World Champion Cheerleader with Narcolepsy Reveals How She 'Tricks' Her Brain Before Performing (Exclusive)
The now 20-year-old was diagnosed with narcolepsy as a teen and uses her platform to inform people about her experience
Despite her condition, she just won her second World Championship titleRylie Shaw is a two-time world champion cheerleader whose life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with narcolepsy in high school.
With no family history of the condition, navigating the challenges of sudden sleep attacks and chronic fatigue was a big learning curve.
Despite the hurdles, the 20-year-old from Wildomar, Calif., continues to compete at the highest level, balancing the demands of elite athletics with the realities of her diagnosis.
'I remember constantly telling my mom, 'I don't feel good,'' Shaw tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'I would frequently doze off in my classes and had a few instances of falling asleep at the wheel, when I realized my tiredness was not normal.'
In high school, she discussed her concerns with her doctor and was referred to a sleep specialist who enrolled her in an overnight study at a dedicated facility.
After her sleep patterns were monitored and evaluated, the results ultimately led to a narcolepsy diagnosis.
'I was the first in my family to be diagnosed, so navigating that was difficult as I didn't have someone that knew what it was like,' Shaw admits.
As a young woman with a limited 'battery,' spending time with friends and family was tiresome, and even more 'isolating.'
'When I'm really tired, it's overwhelming and often results in me shutting down and having a difficult time holding a conversation,' she explains. 'To others, this can appear rude, and they often don't understand.'
Throughout college, Shaw felt limited compared to her peers, realizing she couldn't stay out or socialize as long as others her age. Working through it meant accepting her limits and learning to prioritize her health without guilt.
Given that Shaw is also an athlete, managing her unpredictable exhaustion can be extremely difficult despite years of experience in gymnastics and cheerleading.
'Sometimes during practice, I would hit a wall of tiredness and my skills would suffer,' she says. 'With a high-energy sport like cheerleading, this can be really difficult when a sleep attack hits.'
Shaw has been an All-Star cheerleader since age 15. In April 2025, the California Allstars Rangers won their third World Championship title, making Shaw a two-time, back-to-back champion.
However, given the high demands of being a decorated cheerleader, Shaw is extremely cautious when it comes to cataplexy – a symptom of narcolepsy that can cause sudden loss of muscle control or even consciousness, often triggered by strong emotions.
Since being diagnosed, she has taken nightly medication to help regulate her sleep cycles, which is essential for preventing cataplexy attacks.
'I learned this trick that if I convince myself I'm not anxious or excited and prevent those emotions from growing, I can prevent cataplexy from being triggered,' she explains.
'This typically works during competition, and I've never had a cataplexy attack on stage. However, the emotion of relief when it's all over is a big trigger I typically can't prevent.'
The most difficult part for Shaw isn't even competing itself – adrenaline helps her power through events – but rather the toll it takes afterward.
'I typically spend the next few days crashed out and recovering by sleeping it off,' she reveals. 'Not to mention, I'm an emotional wreck. It's not fun, but definitely worth the thrills of competing with my team.'
Due to her limited energy, Shaw makes sure to prioritize rest and recovery. As an athlete, she recognizes that training demands much of her energy, often requiring her to turn down other opportunities or commitments.
Given the intense travel that comes with competing around the country, Shaw has had to coordinate with her team's schedule as best she can.
'I have to be very strategic with scheduling the best flights that disrupt my sleep schedule the least amount because missing sleep means I can't take my medication and makes me more prone to cataplexy,' Shaw says.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
However, this season, several of Shaw's teammates were also dealing with their own medical challenges, creating a supportive environment of mutual understanding.
'Along with that, I had teammates see me struggle and in response gave me support and prayer, which meant so much to me,' she shares.
Despite her condition, Shaw has come to embrace being different from others her age. She uses her social media platforms to shed light on how narcolepsy shapes her everyday life and career, offering insight, honesty, and inspiration.
When it comes to being a young athlete managing a chronic illness, Shaw says she has no regrets. 'Even if you fail, the experience will be worth it, so go for it!'
