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Alyssa Davis, a 26-year-old model and digital marketer from North Carolina, has finally found an explanation for her lifelong struggle with extreme fatigue: idiopathic hypersomnia, a rare sleep disorder affecting a minute fraction of the population.

Davis, who often found herself nodding off during school and dance classes as a child, initially attributed her perpetual exhaustion to a lack of sleep.

However, her inability to shake off overwhelming tiredness led her to seek medical advice, only to face years of dismissal from doctors who suggested remedies as simple as drinking coffee.

"It's like being trapped in the 'Groundhog Day' movie -- except instead of reliving the same day, I just relive the same exhaustion," Davis said, according to the New York Post.

Idiopathic hypersomnia, characterized by excessive sleepiness without a discernible cause, poses a daily challenge for Davis, as it clouds her thinking and makes concentration an arduous task.

Simple activities require meticulous planning, as even after 10 to 14 hours of sleep, she wakes up feeling as if she hadn't slept at all.

"I'd sit down in theater class, excited to do my favorite lesson and suddenly my memory would blur," Davis shared.

"The feeling of sudden exhaustion became a tell-tale sign that I was about to lose consciousness."

Despite receiving skepticism and unwanted remarks from medical professionals, Davis persisted in her quest for answers.

In 2017, a specialist confirmed her condition through a rigorous sleep study, revealing her body's inability to achieve the deep state of sleep necessary for rejuvenation.

Davis's struggle continued until 2021 when the FDA approved Xywav, the first medication specifically for idiopathic hypersomnia in adults.

Now, she eagerly awaits the opportunity to undergo treatment, hoping for relief from her debilitating symptoms.

"It wasn't an easy journey, and it still isn't, but having a name for the struggle I've been trying to grapple with for so long has been a lifeline," Davis said.

Davis now aims to raise awareness about idiopathic hypersomnia, urging others facing similar challenges to advocate for proper medical attention and support.