Entering the workforce can be an exciting and daunting experience for anyone. Every career is different but one thing is certain; working while living with narcolepsy is to say the least: challenging.
When is the best time to mention you have narcolepsy? When you attend an interview. After a few months, when you have settled into the job. Or when someone sees you experiencing a sleep attack or cataplexy. It’s not an easy decision to make. No one wants their colleagues to treat them differently or with more caution. Unfortunately, there is no answer which suits everyone. In my opinion, whenever you feel comfortable sharing is the best time to discuss narcolepsy in the workplace. I’d really encourage people to take control of how the information is shared around. Write a brief description of what narcolepsy is, how it affects you and what certain symptoms may look like. Send it to your colleagues as an email or bring it up in a meeting with permission from your supervisor. I’ve done it both ways, usually a few weeks after starting a job so my colleagues can get to know me first.
As a graphic designer I’ve been lucky. Working in a creative field, I’ve used narcolepsy as a tool to show off my creativity. I turned a lot of my dreams into short stories (most left unfinished), designed a book cover and posted my stories on a blog. These worked great in my portfolio to show my creative skills through the dreams I experienced from living with narcolepsy. Therefore, I’ve always discussed narcolepsy during interviews.
I’d have to say commuting was the hardest thing to cope with when I started working. After college I worked as an intern. First for a startup company in the Digital Hub by the Liberties. Then with a design agency in Ranelagh. Lastly, with another design institute just before the Covid Pandemic. Not being able to drive, I had no choice but to commute by bus. Dunboyne isn’t far from Dublin City but the commute always took over an hour each way. Not to mention, the 70 bus only comes every hour so I was stuck if I ever missed the bus. By the time I got home my body felt like dead weight and my brain was fried.
For me, routine is essential in managing narcolepsy. I’m lucky enough to work from home, 08:00am to 14:00pm, Monday to Friday. This routine greatly contributes to managing my symptoms. When I started my current job I was working until 16:30pm. Everyday after work I was exhausted and basically spent the rest of the day on the couch. Everyday I struggled with brain fog and sleep attacks. So after a difficult year, I took a leap of faith and asked if I could work part time hours. I expected the answer to be no, but surprisingly the company had no issue with me reducing my hours. Now, a few years later I’m still working for the same company – fully remote. I’m part of a great team and my manager is really accommodating where narcolepsy is concerned. I may not be on a high salary but my work-life balance and mental wellbeing are more important to me. Unfortunately, I don’t think I could ever take on a role with more responsibilities but I’ve been trusted to work on new projects and contracts which really makes me feel valued as an employee and a designer. So for now, I’m happy.
Alex Galvin
SOUND Ireland 