Kristen Cascio

Clinical Social Worker Turned Sleep
Health Influencer

My Story

Thank you for making it to my page! I’m Kristen Cascio, a clinical social worker and world traveler from Boston. For 15 years, I struggled with relentless fatigue—what I later learned was “excessive daytime sleepiness.” Since high school, I knew something wasn’t right; no matter how much I slept, I woke up exhausted. Despite countless doctor visits, lab tests, and theories ranging from depression to lifestyle factors, my real condition remained undiagnosed. One specialist even dismissed it as “some people just don’t have a lot of energy.” I pushed through, prioritizing work and school over hobbies and social life, managing to earn my master’s in social work and travel the world—but always battling exhaustion. At 31, after an intense period of debilitating sleepiness, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Tracking my symptoms helped me finally get a referral to a sleep specialist, leading to the diagnosis I’d been searching for: obstructive sleep apnea. Now, with a CPAP machine, I’m finally experiencing the energy I’d long been missing.

My Story

After my diagnosis with a sleep disorder in 2020, I fell into the world of sleep advocacy when I began sharing my travels with my CPAP on Instagram. I have always been passionate about travel and thought it would be interesting and amusing to take pictures of my CPAP machine on planes and in hotel rooms around the world. I was pleasantly surprised when this led me to connect with a worldwide community of people with sleep disorders who had similar stories.

My sleep apnea has been well-managed since I started CPAP therapy but I still remember how I felt all those years. Now, I connect with patients and providers in the field of sleep health to raise awareness for earlier detection and treatment. Through podcast appearances, published articles, speaking engagements and educational panels, I've helped others understand the importance of sleep health, the toll of undiagnosed sleep disorders and the connection between sleep and mental health. I also use my platform to raise awareness of the signs of undiagnosed sleep disorders and share my journey as a CPAP user.


My vulnerability and confidence in sharing my patient experience has led to advocacy work with nonprofits and partnerships with leading sleep-focused brands.I help brands authentically connect with their audience through sharing my genuine struggles and successes managing my sleep disorder, providing useful information and tips on incorporating CPAP into your life, and encouraging others to not feel shame about their diagnosis.

I’ve seen firsthand the power of healthy sleep and I look forward to working with patient advocates, nonprofit organizations, and sleep-focused brands to raise awareness of underdiagnosed sleep disorders. Through my social media I’ll continue to share my life with a CPAP machine because I never want others to feel shame about their diagnosis.

Work with Me

Consulting
My advanced training and licensure in clinical social work combined with my experience as a patient with a sleep disorder make me uniquely positioned to help your organization meet its patient engagement goals. I have proven experience in:
• Grant proposal reviews
• Program evaluation
• Assessment of individual and systemic barriers to care
• Review of patient survey data
• Development of strategies to address social determinants of health and health equity
Writing or editing website content to appeal to patients

Work with Me

Speaking
• Patient advocacy events or panels
• Professional organizations or conferences
• Workplace wellness or Employee Assistance Program events
Community Engagement
• Hosting patient advocacy events
• Facilitating patient support groups

Contact

If you resonate with my story or wonder if your “tired” is different from everyone around you, let’s connect.