

It has been proven that having a service dog will help manage stress, depression, and anxiety. This simple act lowers the heart rate and blood pressure and allows for a quicker recovery. This is a simple act of pushing against me during panic attacks and high stress. My dog will be trained to apply pressure therapy and hugs. It cost $400 a month when discounts are available.ĭue to my extreme fatigue and lack of sleep I suffer from bouts of severe depression and anxiety. Taking this medicine daily and on time is a key to fighting the symptoms of narcolepsy.

They will also remind me to take the medication I need to stay awake. This will help me to stay awake and alert until I can be in a safe place. They do this by barking, nudging, and licking. They will also alert me when I am going to have an attack. They will alert me in the morning to make sure that I wake up on time and get ready for work and do other daily activities. My service dog will be specifically trained to help me. The most dangerous of course is while I am driving. I have these microsleeps most frequently while driving and at work. If an episode occurs while driving, individuals may get lost or have an accident. Their handwriting may, for example, degenerate into an illegible scrawl, or they may store items in bizarre locations and then forget where they placed them. They cannot recall their actions, and their performance is almost always impaired. During these episodes, people are usually engaged in habitual, essentially “second nature” activities such as taking notes in class, typing, or driving. Microsleeps: Automatic behavior involves performing a task during a short period of sleep but without any apparent interruption. There is a strong need to nap through out the day. People with narcolepsy also experience memory lapses, and have great difficulty maintaining concentration while at work. It as a persistent sense of mental cloudiness, a lack of energy, a depressed mood, and extreme exhaustion. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)ĮDS interferes with my normal activities on a daily basis, whether or not there has been sufficient sleep at night. In addition to daytime sleepiness, other major symptoms include vivid dream-like images or hallucinations, as well as total paralysis just before falling asleep or just after waking-up. James unwillingly falls asleep while at work, in meetings, and most dangerously, when driving. Narcolepsy greatly affect daily activities. These “sleep attacks” usually last a few seconds to several minutes. People with narcolepsy experience periods of extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden, irresistible bouts of sleep that can strike at any time. Narcolepsy is a chronic brain disorder that involves poor control of sleep-wake cycles. tells his story about why he needs a service dog and why he is asking for your help: James Dansereau is working with New Hope Dogs organization with a goal to obtain a service dog and needs help. This group makes sure that non-profits conform to strict standards in patient care and dog training ability. Service dogs take 2 years to train. They are unique because they are certified from Assistance Dogs International. New Hope Dogs organization requires $18,000 from the patient and they cover the remaining costs. Service dogs are raised from puppies and have an average cost of $25,000. New Hope Dogs is a non-profit that helps people obtain service dogs. Service dogs play a major part in the rehabilitation and on going support for people with narcolepsy.


Camp for Families of Children with Narcolepsy.