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Wellness isn't a perk—it's a leadership imperative
In the wellness industry, there's a motto I adopted a long time ago: 'Live the brand.' For me, that means showing up for myself first—mentally, physically, emotionally. The reason is simple: I can't champion health if I'm constantly running on empty. And yet, every day I see high-profile leaders in the wellness space doing exactly that. Creating a culture of wellness within the organization begins with embodying that mindset ourselves. Leadership is more than just ensuring we hit our quarterly numbers or leading strategy sessions—it's about modeling the behaviors we want to see within the organization. If you want your team to prioritize their health, show them what that looks like. Be the one who arrives with energy, not burnout. Put proper nutrition before convenience in the office—for example, replace snack machines with access to fresh, healthy food. Go for a lunch-hour walk to unwind. Say 'no' to a second round of drinks at work functions. When leaders 'walk the talk' it has the potential to change the entire energy in a workplace. It's a common misconception that great leaders have to sacrifice themselves to be effective. I learned the hard way that the opposite is true. I lead better when I carve out time in my day to move, to clear my head, to eat something real, to take time to just breathe and reset my emotions. This is strategic self-care, not selfishness. The habits leaders model serve as silent permission slips. Your team will mirror your example. If you push through exhaustion, they'll feel they must do the same. But if you normalize rest and well-being, you give others the freedom to care for themselves, too. Yes, we're all busy. But wellness isn't what happens after your to-do list is done—it's what helps you get through it without burning out. I start with small but steady rituals. I express gratitude first thing in the morning—even before checking texts and emails. That one habit changes how I show up. I also take 10-minute breaks in the afternoon to reset. These aren't luxuries—they're essentials. And they're accessible to anyone willing to try. Wellness doesn't require hours every day, but it does require intention. That might mean checking in on stress levels or using mindfulness to stay focused. If we're not intentional, we carry stress home—into our relationships, our families, and our long-term health. This isn't theoretical for me. I've been on the edge of burnout more than once. Not because I lacked tools, but because I wasn't using them. That's the irony of working in wellness. You know what to do, but when life gets overwhelming, it's easy to let those habits slip. I knew the value of movement, real food, rest, and mindfulness, but I prioritized everything—and everyone—else. Things shifted when I stopped treating wellness like another to-do and started living it. My focus improved. My leadership did, too. I remembered: You can't give what you don't have. Leading strong, resilient teams starts with caring for the humans doing the work—including yourself. People often ask about the ROI of wellness programs. I get the skepticism—many programs are performative. A bowl of fruit or an unused meditation app doesn't move the needle. But when wellness is truly integrated and linked to outcomes, it becomes a competitive advantage. That means fewer sick days, better retention, lower medical costs, and stronger performance. When I was at My Fit Foods, we partnered with oil and gas companies to provide employees with healthy meal subsidies. While improving employee nutrition was one of the goals, performance was the driver. Employees reported better focus, fewer energy crashes, and overall improved well-being. Wellness wasn't a perk—it was a productivity tool. Start small. Try something specific, such as a wellness allowance, guided meditation times, or delivery of nutritious meals. Monitor the outcomes and expand on what is found to be successful. When you connect wellness to outcomes leaders already care about, the conversation changes from 'Why do this?' to 'What can we do next?' Above all, participation by leadership is an absolute must. When leaders not only encourage, but also model wellness in the workplace, wellness becomes the culture—not just a policy. If your company's just starting out on its wellness journey, here's my best advice: keep it simple, keep it human, and lead your team with empathy. You don't need a huge budget or overly complicated plan. What you do need is a real commitment to supporting your team. Ask them what they actually need to feel supported—physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. Use surveys, town halls, and conversations. Use their feedback to build meaningful and inclusive pilot programs. And more than anything, work toward making wellness part of your culture. This wellness program isn't about a new benefit or perks. Rather, it's about creating a place where your team feels safe, energized, and genuinely valued for their contributions. In the end, wellness isn't about perfection; it's about showing up for yourself and your team, consistently. You don't need to overhaul your entire life overnight. But you do need to start somewhere, even if it's a small step in the right direction. So, take the walk. Book the workout. Close the laptop at a reasonable hour, and keep it closed until the next day. Your team, your family—and most importantly, your future self—will thank you.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Louisiana Joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact
