As if I need another reason to be woken up in the middle of the night.

3:30am: Sound asleep on my back (I sleep on the left side of the bed). Eric is asleep on his left side, knees facing me.
3:31am: I am awoken by the most painful blows to my right thigh/hip area. Blows that are coming from the swift kicking legs of my bedmate, Eric.
3:31:20am: In tears, I have to arouse Eric from sleep to get him to STOP kicking the crap out of me.
3:31:40am: Eric is now awake, heart pounding, sweating, trying to explain himself.

Eric was dreaming. Dreaming about being confronted by a black poodle bodied animal with a racoon face and teeth. What? Can this be happening? Apparently, Eric and the rapoodle, were in his driveway at his childhood home. It was a stand-off, and when the rapoodle charged Eric fought back. And he fought hard. I have never been kicked like that before. Eric was really trying to protect himself and unfortunately, I was on the other end.

Telling this story makes me laugh becuase it is crazy ridiculous, but it isn't the first time that I have been attacked in bed. After Eric and I were married I woke up with a pillow smothering my face. Seriously. I don't recall what that was about but I'm sure he had a great explination at the time. Then there was the time that he punched/knocked me in the nose so hard that it cracked - I thought it was broken for sure. Therefore, this is an issue that needed some research.

Thank you WebMD

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by the acting out of dreams that are vivid, intense, and violent. Dream-enacting behaviors include talking, yelling, punching, kicking, sitting, jumping from bed, arm flailing, and grabbing.

In one study, 38% of patients diagnosed with RBD subsequently developed Parkinson disease within an average time of 12-13 years from the onset of RBD symptoms.

The main symptom of REM sleep behavior disorder is dream-enacting behaviors, sometimes violent, causing self-injury or injury to the bed partner.

The person may be awakened or may wake spontaneously during the attack and vividly recall the dream that corresponds to the physical activity.

Seek medical care if unusual behaviors, such as violent thrashing and kicking, occur during sleep.

I think an appointment needs to be made.