Exploding Head Syndrome with visuals
I never knew about exploding head syndrome about today, well rather I didn't know it had a name. I've always experienced it as a normal part of falling asleep.
Usually when I'm in the state of being between dreaming and wakefulness, if I should hear some kind of sound or if my body should twitch I'll be awakened by an incredibly loud noise inside my head much like an electrical arc buzz and the sensation of an electric shock going through my skull. Other people have also reported loud explosive noises such as thunder or gunshots and a feeling of explosive pressure in their heads. In my case it's accompanied by a brief split-second bright flash visual that looks either like this:
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse6bb7723.png
...or like this:
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/a...psafaad252.png
Other sources describe people reporting bright flashes of light, too. I'll usually wake up with a startle, heart racing and breathing heavily along with a residual tingling vibrating feeling in my head.
Just to be clear it isn't a hypnogogic jerk. I get those too and they're a different experience.
I've never been worried by this but I have always wanted to know if others experience it or if it has a name. Now that I know I'm really fascinated. Anyone else here get them? If so, want to share your flash visuals?