Claire Scott is a British mother of two who suffers from a rare disorder that causes her muscles to weaken when she laughs until she falls asleep. It is called cataplexy , and it consists of sudden and usually brief episodes of loss of muscle tone during wakefulness . Most of the time these episodes occur in relation to intense emotions, and due to the muscle flaccidity they cause the person to suddenly collapse, and for a few moments they are unable to move, speak or keep their eyes open. Although laughter is the most common trigger , fear, anger, and excitement also cause these episodes. In some people, the loss of muscle tone is barely noticeable, involving only a momentary sensation of mild weakness in a limited number of muscles, as well as a slight drooping of the eyelids.
Since childhood, Claire Scott has suffered this type of breakdown up to 50 times a day.
