@wgatap21 there is another discussion on REM sleep disorder that you might want to read through and post questions here:

> Groups > Sleep Health > My husband has REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rem-behavior-disorder-rbd/

Hi, @wgatap21 - Here's some Mayo Clinic information on all the stages of sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-are-the-stages-of-sleep/.

I think that understanding a little of your daughter's reasoning might be useful to comprehend more of where she is coming from for this discussion on REM sleep. Just wondering, if it was stated, if you'd share the reason your daughter was saying that too much REM sleep is not good?

@collenyoung I took your advice and read the article. It explains alot of my dream and sleep issues. Melatonin is the main ingredient in Sleep3. It's a stronger mix with GABA and an amino acid but it really answered my sleep problems. It's always nice to have a solid medical explanation.

I am 75 and have experienced headaches and what I call excessive dreaming my whole adult life. It seems to me that I dream all night. They go on and on mostly nonsense but many have a similar theme. I am I think semi-awake, drifting in and out. The only way I can end that dream is to force myself to get out of bed, get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. As soon as I go back to bed a new dream starts which goes on and on. I wake feeling worse than when I went to bed. I can take a 10-minute nap and dream.
My sleep analysis apparently looks fairly normal. CPAP did not help. Psychiatrists tried antidepressants, no change. At my last sleep medicine visit, I saw an actual sleep doctor who gives forensic testimony. (googled). I figured this might be my one chance to get an answer. I gave my whole history of symptoms and treatment. He said you have epic dreaming (non-rem). It is rare, not much is known about it, or how to treat it. Not what I wanted to hear!
One year ago at my annual exam, I was complaining about headaches. The doctor said let's try a low dose of 37.5 mg of Venlafaxine/Effexor (antidepressant) which has been effective for different things. (does have side effects)
It did not help with headaches but did help the dreaming. I would say for the first two weeks I did not dream at all. The dreaming has gradually crept back but not as long, intense, or vivid as before. Increasing the dose has not helped. Not continuing brings the original symptoms right back.

@mazeppabob Thank you for your reply. I knew I couldn't be the only one with strange sleep/dream story. I'm 77 and always had weird dreams and even a hallucination or two before I was twelve. Skipping ahead twenty years I started waking up and the same routine. I was examined multiple times galore assuming that my problem was kidneys. Ten years later snoring became an issue. A new doctor ordered a sleep test. Five tests and as many years the diagnosis was obstructive sleep apnea. No one could answer questions a bout realistic dreams that reloaded at the same point every time I got up and went back to sleep. I have rem sleep but no one can tell me what damage or danger comes from vivid dreams or nightmares. No interest? Or no University specialty?