A Harry Situation

I was not surprised that singer, actor, and model Harry Styles was trying to attack me on my bed a couple of nights ago. The dream started with his attempting to pull me down off the bed for who knows what nefarious reason. It ended when, after several unsuccessful attempts to punch and kick him in his dreamy face, I connected… and then I woke up with my hand in a fist, and my knuckles bruised from punching my nightstand.

I might have been surprised that it was Harry were it not for our history. You see I saw him perform with One Direction a little over a month before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. It was the last concert I saw before I was given the reason for my hand and arm tremors. I don’t blame Harry for my Parkinson’s, though I do harbor resentment since he is to blame for One Direction’s 2016 break up. Or so I read in the gossip columns.

Almost three years after Harry broke up One Direction, and while he was preparing to release a second studio album, I was having my first known experience with rapid eye movement behavior disorder, or RBD. In a dream, I was being attacked by faceless beings. To protect myself I threw a real bowl from my real nightstand at the unreal creatures. I awoke as the ceramic bowl shattered against the wall. I knew immediately what I did, but I did not realize what it would mean for the long term.

I soon learned that RBD is often a precursor to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. A large portion of people with RBD will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s, dementia or Alzheimer’s in the years after the first RBD symptom. In my case, I realized my RBD five years after I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Since that time, I have actively fought off many demons, monsters, critters and bad guys. As a result, I have had more bruises, stitches and shattered dishes than Harry has satin flared pants.

So, I was not surprised when I found myself fighting off the monster who broke up One Direction. I have fended off creatures more dangerous than him before. Though none were more good-looking and talented.

Note: RBD has no cure but supplements and medication can decrease the frequency and severity of episodes. Mine is “controlled“ through taking a sleep supplement. I have reduced my episodes from 1 to 2 times per week down to 1 to 2 times per month, and rarely do they result in injury now. To me it is one of the least funny things about my PD, unless I get another shot at kicking Harry.