Policy, Advocacy & Professional Development Archives

政策、倡議與專業發展

From Performing to Finding Purpose Patient Voices with Project Sleep From Performing to Finding Purpose A mental health clinician’s experience navigating a narcolepsy diagnosis By Chris Peters, MS, LCMHC-S There I was—in class again. Tired again. Such is the life of a graduate student. When you’re going to class, working, and completing an internship, “tired” is the norm. As I woke up from one of my many naps that day, I saw that today’s class was on sleep disorders, mostly insomnia. “Great,” I thought to myself. “I just woke up, and now I have to learn about sleep. Maybe I should leave and get some sleep. That would be more helpful.” However, this was the only class about sleep disorders in the entire graduate program, so I decided to power through. During the lecture, there was one slide on narcolepsy. It was in that slide, in those 10 minutes, that I saw myself. It was that slide that changed my life. The Moment It Clicked It’s a tale as old as time: A clinician in training reads about a diagnosis in class and starts to wonder if they have it, too. I glanced through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It described narcolepsy as “uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep, at least a few times a day.” Check. “Sleep paralysis ... Oh, that’s what that is?” Check. “Autonomic behaviors ... Is that why my notes look like this, why I write when I’m asleep!?” Check. As I moved down the list, more and more of the symptoms applied to me. It could not be that simple. The last 7 years had been so difficult, but here I was—I made it through undergraduate and now I am at the end of graduate school—and I am just learning about this!? The naps under my desk at work. The countless energy drinks to make it through the day. The missed social events because I was still tired after sleeping 10 to 12 hours a day for a few hours of alertness. As my mind raced, it grew tired yet again. Wait…is this? No. It cannot be. I told a few friends and family members I thought I had narcolepsy. My friends said, “Well, that explains why you nap all the time.” My family thought I needed more rest. After all, I was working a lot. My primary care physician at the time seemed to humor me with a referral to a sleep clinic. The sleep specialist I met there said, “You’re young and healthy, and this is a rare diagnosis, but we’ll go along with the testing, just to make sure.” A month after graduation, I underwent the necessary testing: polysomnography (PSG) and a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Sure enough, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy type 2. When the Clinician Becomes the Patient Being a clinician with a diagnosis isn’t something I was prepared for. As clinicians, we are taught to see evidence and be objective. We navigate a patient’s world not for ourselves, but to help individuals gain clarity about their symptoms—to answer questions using the science and training we rely on. This is why I went to school. This is why I completed thousands of hours of training. I am an expert, and I am here to help. That’s what I told myself. So what happens when you become the patient? I have practiced as a mental health clinician with my own diagnosis since day one. At first, I didn’t think it affected me. But I was performative—I felt I had to do more to prove I could succeed in my career while living with narcolepsy. Everyone’s normal was not my normal, but I worked hard to appear “normal” to my colleagues. I felt like they could not know. And if they found out, they would not have any standing to question me. So I adapted. I napped when I could—quietly, strategically. In my car. Under my desk. In closets. In bathrooms. It took a lot of energy to appear “normal,” especially for someone whose energy was low to begin with. For years, this performance went on. If acting awards were given to clinicians, I’m sure I would have been nominated. But over time, I couldn’t hold this dichotomy in my head. The divide between who I was and how I presented myself became harder to maintain. Seeing Myself in My Patients I began to notice something during patient sessions. As they shared their struggles and their own performances, I found myself nodding. Just as I had seen myself in that classroom slide years earlier, I began to see myself in my patients. And, at some level, I was sure they saw through my performance as well. I would sit with patients as they came to me with their concerns. When they talked about their struggles and their performances, I would nod. I began to see my reflection in their eyes. They were relating to me, because at some level, they saw through my performance as well. Being a mental health clinician with a diagnosis in the DSM has given me insight that I wouldn’t have otherwise. As a practicing clinician, it can be hard for me to sit with someone to confront something difficult: I don’t always have all the answers. The truth is, there is a great deal of uncertainty in medicine. The more we know, the more we don’t know. Patients look to us for answers, but more importantly for certainty. The uncertainty of medicine can be anxiety-provoking for patients, even when things go as planned. As a clinician, I often try to buffer this—I sit, and I guide my patients through the fog. What is harder is acknowledging that I experience the same anxieties and concerns about the uncertainty of it all. The line between patient and clinician is just that—a line. And often, it’s a thin one. I learned that it’s more important to be human. To sit with a patient—not above them, not separate from them—but alongside them, even in uncertainty. Patients aren’t always there for answers. They’re not always there for clarity. They may spend much of their lives putting on a performance to appear “normal” for the outside world, but in the clinical space, they’re there to be seen, to be heard, and to be understood. I see my patients more clearly now because I see and accept myself. I can hold both realities: at times, I am the clinician and at times, I am the patient. I don’t run to shelter from one to the other. I exist in parallels because I am human with parallel existing contradictions. A Different Way Forward Edward Deci, PhD, one of my professors in college, died recently. He was a founder of self-determination theory (SDT), a framework for understanding human motivation, personality, and well-being. It posits that people thrive when three basic psychological needs are met: autonomy (choice), competence (mastery), and relatedness (connection). As clinicians, we often rely on a grab bag of strategies—tests, procedures, diagnoses, and objective goals. These are all important. But in the quest for true flourishing and healing, there’s a deeper element that not only ties together those efforts but organizes and energizes them: purpose. Finding purpose isn’t a one-and-done process. It is the process. And when purpose is present, life with a sleep disorder can feel less like a tug-of-war and more like stepping into a strong current—one that carries you forward. When I talk with patients who also have a sleep disorder, I acknowledge it can be isolating at times and even overwhelming. But then we talk about purpose. The “why” has to be bigger than the “how.” I let them know they don’t have to perform here, and we can navigate the uncertainty together. We are here together. Chris Peters, MS, LCMHC-S, is a licensed mental health clinician living in Charlotte, N.C., who loves to hike and lift weights in his free time. Now a trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Chris shares his story to raise awareness about the importance of sleep in the mental health field and equip others with the language to talk about sleep. Pullquote The line between patient and clinician is just that—a line. And often, it’s a thin one. NEW Pullquote Being a mental health clinician with a diagnosis in the DSM has given me insight that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Sidebar Clinical Snapshot Milestones in Chris’s Narcolepsy Journey Symptoms: For years, Chris experienced persistent daytime sleepiness and episodes of sleep paralysis—symptoms he initially attributed to a demanding academic schedule. Over time, the fatigue became harder to ignore, affecting both his daily functioning and sense of “normal.” Diagnosis: After experiencing symptoms for seven years, Chris was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy at age 24 after polysomnography and a multiple sleep latency test confirmed it. Treatment: Chris cannot emphasize enough how important nailing down a sleep routine has been for him. He uses blackout curtains to keep his room cool, and he maintains a consistent sleep schedule. He also watches what he eats and makes sure to maintain a healthy diet. He works out three to five times a week (cardio and lifting weights), which helps immensely in regulating his body clock and keeping him alert. All of this, along with daytime medications, work to keep him going. While keeping a regimented schedule may seem restrictive, he says it has given him more freedom to live life.

