“Persons with narcolepsy also experience bouts of sudden loss of muscle control, known as cataplexy. These usually strike during the expression of strong emotions, such as laughter, anger, or surprise. A joke might cause someone with narcolepsy to topple over. Her husband, Utley said, had to get used to “playing catcher.” Margarette Utely

For the last few years (not sure when it started) I thought it was weird that I would “collapse” when I was surprised the punch line of a joke or even when I was telling the joke. Weird, no? I know the punchline is coming, but I can’t stop myself from collapsing a little bit.

I notice that my left shoulder droops, my head dips and my left eye squishes shut and  I get a little dizzy. This happens all at once and it over pretty much over in less than a second. I’ve never fallen or actually collapsed, but have had to sit down a few times- catch myself. I don’t think anyone has ever noticed it, at least no one has ever asked me about it.

I am glad that I now have a name for this weird “thing” that happens to me every so often. Still it stinks that this happens to me at all. Could be embarrassing…