elite" universities.
Still today, at age 29, the most "successful" of my friends are investment bankers -- a profession that I never considered going into because of my need for sleep. In the investment banking world, if you are willing to give up sleep and forgo any semblance of a social life, you will be handsomely rewarded.
Our society tends to draw a negative correlation between healthy sleep habits and the likelihood of achieving success. As a result, the choices left for ambitious millennials seem to be to either sell your sleep soul or say goodbye to your (career) dreams.
2. Sleep + Sociability
Short of having small children, I've found that narcolepsy is the best excuse for leaving a party early or even (gasp!) staying in on a Saturday night. My friends without sleep disorders (or children) are not so lucky and as a result often attend events they don’t want to go to and wind up staying later then they’d like.
Why, you ask, would someone do this? Because somehow it was decided that going to bed late equated to being cool. And as a society, we are tough on those who are the first to leave, perhaps still harboring the instinct to dip their hands in warm water to see if they pee their pants.
Further social proof can be gleaned from the rise of the “Houdini” (aka "Irish") exit. When someone "Houdinis," it means that they leave a party without telling anyone.
Again, why, you ask, would anyone suddenly run away from a party without informing their friends? Because they will face social pressure to stay if they express a desire to leave.
For me, this pressure is alleviated through the use of a single magic word: narcolepsy. This special acceptance of an exit excuse makes me question societal norms. If am I benefiting from my battle with a sleep disorder because leaving social engagements prematurely to get adequate sleep is so faux pas -- what world are we living in?
3. Sleep + Health
Living a healthy lifestyle boils down to three things: diet, exercise, and sleep. Yet we often only hear of diet and exercise hailed as the keys to longevity, protecting us from the evils that make us feel bad (heart disease, diabetes, depression) and look bad (excessive weight gain, poor complexion).
“Chances are, if you are reading this, you are getting insufficient sleep.”
In fact, insufficient sleep is just as much a culprit as fast food-binges and unused gym memberships, leading to the same health problems many are working hard to combat through eating right and exercising. And chances are, if you are reading this, you are getting insufficient sleep -- the majority of American adults struggle to get sufficient sleep, and many are sleeping six hours or less every night.
In society, we support those around us who make lifestyle adjustments with the intention of improving their health. We applaud their initiatives to cut carbs, spend more time working out, etc. We also accept this commitment to change as a legitimate reason for forgoing less health-oriented social events (brunches, happy hours etc.). However, whereas sleep is just as important to one's health, I find it hard to believe that declining a brunch invitation in lieu of hitting the snooze button would be as well-received as opting out to take a spin class.
Perhaps I’m biased, but I strongly believe that sleep has been marginalized in our society. It is time that we call attention to the many facets of our lives in which we unfairly champion sleeplessness. In closing, I invite you to use my "narcoleptic hall pass" to implement the following mentality shifts:
- Evaluate others based on what they accomplish in 16 hours a day, not 24. Allow yourself to re-define what "hard work" means with this context.
- Never chastise someone who wants to leave a party early -- let them go. Free yourself of any guilt associated with being the first to leave.
- Encourage healthy habits of those around you who are sleep deprived, just as you would for a friend with heart disease committing to cutting out red meat.