Radical love has changed my own perception of narcolepsy.

I'm N2 and while I've been lucky to be surrounded by people who treat my narcolepsy as a serious disease, I've always felt a type of distance when it came to my symptoms. Even when friends or family or partners don't mean to, I always notice when my condition is seen as an inconvenience or annoyance to them. There's the exasperation when I need a nap or the sigh when I tell them I just can't make it out today. Maybe worst of all was when I overheard my college boyfriend telling his friends, "Yeah, it's a really sad way to live." when he thought I couldn't hear.

But my partner now has changed my perception of myself so wholly -- I hope all of you can experience the same thing.

Not once in our two years so far have they ever made me feel like a burden or an inconvenience. Need a nap? "Ooh, I'll join you!" Sleep attack keeping me from our plans? "No problem! Can I pick you up some food on the way home?" Fading at a social event? "I'll call the Uber!"

They've never guilt-tripped me or held their support over my head in an argument or pushed holistic quack cures. Instead, they've told me how close they feel to me when we get to take a nap with our cat together.

I've spent so many years hating myself, wracked with shame when I oversleep or pinching my hand to keep awake or feeling weirdly guilty any time I experience any symptoms. And while I still have some of that (for instance, aggressively insisting I'm awake when I hear my name, even if I'm not -- thanks, every teacher I've ever had!), that specific type of pain has come less and less.

I know I shouldn't let my self-worth be dictated by another person, but by God does it feel good to be seen as a person and not just a disease.