The Real Sleeping Beauty Syndrome

People with Kleine-Levin syndrome can fall into a deep sleep for weeks or even months at a time. Between these long bouts of hibernation, they appear completely healthy and symptom-free.

This rare condition is often called Sleeping Beauty syndrome because of its extreme effect on daily life. During an episode, patients may sleep up to 20 hours a day and wake only in a confused, dreamlike state. They might also experience intense food cravings or strange behavioral changes that vanish as soon as they wake up. It is a mysterious cycle that can plague individuals for over a decade before eventually fading away.