Recognizing the Signs of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM sleep behavior disorder can have a sudden onset that is extremely frightening. Most of the people begin to screech out, flail their arms and legs and often act violently due to a dream that they are having in deep sleep. Others feel as though their body is in motion.

REM Sleep behavior disorder occurs when your body fails to initiate a temporary paralysis of the muscles that is supposed to occur during deep, or REM sleep. Often it can be brought on by medications, diseases or as a result of stress and it is more common in middle-aged man than any other demographic.

What Should Family Members do to Help? REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Largely, it is the other people around you that may be most affected. It is never encouraged to approach or confront someone in the midst of an episode. Care should be taken to do it from a distance because the person at that moment is not engaged in consciousness and may not know what they are doing. If you have a family member who has this disorder, learn to call their name aloud several times in order to wake them up fully and never place your hands as restraints on them, which can get you hurt. It may be useful to practice mediations or something else relaxing before bedtime and to avoid any stimulants during the day.