Wow, you would NOT believe how standard those conversations are~! ask anyone here, or any narcoleptic anywhere:
normal is so not going to happen. our only hope is for family to begin relearning what that is.
then the new normal will take hits if you are exhausted or stressed, or just have the flu... or any day with a "y" in it.
"just" fix it is my pet rant. we seem to be the only ears that hear the sonic pitch of "just". everyone else will look blank and wonder what'theheck we are going on about. all they said was "just do what i want, and we can get back to N and C later".
sorry, but no one i have ever urged to read about it, would read about it. quoting the Dream Team will get rolling eyes mostly. actually meeting Amy and Pam and her wonderful NORMAL Bob did us the most good ever.
on the down side, we are usually so isolated. that moment was just by sheerest chance for me.
i dont know if this works for anyone but me: script some things, and your family will get used to them.
my favorites are "sorry, i had one nickel to spend (on this unfinished project, today) and its gone." this keeps introducing the fact that we can only go so far, only do so much. some things will take us days, some things we are just not suited for.
still without fail i will get that loathing look from anyone but Jim, like "wellllll, you look fit enough and you REFUSE to keep working until the work is done. lazyyyyyyy, sitting down on the JOB????" gag.
once in awhile i say, "yeah, the world's dumbest disease". folks who never would sit through an explanation of N and C in the first place, usually wont pursue that one.
most of my other mantras are either funny or nasty. i am trying to cut down on the nasty. "I'm sorry to let you down" is honest and takes their feelings seriously, and makes no unreal promises.
Youre right, it is not going away. today is a new day, and i still have narcolepsy. yeah it sounds like an excuse; so be it.