How would you cope if you were to wake up multiple times every night? Find out exactly what that is like by listening to Waking Up Tired - Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained.

In episode four of the Waking Up Tired podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Aaron Shockman, a lived experience research fellow at the University of Sydney, whose personal journey with narcolepsy has shaped his research and advocacy.

Aaron opens up about the brutal reality of disrupted nighttime sleep—waking up 30 to 40 times a night—and how it devastated his ability to function, study, and maintain relationships.

He shares his experience with cataplexy, the terrifying paralysis triggered by laughter, and the steep learning curve of navigating a misunderstood condition with little support.

What you will hear:

• What disrupted nighttime sleep really feels like

• The emotional toll of cataplexy and misdiagnosis

• The impact on mental health, relationships, and daily life

• Why Australia’s treatment options lag behind global standards

• The life-changing role of sodium oxybate—and the barriers to accessing it

• The importance of support groups and lived experience in advocacy

If you’ve ever felt unseen in your health journey, this episode is for you. It’s raw, real, and a call for better awareness, access, and care.

Resources mentioned:

• Hypersomnolence Australia – for support and information about sodium oxybate access pathways

• The value of Narcolepsy support groups and communities

Contact: Host Di Spillane: [email protected]

https://linktr.ee/wakinguptirednarcolepsy

Links:

⁠https://wakinguptiredcom.wordpress.com/⁠

⁠https://www.facebook.com/WakingUpTiredBlog/⁠

https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/aaron-schokman.html

https://www.hypersomnolenceaustralia.org.au/single-post/how-to-access-xyrem-sodium-oxybate-in-australia

https://www.hypersomnolenceaustralia.org.au/_files/ugd/a1218b_7b98f0bc0b0f4e1ca4734cb839edb36d.pdf