REM Behavior Disorder

[musicalangel]

I am currently consulting psychaitrist at a local health center starting from Sep 2007, and I am taking anti-depressants once in every nights, as I am diagnosed as I am a patient of depression I have a history of shouting during sleep without recognised myself starting my teenage years( my room-mate told me back afterwards); as it didnt happen that often so I didnt didnt do anything about it, becos it didnt affect my daily lives. Until recent past years I had problems of relationships, and am trying to get on with my life. I told my doctor about shouting at my last session,and few days ago i caught myself shouting/screaming before sudden wake-up...I had a lot of dreams, and 1 time I sleep-walked to the sofa( it happened in my dream then realised that it was true afterwards). Dad told me afterwards that I slept on the sofa, and the most annoyed me its the SHOUTING, I cant control it during sleep,and I dont know when I will be shouting; I even done some relaxing exercises and meditation( to reduce my stress) but sometimes it doesnt work....Doctor said it's alright but i'm still worrying, as the shouting will affect my family's sleep and my future partner.....
I kinda feel this illness comes in a cycle basis, sometimes I feel good and happy and I thought I've recovered, sometimes I feel sad and actions/thinking are slow, but they dont happen all in 1 day, let me say 2 weeks feeling good and 2 weeks after not good; but becos of that, I have no courage of changing a new job and starting a relationship......
Can anyone please tell me what's happening to me?

[rpda]

As someone who's suffered from depression, I can tell you that getting through it is a process. Give yourself some time. Be kind to yourself and patient. You only just started getting treatment.

As for your sleep issues, I am NO doctor, but my Dad has RBD. And while RBD does involve vocalization, it also involves much more physical activity than you've described. People with RBD don't just sleepwalk. They literally act out their dreams in a typically very violent or dramatic way (thrashing, hitting, punching, leaping, etc.). That's the hallmark symptom of the disorder.

Either way, I would encourage you to speak with your doctor. He may say it's alright that you're having these sleep issues, but perhaps he doesn't know the extent to which it's upsetting you and making you anxious. It also might be worth looking into whether the specific anti-depressant your on tends to effect sleep. That alone might make you feel better knowing it's just a side effect. And relaxation and meditation exercises are excellent, but again, you need to give yourself time as they typically takes some time to master in order to get the full and cumulative effects.

Wishing you the best...