First state adopts dental licensure reform, enshrining high standards for patient care 'Louisiana's adoption of the compact creates new opportunities for dental professionals to serve communities across state lines.'— Dr. Art Jee, President of the AADB's Board of Directors BATON ROUGE, LA, UNITED STATES, July 15, 2025 / / -- Louisiana has become the first state to join the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure (IDDHL) Compact. HB543, sponsored by Representative Wayne McMahen, is now law after it passed the legislature with no opposition. The IDDHL Compact, developed by the American Association of Dental Boards, aims to streamline the licensing process for dentists and dental hygienists who want to practice in multiple states. This compact offers a voluntary, expedited pathway to licensure for qualified dental professionals while maintaining high standards of patient safety and care. 'The Compact facilitates a more efficient licensure process allowing practitioners to begin working in new states more quickly after meeting eligibility requirements,' said Representative Wayne McMahen during the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs hearing on May 7, 2025. 'Joining the Compact could significantly benefit Louisiana by expanding the dental workforce, improving access to care, and streamlining licensure process for dental professionals.' The IDDHL Compact, modeled after the medical licensure compact, preserves state authority over dental licensing while simplifying the process for qualified professionals to practice across state lines. It requires graduates from Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-approved schools to pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) licensure exam or have five years of practice after passing a regional licensing examination. 'This is a great step forward for dental care in Louisiana and the U.S., marking a significant milestone in dental care accessibility and professional mobility,' said Dr. Art Jee, President of the AADB's Board of Directors. 'Louisiana's adoption of the compact creates new opportunities for dental professionals to serve communities across state lines.' Key benefits of the compact include: ● Expedited licensure process for qualified dental professionals ● Enhanced professional mobility for dentists and dental hygienists ● Maintained high standards of patient safety through uniform competency requirements ● Cost-effective implementation for participating states The compact will also provide access to an AADB Licensure Repository, a centralized portal for verifying licensure documents and sharing disciplinary information among member states. 'By joining the IDDHL Compact, Louisiana demonstrates its commitment to meeting the needs of providers while protecting public health,' added Dr. Jee. 'We anticipate other states will follow Louisiana's lead, creating a nationwide network that benefits both dental professionals and patients.' The IDDHL Compact has been introduced in a total of nine states so far. It is actively being considered by legislatures in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The IDDHL Compact was also passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature while making progress in other states where it has been introduced. For more information about the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, visit Emily Cardone 10 to 1 Public Relations [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Am I Gaslighting My Patients?
Melissa Geraghty, PsyD, a clinical health psychologist at the US Department of Defense, developed unexplained episodes of lower body paralysis at the age of 34. 'I was told [by healthcare professionals] that it was 'just anxiety.' Throughout my life, I had been experiencing chronic pain and other odd symptoms but was told they were 'all in my head,'' she said in an interview with Medscape Medical News . Melissa Geraghty, PsyD Eventually, Geraghty was diagnosed with tethered cord syndrome, a rare neural tube defect requiring neurosurgery. Geraghty was a victim of medical gaslighting — the dismissal or minimization of a patient's symptoms. The term derives from a 1938 play (later adapted into a movie called Gaslight ), in which a husband intentionally manipulates his wife into questioning her perceptions of reality. The term 'gaslighting' became so popular that in 2022, it was identified by Merriam-Webster as its 'word of the year.' It has come to mean not only intentional manipulation of a person's perceptions but also dismissal of the person's legitimate concerns. In 2023, 'medical gaslighting' was trending on TikTok, garnering over 226 million views. A new review focuses on harm caused by medical gaslighting, which the authors refer to as 'symptom invalidation.' Researchers examined 151 qualitative studies, encompassing 11,307 individuals and 11 conditions, including long COVID, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The analysis identified broad classes of negative consequences: emotional states and beliefs (eg, self-doubt and shame), healthcare-specific responses (eg, loss of trust in clinicians), behavioral changes (eg, avoiding medical care), and diagnostic delays, leading to adverse outcomes. Allyson Bontempo, PhD 'Patients described questioning reality and asking themselves self-doubting questions such as, 'Am I making this up? Is it all in my head?' This can lead to long-term trauma and self-doubt and can adversely affect medical care going forward,' lead author Allyson Bontempo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, told Medscape Medical News . Said Geraghty, 'This type of dismissal erodes trust and chips away at a person's sense of self.' It left Geraghty with 'medical trauma.' Respondents 'reported downplaying symptoms to their providers so as not to look overdramatic,' Bontempo recounted. 