By Ashley Allen, MSW

A new Narcolepsy Anthology Memoir is Available for pre-sale directly with contributing author Ashley K. Allen, MSW and book visionary and best selling author, Desiree Williams, or best selling author Myra Cook, as well as two other authors!

November 14, 2025

Many of you are aware that I am not only an advocate for sleep in general and the rare sleep condition Narcolepsy, but also have a few book projects I have been working on (one a research-based chapter for Routledge International Textbooks, one a group memoir for Pa-Pro-Vi Publishing). The latter, the anthology memoir project, is currently scheduled to release December 1st, 2025, and pre-sales are available directly through me. If you are seeing this post after December 1st 2025, you can still purchase a copy directly through me! Prices are listed below and shipping is just $5.80. For an additional $5 I will sign the book and for $7.50 I will sign the book and write a personalized message in the front cover for you.

Not only am I an advocate for Narcolepsy, but I also was diagnosed with it in 2014 (hence my inclusion in a memoir). In the memoir, I have also included page inserts that highlight more clinical work and important factors to consider for Narcolepsy.

This book project is a fun one and just as the title suggests, it offers people insights about personal experiences of symptoms, some insight into common misunderstandings of Narcolepsy, and at times is comical for the readers, particularly for those who have been diagnosed with it or have worked with those diagnosed with it or understand what it is like to experience symptoms.

Although my chapter in the book is short given it is a shared anthology, I do hope to one day publish my own Memoir on Narcolepsy and to ensure people recognize that people can overcome the condition and live meaningful, successful lives. I also hope to one day run a research study to explore DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) for symptoms of both types 1 type 2 Narcolepsy (with and without Cataplexy). I have been in contact with the NIH about this study, but do not currently have the proper working environment to run such a study. Though others may be looking into this topic as we speak, so do some research to see what you can find on it if it is a topic of interest to you. Also keep an eye out for available studies and therapies for those with Narcolepsy who want to try DBT; I know I hope to support people with this some day as a professional.

If you would like to purchase this book from me, please select which option you are interested in and comment in response to this post or email me directly at ashleykatecompany@gmail.com stating you’d like to buy the book and selecting which options you’d like. I will then respond as quickly as possible and be sure to get a copy of the book out to you.

Book Prices:

Hardcover: $30.00

Paperback: $24.00

Shipping: $5.80

Personalized Message and book signed by Ashley Allen, MSW: An additional $7.50

Book signed/ no personalized message: An Additional $5

Thank you to my supporters and those who understand that it is possible to both have a diagnosis of a health/ sleep/ mental health condition as well as work and thank you to those who have been supportive in my journey of going from person diagnosed with narcolepsy and newly adapting to back surgery, navigating disability, to navigating the work-place and seeking justice as I have been wrongfully terminated and unable to continue to work at times in my chosen field. I will not give up on my hopes and dreams and you don’t have to either. If you’d like a consulting or coaching session, you can email me to request one for just $50/ hour if you are diagnosed with Narcolepsy, $75/hr if you are a professional who diagnoses or works with Narcolepsy, and $100/hr otherwise (usually about $120-$150/ hr) but these prices are good until 2030 with mention of this article.

Warmly,

Ashley K. Allen, MSW, Honor’s B.S. Psych, A.S. Psych

September 10, 2025

1. Take more time to have your needs met when not working to ensure you get your own needs met.

If you’re in a helping profession sometimes we need more down time, whether alone or with friends, family, etc. that’s okay. You deserve that. State your needs to others and move on when your own needs aren’t being met. If you feel stuck, go get support in ways that feel helpful or worthwhile. Sometimes just getting cold water and walking or stretching can help if you feel overwhelmed. One thing as a helper that I’ve noticed is I reach out to others for support on something but then quickly resolve the issue which may leave the helper to feel unsure or stuck. I like to try to communicate to them as soon as possible that I’m ok now and thank them for caring as soon as you can too, this will help to make sure that negative moment stays a moment and doesn’t come back to bother you later.

2 Clarify when people misunderstand your role.

Personally, as a helper, I know that I’ve learned to rely on other people to have my needs met as well which I know is a very healthy thing, but at times those other people might feel a little burnt out, and they might start to perceive us negatively as well so sometimes I like to take breaks between who I ask for help. I make sure that I include positive memories and times with people who help me just so they don’t feel like that’s their only role for me And I like to ensure that they know that my role is as a helper as well and that I do need my own support at times, but I know it’s best for me and I like people to be sure to respect my boundaries and I think that’s an important idea that anyone can apply to their lives and that’s been very helpful in my life.

3. if people are putting you in a situation that you don’t feel safe and since you’re helping others recognize, there are protections in place to keep you safe as well and I would be sure to clearly state what your boundaries are what you want in a situation and if that isn’t happening, you have the right to leave the situation to go get your own. Needs Matt to get frustrated to use your emotions to validate what you are trying to do And if you don’t feel safe again, I recommend reaching out to other people or doing something that feels safe for you sometimes people aren’t always on the same track or don’t recognize that they’re causing his problems because our timing is off or we don’t understand what that person‘s goal is or we think we’re helping them in someway when they’re actually trying to get away from us for some reason so I always just like to make sure That people feel safe and I let them know. Do what you need to do whenever they’re with me or when I’m with them I think just ensuring that people have a lot of like outlets things that make them feel safe for example having like an art pad or a notebook with me is one of my go to and if I feel unsafe sometimes I start to like doodle something stressful looking or start to jot down an idea and I usually get stopped in the middle of that When I’m like signal to that everything‘s gonna be OK so that’s just one idea if you have anxiety or feeling safe at times that might help you feel more presence with people you care about and love who might at times have their own things going on that we can’t necessarily help them with because we have our own stuff going on so just some ideas hope that these three ideas are helpful and that you guys know you can be a helper and stay safe too.

By Ashley Allen, MSW CSW

September 10, 2025

Essentially I have discovered through mindfulness of time and space around me that when I read negative post or things that are negative in nature, it often creates stress in my life another area such as with my family members for example if someone’s constantly reading about negative mental health stuff and then is around that family member it’s possible for other people to connect unconsciously and those areas of discussion and it can cause problems if we don’t realize how things are connecting I know my family members are all healthy And at times because I’m a mental health professional it’s been suggested that maybe they have mental illness and when people ask me if they have that, I usually like to just come straight forward with what I’ve been told from that person themselves, but as I’ve realize these states of existence and how they co-relate across time and space I’ve recognized my important role in helping people realize my family members are healthy And that they don’t have mental illness and even if they’ve been diagnosed with that, they don’t have to believe it anymore, so that’s something I realize lately and just feeling thoughts of love and care, hoping to feel a sense of belonging in my career without it, creating too much stress for people in my life and also hoping that people don’t keep coming to me asking if they think if I think they have an illness or something, but rather coming to me from a place of love and care because my whole life isn’t about mental illness, my whole life and roles aren’t all about mental illness, so yeah that’s what’s on my mind today. I’m just doing a quick post. Hope y’all have a beautiful one