The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

Scared To Death To Sleep - Chatting About REM Sleep Disorder

by Judy Epson
(Long Beach, CA)

My name is Judy. I am 64 years old and have just been diagnosed with rem sleep disorder. This disorder has scared me to death. I would love to chat with other people who have this disorder to see if you have found any alternative treatments that have helped.


My doctor has also informed me that i will probably be getting parkinsons in the near future which I am having a very hard time with. Would like to here how others are doing with this? Would also like to know if anyone has gotten parkinsons after rem sleep disorder diagnosis.

Thank you so much. Judy

Comments for Scared To Death To Sleep - Chatting About REM Sleep Disorder

Click here to add your own comments

May 13, 2013
Volunteers Needed for RBD Sleep Research Study NEW
by: Anonymous

We are conducting a research study to understand the relationship between REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and neurological conditions using a variety of simple tests.
We are looking for people with RBD to participate in the study.

Participation will involve:

A brief neurological evaluation
Answering questionnaires
A blood sample
Simple, non-invasive tests like an EKG, smell test, vision test
Some participants may be asked to have additional tests, such as imaging of their brain or a study of their sleep

For more information:
Please call or email the Parkinson’s Institute
Clinical Research Department at
(800) 786-2958 ext. 434
sleepstudy@thepi.org

Aug 01, 2014
fear of sleep NEW
by: Anonymous

I woke up one morning unable to move ,i was afraid that i was going to die. in my mind i was trying to tell my husband to shake me to wake me up. this happened a few times and i was afraid to go to sleep .This happened during a hectic period in my life It has not happened since but i am always afraid that it may happen again

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Stories of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.




Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?


A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.