'Many such patients avoid healthcare providers, even for unrelated conditions, because they feel hopeless and think that nothing will come of their visit.' In these scenarios, diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Delays in diagnosis and treatment compromise the health of individual patients, and the negative sequelae of medical gaslighting go beyond its harmful psychological impact. It's a major public health issue, according to a report issued by the global healthcare safety nonprofit organization ECRI, topping the organization's 2025 list of the most significant threats to patient safety. Why Do Physicians Gaslight Patients? Devora Shapiro, PhD 'Physicians are under significant stress and strain, given continually increasing demands on their time and pressure from administrators to increase patient volume and decrease time spent in direct patient care,' Devora Shapiro, PhD, associate professor, Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, told Medscape Medical News . Physicians are also under tremendous pressure to justify their decisions (eg, ordering tests or performing treatments) to entities such as administrators and insurance companies. Alexandra Fuss, PhD, director of Behavioral Medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, noted that 'with every medical decision, providers are authorizing the use of medical resources and must weigh the value of the service against the patients' needs, preferences, and circumstances.' Alexandra Fuss, PhD Physicians can find themselves needing to justify their medical decisions to patients 'who seem to think they know as much as their doctors or make specific requests for tests and treatments and have a customer-service mindset, where the provider is regarded as an employee who meets customer requests,' Fuss, an instructor at Harvard Medical School, Boston, told Medscape Medical News . Additionally, physicians are more vulnerable to engaging in dismissive behaviors when there are medically unexplained symptoms, maybe because complex stories or nonspecific symptoms 'don't fit neatly into the categories required by many health systems and insurance companies,' Bontempo explained. 'Lack of comprehensive objective testing or results that may not match expectations also contribute,' noted Anna Hayburn, PsyD, clinical health psychologist, Neuromuscular Center, and assistant professor of psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. 'Ambiguous symptoms are often attributed to psychiatric or psychosocial factors, even when those aren't the primary driver of the symptoms.' Anna Hayburn, PsyD Most of Hayburn's patients have complex neurologic conditions and 'have experienced some form of medical gaslighting and/or other forms of medical trauma throughout their healthcare journey. Providers often lack understanding of the symptoms or approach them with preconceived notions.' It can take years to receive a diagnosis and appropriate care. 'Patients are often burned out by the time that happens,' she told Medscape Medical News . The Role of Implicit Bias Fuss encourages medical providers to 'be mindful that we all have heuristics and biases that influence our behaviors and decision-making.' Zed Zha, MD, a family physician and dermatologist who practices at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish, Washington, told Medscape Medical News that her practice consists primarily of underserved populations — mostly immigrants. 'It's known that people of color, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ population, people with obesity or disabilities, and women more frequently have their symptoms dismissed, compared to White cisgender males, and I've seen this in my patients.' Zed Zha, MD For example, Zha treats patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by painful lesions affecting intertriginous areas. HS disproportionately affects women and people of color and is typically associated with a 10-year delay between symptom onset and diagnosis. 'The diagnostic difficulty is compounded by the fact that this is a population more frequently dismissed and not taken seriously,' Zha said. Zha recalls a patient who had HS symptoms for more than 20 years without accurate diagnosis. 'The first thing she said was, 'I know I'm having these problems because I'm fat.' This is what she had been told by previous providers, and she accepted this flipped version of reality that was a totally untrue theory.' Another bias comes from the old adage, drummed into the heads of physicians from the first day of medical school: 'When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.' This encourages physicians not to attribute a patient's symptoms to some rare disease but to look at more common conditions — an approach that can lead to dismissal or misattribution of symptoms in the quest to find a 'common' explanation, such as anxiety. 'A deeper question is what constitutes a 'rare' disease,' commented Zha . 'Are certain diseases actually rare, do they just more frequently affect women, people of color, transgender patients, or patients from other cultures?' Even common conditions are often missed in marginalized populations because of implicit bias. 