Have you ever found a frying pan in your freezer? Suddenly find yourself somewhere you don’t remember walking or driving to? If so, you may be seeing the result of an automatic behavior.

Even though up to 80 percent of people with narcolepsy experience automatic behaviors, this symptom is not well understood. Keep reading to learn more about automatic behaviors in narcolepsy.

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What Are Automatic Behaviors?

Automatic behaviors are actions you do when you briefly fall asleep or are only half asleep. You may start a task or activity while awake and keep doing it after you’ve dozed off. When you fully wake up, you often don’t remember what you did — and the task usually isn’t done correctly.

People who experienced automatic behaviors often describe a “blank spot” in their memory during the activity. Common examples of automatic behaviors include:

• Eating — One interviewee in a narcolepsy study described pouring lemonade onto their dinner plate instead of into their glass.
• Talking — Some people describe an abrupt shift in conversation topic, or not making sense while speaking.
• Writing — For example, your hand may keep moving, but the writing turns into unreadable scribbles.
• Cooking — You may place a pot or pan somewhere it doesn’t belong.
• Driving — Many people describe arriving somewhere without remembering driving there.

One MyNarcolepsyTeam member wrote, “I have started to fall asleep while driving plenty of times and don’t know how I got from point A to point B. It’s scary. Be careful. If possible, try to take a short nap before going on a trip.”

A common automatic behavior is continuing to write or type without full awareness, which often leads to mistakes and poor performance. People have also reported putting items in the wrong place — such as putting a cereal bowl in the dryer instead of the dishwasher, or pouring water onto a plate instead of into a glass. One case report from 1979 even described a person with narcolepsy who experienced an automatic behavior of shoplifting.

Why Do Automatic Behaviors Happen in Narcolepsy?

Automatic behaviors are a known symptom of narcolepsy, but they’re hard to study in a lab. In one Australian study, researchers used questionnaires, journals, and interviews with people with narcolepsy and their family members to better understand automatic behaviors. The study found that episodes were often linked to feeling very sleepy and being under stress or pressure to finish tasks despite that sleepiness.

Pushing Through Sleepiness

Automatic behaviors may be more likely to happen when you’re extremely tired and try to push through the sleepiness to get things done. Everyone with narcolepsy experiences excessive daytime sleepiness. Extreme tiredness can cause brief periods of micro-sleep, during which you may act without awareness or memory of what you did.

“I have started to fall asleep while driving plenty of times and don’t know how I got from point A to point B. It's scary. If possible, try to take a short nap before going on a trip.”

— A MyNarcolepsyTeam member

One MyNarcolepsyTeam member described it this way: “There can feel like a lot of hours or even days that I haven’t lived because I have either been asleep or been awake, but mainly with automated behaviors and without being able to think properly. I am always having to check if conversations I remember have been real or have been in my dreams. There are always things I have been told whilst in this zoned-out space that I have no awareness or memory of.”

If you’re tired when you start a routine activity, such as eating, writing, or driving, and resist sleep, you may perform with reduced awareness. The automatic behavior might stop if you fall asleep or regain alertness.

Doctors recommend stopping to rest or take a nap, rather than trying to push through sleepiness, especially while doing a potentially dangerous activity like driving.

“If I start to drive and realize I shouldn’t be driving, I turn around and go back home, or I pull over, find a safe place to park, and nap,” a MyNarcolepsyTeam member shared. “If I pull over to nap, I typically let a family member or friend know where I am and how long I plan to sleep.”

How Can Automatic Behaviors Be Controlled?

Some people may be hesitant to report automatic behaviors because they’re embarrassed or ashamed. Don’t be afraid to talk to your medical team about automatic behaviors. Sharing the details about what you’re experiencing will make it easier for your healthcare team to help you.

“I have the most wonderful, understanding sleep specialist! I confessed everything to him about my automatic behavior and every other aspect of my life with narcolepsy.”

— A MyNarcolepsyTeam member

“I have the most wonderful, understanding sleep specialist! I confessed everything to him about my automatic behavior and every other aspect of my life with narcolepsy,” shared one MyNarcolepsyTeam member.

While there aren’t any specific medicines that treat brain fog or automatic behavior, doctors believe that improving excessive daytime sleepiness can help with automatic behaviors.

Manage Narcolepsy Symptoms

Managing automatic behaviors starts with treating other symptoms of narcolepsy, such as sleep attacks (overwhelming sleepiness) and cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle control). A doctor who specializes in sleep medicine can help identify your symptoms and recommend treatment options that fit your needs.

A sleep study — also known as a polysomnogram (PSG) — can help determine whether your narcolepsy symptoms are caused by interruptions in your sleep cycle. A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) measures how sleepy you are during the day. Your doctor may also ask you to keep a sleep journal to help you track your symptoms and sleep patterns over time.

Find The Right Treatment Plan

Based on your symptoms, your healthcare team will recommend the right treatment for you. This plan might include lifestyle changes, stimulant medications, antidepressants (such as SNRIs and SSRIs), and other medications that improve nighttime sleep. Medication can help you manage narcolepsy symptoms, including automatic behaviors. Be sure to talk with your medical team about how to take your medications, how long they last, and possible side effects.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Ask your medical team about other ways to manage automatic behaviors. People in the Australian study described several strategies that help them manage automatic behaviors. Based on the participants’ experiences, you might prevent an episode if you:

• Take a nap — You may be able to avoid a drowsiness-related episode if you stop what you’re doing and take a short nap. This strategy may not help if you don’t know you’re sleepy or if you’re under pressure to complete a task.
• Develop useful habits — If you notice that you lose track of items during these episodes, creating simple routines can help prevent problems. For example, always putting your car keys in the same place can make them easier to find and reduce frustration.
• Reduce stress — Time-management strategies could help you avoid automatic behaviors caused by stress.
• Stay active — Moving around when you feel very sleepy, like getting a glass of water or taking a short walk, may help prevent an automatic behavior from happening.

Join the Conversation

On MyNarcolepsyTeam, people share their experiences with narcolepsy, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What are your experiences with automatic behaviors? Let others know in the comments below.