REM Behavior Disorder

[mistersleepy]

I have no idea where to post this, but I think it's a form of REM behavior disorder. I keep having a dream, usually a nightmare, but during it I think to myself, " I don't like this dream, I'm gonna get up now." And than I become aware of my physical body in reality, and I try to get up, but I'm still seeing the dream in my head. I try to scream or yell my fiance's name so she'll roll over and wake me up, but all I can force out is murmurs. So I just sit there in my dream yelling her name because she's the only one near me. My entire body, even my mouth and eyes seem paralyzed for several minutes until she wakes up and shakes me. This is a very frightening experience for me, and I often don't get enough sleep because I'm too afraid that it might happen again. If anyone knows what this is or can help me somehow, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm 21 and this has been happening for nearly a year now.

[sleepfighter17]

i'm 17 and i've been having symtoms since i was 12... for the longest time i had no idea where these bruise up and down my body came from. My sisters would hear me muttering in my sleep and often hear me thumping my body against the wall... i have severe vision problems because i hit my head often. i have a long history of sleepwalking and axiety and i never sleep well... i can't remember the last time i had a peaceful night. i yell out and my sisters are terrified... i even struck one of them but i don't remember why. THis is terrifying and i fight to stay awake... i will not sleep and with school and my job... i need to sleep. my boyfreind worries and i'm terrified of hurting him when we move in together... i won't stay over at a freind's house because the fear of looking insane or worse: hurting my host, is too powerful to overcome... might i suggest looking towards REM therepy? i describe the nightmares i have( when i remember) and the talking helps. ssomething i also do is write down the nightmare right after i have it and read it later... i read it with my therepist and feel oh so better. i don't know if that's REM therepy or not. i do know that getting it out there opens doors to more help... the REM disorder can be controlled... you just need to know how. something i also wonder... is this disorder possibly connectable to PTSD?

[rpda]

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through. My Father has REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). He was diagnosed about 6 years ago and until that time, literally thought he was just going crazy. He too suffered from severe anxiety about even going to sleep for fear of what the night would hold for him.

With RBD there is a lack of atonia (muscle paralysis) that normally occurs in the REM stage of sleep and therefore a huge potential for physical harm. It's this physiological component that makes it diagnostically different from sleepwalking, periodic limb disorder and many other sleep disorders involving motor activity. And based on my research, it's also the reason why talk therapy alone is not enough (my Dad is in therapy and I'm a BIG believer in therapy, so I'm not knocking it). While it does seem that stress can exacerbate my Dad's condition, based on all the research, RBD is not a psychological condition and therefore medication is required to treat it. And I can tell you that without medication, my Dad would probably not be here today.

I've posted my Dad's story in the Patient Stories section of this website (http://livingwith.sleepdisorderchannel.com/rem-behavior-disorder/20071226_3557), and I would also encourage you to check out Dr. Carlos Schenck's website at www.parasomnias-rbd.com. He is the leading expert on RBD. More than anything though, I'd strongly urge you to see a sleep specialist and go for a sleep study. There is no reason you should have to suffer like you are.

I've had a really challenging time trying to get support and information for my Dad over the years, so if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

[rpda]

Hi mistersleepy,

My initial reply was to sleepfighter17, so I'm posting separately to you now.

What you've described sounds much more like Sleep Paralysis than RBD. My Dad has RBD and the opposite of paralysis is involved as people with RBD literally act out their dreams, often in a very violent, excited or dramatic way. They lack the ability to block certain neurotransmitters that normally protect us from acting our dreams.

This website has some info. on Sleep Paralysis, but it's pretty limited. If you do a Google search for it you'll get tons of hits. Even Wikipedia has some good info [moderator note: website address has been removed].

Hope that helps...