I have recently read about REM sleep behaviour disorder and its links to Parkinson's etc. in the news. I am worried and confused about the difference between this serious disorder and having 'normal' vivid nightmares. Im a 35 year old male and ever since I was a child, I've had bad nightmares from time to time. They've got better as I grew older, but occasionally (say once or twice a year) I'll have a vivid dream and will swear or kick towards the end of the dream as I panic and am trying to wake up. I can't remember what part of the night this happens in, and it can take a while for me to calm down and realise it was just a dream, at which point I go back to sleep. I also have normal dreams and nightmares where I can't move at all, just my breathing changes, and if I sleep on my own I often get better sleep. I also have heard friend's stories of people kicking, shouting etc. during intense dreams. How do you know whether these could be REM sleep behaviour disorder or just vivid dreams, and why? I don't understand.