Has anyone dealt with REM Behavior Disorder (RBD )

I am so sorry you fell out of bed! Ouch! It can be very dangerous for both parties. Yes, a counselor had said that too, back in 2016, that a dream had spurred on an attack on an unknown assailant. That is relieving. Thank you. I will try to look at it more like that. I hope you are finding relief.

It is not hidden aggression. It's a dream, and the body reacting to dream imagery when it is supposed to be isolated from voluntary muscle control. In fact, as you must know, the acting-out is involuntary. No reasonable person with whom you've agreed to share a bed all these years would treat you like that in the middle of the night.

This is strictly a disorder, and I'm sure he is horrified and worried.

I'm 51 now, and was diagnosed with RBD about 3 years ago. I'd been suffering from the symptoms (punching, kicking, yelling, and even jumping out of bet a couple times) for about 5 years prior to the diagnosis.

I'd like to address something someone said here about Parkinson's being "inevitable" if you have RBD.

That's not true.

Unfortunately, there IS a very high correlation between RBD and eventual Parkinson's, but it's not a 100% guarantee you'll develop PD. This, coming from my neurologist at Mayo Clinic. It's in the available literature as well.

I have childhood trauma from growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father. A therapist I saw (to deal with my worry of possibly developing PD) told me that RBD can manifest in people with childhood trauma like mine--and this kind of RBD never leads to Parkinson's. So, I'm hanging onto this + what the Mayo neurologist said as my only glimmer of hope.

My RBD actually peaked about 3 years ago, which is what led me to seek help. I was having episodes 15 - 18 nights a month (I kept a journal). They had me take melatonin nightly for it, and once I dialed-in the right dosage--6mg in my case--my episodes completely stopped. Didn't even talk in my sleep.

I took melatonin nightly for about a year and had zero RBD episodes during that entire time. I then decided to stop--just to see what would happen. I generally don't like taking stuff like that if I don't absolutely have to.

After stopping the melatonin, I made it about 1 full month without a single episode. Eventually the RBD episodes came back but, interestingly, they're much less frequent now. I only have 1-2 RBD episodes per month, and some months are completely RBD-free. Been that way for over a year now... completely melatonin-free.

I don't know what this means, but I'm hoping it's a good sign. I'll take any good news/signs I can get at this point.

That was a lot of info about myself, sorry. Let me know if you have any specific questions about RBD and my experiences with it over the years. Happy to help if I can.

My husband died with Parkinson's at age 80. I found out on our honeymoon when I was 18, that he had REM sleep disorder when he grabbed my pillow in the middle of the night and my head slammed down onto the mattress. He constantly kicked and swatted me in his sleep. In all that time he never admitted he had it or was he treated for it in any way. We were married for 58 great years, but I ended up in my own bedroom.

I was diagnosed two years ago but never had violent episodes
I just tried to jump out of bed shouting and in a couple of occasions hit my head
I was started on Melatonin and it has controlled the episodes
I also have been tapering off Venlafaxine after 20 years which I credit with my improvement
I was told I will develop Parkinson’s but have no symptoms at present
I am 79 yrs old

Very interesting
I must admit the doctor telling me I would get Parkinson’s was very disturbing She wrote to my GP warning about this and advised me not to sleep with my husband as I might injure him

I have never been violent
My husband says I talk in my sleep sometimes and have shaking or tremors
Many text books say you develop Parkinson’s within five years
I figure given my age I am
Unlikely to live long enough to develop PD
I am a very youthful looking 79 yr old