Wide Awake and Dreaming

A Memoir of Narcolepsy

By: Julie Flygare

Narrated by: Julie Flygare

Julie Flygare was on an ambitious path to success, entering law school at age 22, when narcolepsy destroyed the neurological boundaries between dreaming and reality in her brain. She faced terrifying hallucinations, paralysis, and excruciating sleepiness, aspects of dream sleep taking place while wide awake.

Yet, narcolepsy was a wake-up call for Julie. Her illness propelled her onto a journey she never imagined, from lying paralyzed on her apartment floor to dancing euphorically at a nightclub; from the classrooms of Harvard Medical School to the start line of the Boston Marathon.

Winner of the San Francisco Book Festival Award for Biography/Autobiography, Wide Awake and Dreaming is a revealing first-hand account of dreams gone wrong with narcolepsy. It's the brave story of one woman trampling over barriers and finding light in the darkest of circumstances.

©2012 Mill Pond Swan Publishing (P)2018 Mill Pond Swan Publishing

Thank you

I was diagnosed 4 months ago after my symptoms started 22 years ago. It was a long hard journey and the treatment is tough. Thank you for writing this book, it helps with the anxiety of dealing with this diagnosis and wondering what’s all this tingling. Now I know and will work on trying to recognize and control what emotions bring it on. Thank you Julie from the bottom of my heart

Wide Awake and Loving This Book!

To call Julie Flygare’s memoir brave, beautiful and inspiring doesn’t do it justice. I was riveted by her story of first discovering, then living with and ultimately thriving with her narcolepsy. As her symptoms came on and progressed they went from embarrassing to frightening and even life-threatening. I love reading about people who’ve triumphed over seemingly insurmountable obstacles and this book did not disappoint. It was especially interesting to hear the story narrated in the author’s own voice. She did a beautiful job conveying her fear, confusion, struggle and finally her acceptance of her challenges and the sweetness of her victories. Nicely done and well worth a listen!

Very relatable

As I have Narcolepsy Type 2 (no cataplexy thankfully), this book was like listening to my own story, my own journey to diagnosis, my own decision to change career paths because of the need to balance what can get done in a day without borrowing from tomorrow. That was by far the most profound statement in the whole book and really hit home. Thank you for sharing your story and helping so many others understand.

Wish I'd listened sooner!

Listening to this book was the first time I have ever had the opportunity to hear someone recount their experience being diagnosed and living with narcolepsy.

It was so interesting to think through the parralels between Julie's experience and the experience I went through being diagnosed and living with narcolepsy.

While no two people's experiences are the same, I feel as though this book was incredibly helpful for me to think through how to explain what I am feeling when I experience narcolepsy and cataplexy.

An important story to be known

Julie is a strong, smart and inspiring face of what it's like to come face to face with a narcolepsy diagnosis. She brings light to this invisible disorder and breaks the bonds of isolation, bringing hope to those of us who struggle alone with it. Thank you Julie.