'When we think about heart attack symptoms, we think about a hunched-over man with crushing chest pain, holding the left side of his chest or left arm. But that type of presentation isn't common in women. Women experience 'atypical' symptoms. By definition, if we're defining symptoms as 'atypical,' we're implying they're rare. But how can the presentation of a common medical emergency be defined as 'rare' if it affects women who comprise 50% of the population?' Misdiagnosis of myocardial infarction in women is more common than that in their male counterparts because 'atypical' symptoms are misattributed to anxiety and because of a stereotype that women are less affected by cardiovascular disease than men. Another myth is that Black people feel less pain, Zha noted. This misperception has contributed to undertreatment of pain in Black vs White patients. And women, more often seen as exaggerating pain, are less likely to receive pain medication than men presenting with the same complaints — a phenomenon Zha described as 'medical misogyny.' Zha asks herself throughout the day, 'How would I approach this patient's care if the patient were an able-bodied, thin-bodied cisgender straight White male without an accent?' She acknowledged that this self-investigation requires 'courage,' adding, 'every day, I'm still working on it.' Tips for Physicians The experts offered tips to help physicians avoid medical gaslighting. Don't be afraid to admit you don't know the answer. 'Most patients aren't expecting perfection,' Geraghty said. 'They're looking for someone to walk alongside them. Saying, 'I may not know yet, but I'm committed to figuring it out with you' is far more supportive than minimizing symptoms or blaming the patient.' You don't have to do everything the patient wants. Patients, often armed with articles from the internet, may ask for a medication, procedure, or test that's not warranted for their condition or symptoms. If this happens, 'take a moment to explain why that's the case, which can reduce the patient's feeling of being dismissed,' Hayburn advised. Some patients have developed their own hypotheses about what's causing their symptoms, which may not be 'based in empirical evidence,' Fuss added. 'The willingness to listen to their perspective regarding causation is important for establishing trust.' But this doesn't mean physicians are 'required to defer to patients' perceptions about the etiology of their symptoms.' Be careful about 'diagnostic overshadowing.' 'Be mindful not to over-engage in diagnostic overshadowing,' Fuss warned — a process by which healthcare professionals wrongly attribute a person's physical symptoms to other causes, such as disability or mental illness. She encouraged physicians to engage in 'thoughtful communication' when discussing potential psychological interventions. For example, patients with irritable bowel syndrome 'often describe unhelpful messages they've heard in the past, such as 'it's all in your head' or 'it's just stress.' So it's important to communicate the role of the gut-brain axis and discuss how psychological support is a valid treatment option recommended as part of comprehensive healthcare, as psychological factors can influence physical symptoms. Providers should emphasize that they'll continue to work on addressing [physical] symptoms as well.' Empathetic demeanor and validation build trust. Demeanor is an important component of helping people feel valued and taken seriously. Fuss advises clinicians to build trust by 'bolstering perceptions of competence and warmth.' Competence includes intelligence, skill, and assertiveness, while warmth includes qualities such as empathy, kindness, and honesty. Demonstrating both qualities also builds trust. An empathetic demeanor also includes validating the patient's statements, which 'doesn't take a lot of time but just takes intention,' according to Geraghty, whose private practice includes a specialty in medical gaslighting. 'You can say something like, 'I believe you' or 'that sounds really difficult,' which only takes a few seconds. That kind of acknowledgment can completely change the tone of the appointment.' Allow patients to ask questions. 'Asking if the patient has any questions means patients are more likely to feel heard and listened to,' said Fuss. Despite the compressed nature of medical appointments, time can be reserved for questions at the end of the visit. If patients require additional time for the discussion, a follow-up appointment can be scheduled. Validation isn't the same as reassurance. Bontempo recommends that physicians 'do not reassure patients that their symptoms are 'normal,' especially if they've been living with them for a long time and have distress about them. Patients know when something is wrong with them, especially the longer they live with their symptoms.' Research suggests that reassurance isn't helpful to patients with high distress about their symptoms and may be perceived as dismissive. So instead of reassurance, Bontempo recommends validation. 'Many patients who struggle to receive a diagnosis actually have reported wanting to have their symptoms validated independent of whether a diagnosis can be identified. At the very least, this validation reassures patients that they are not crazy and offsets the self-doubt that ensues from being undiagnosed, which is only exacerbated when physicians normalize their symptoms.' A Call for Action Although the term 'medical gaslighting' has 'exploded,' it has garnered relatively little formal research, Zha pointed out. Furthermore, 'some are even arguing that we need to abandon the term because it's cynical and not good for our business.' But that itself is a form of gaslighting — acting as though a real problem doesn't exist. 'The popularity of the term is a message to us. Rather than putting our energies into eliminating this term, let's put our energies into providing patient care that is affirming and takes symptoms seriously.' Geraghty emphasized that her statements reflect her own views and not those of the US Department of Defense, and Zha emphasized that her statements reflect her own views and not those of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. Hayburn, Fuss, Geraghty, Zha, and Shapiro reported having no relevant financial relationships.