從表演到尋找人生目標

There I was—in class again. Tired again. Such is the life of a graduate student. When you’re going to class, working, and completing an internship, “tired” is the norm. As I woke up from one of my many naps that day, I saw that today’s class was on sleep disorders, […]

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認證與資格認證《SleepWorld》雜誌

RPSGT 考試的幕後製作 | BRPT 的觀點

對於睡眠技術人員而言，取得「註冊多導睡眠圖技術員」（RPSGT）認證是一項重大的職業里程碑——這代表著專業能力、可信度，以及對高標準病患照護的承諾。您是否曾好奇，要打造一項配得上這項認證的考試需要哪些條件？一個組織該如何設計一套能精準測驗 […]

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How three RPSGTs across the globe found their way to the field and advancing sleep health

BRPT Updates Patient Care & Treatment

Advancing Sleep Health Worldwide | Viewpoint from the BRPT

Sleep medicine is inherently interdisciplinary and increasingly global. While diagnostic techniques, health care systems, and professional pathways may differ across countries, the core objective remains the same: improving health and quality of life through the identification and treatment of sleep disorders. Registered polysomnographic technologists (RPSGTs) practicing internationally play a vital […]

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醫療政策與法規

One in Three Americans Lose Sleep Over Healthcare Costs, New Survey Finds

A new national survey from Imagine360, a leading alternative health plan for self-funded employers, reveals a rising healthcare affordability crisis with 1 in 3 insured Americans saying they’re losing sleep over the cost of care. As employer-sponsored healthcare costs climb to record highs, nearly half (44%) of survey respondents are […]

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Industry News & Updates Narcolepsy Patient Advocacy

Narcolepsy Network Announces Addition of Two New Board Members

Narcolepsy Network, a national non-profit organization for people living with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), is proud to announce the appointment of Desireé Gorbea-Finalet and Mike Heil to its Board of Directors. Both new members live with narcolepsy and will bring fresh perspectives and deep advocacy experience to the organization as it prepares to […]

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AASM Policy, Advocacy & Professional Development

American Academy of Sleep Medicine launches Full PSG Autoscoring Certification Program

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has introduced the Full PSG Autoscoring Certification Program, a new initiative that independently evaluates and certifies autoscoring software that interprets adult sleep stages and events from polysomnography data. The Full PSG Autoscoring Certification Program represents a significant expansion of the AASM’s earlier pilot initiative, which launched […]

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醫療保健政策與法規產業新聞與最新動態睡眠輔助裝置與設備

美國眼科醫師學會（AAN）發布關於穿戴式裝置的指引

目前市面上供消費者使用的穿戴式裝置與數位應用程式，正逐漸成為神經學照護領域的潛在工具。這些裝置包括智慧手錶與健身追蹤器，可用於監測心率、身體活動、睡眠及其他健康指標。為向神經科醫師提供有關非美國食品 […] 的使用指引、限制及相關證據 […]

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California Votes to Recognize 三月 as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month

Awareness Campaigns Industry News & Updates

California Recognizes 三月 as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month

Update: This resolution was passed by the California State Assembly. “Today marks a historic moment for sleep medicine and public health. By formally recognizing Sleep Apnea Awareness Month, California has acknowledged what millions of families already experience every night. Sleep apnea is one of the largest and most serious undiagnosed […]

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Accreditation & Credentialing BRPT Updates

BRPT Advanced Titration Certificate Exam Now Available

The BRPT has announced the launch of the Advanced Titration Certificate (ATC) Exam, a new specialty assessment developed in response to strong demand from BRPT credential holders for advanced titration recognition. The ATC Exam is designed for experienced sleep professionals who manage patients with complex sleep therapy needs. It assesses […]

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Patient Health & Care Awareness Campaigns

Sleep Scientist Releases Book to Bring Sleep Science to Kids and Families

Sleep scientist and former registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT) Brooke Quinn has released her debut children’s health literacy book, Watson & Sherlock: The Mystery of Sleep, now available on Amazon. The story follows a curious child, Watson, and his doodle sidekick Sherlock as they “shrink down” to explore what the body […]

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