Exploding Head Syndrome with visuals

**0Beechlgz** · 05-24-2013 09:29 PM

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:

...or like this:

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?

**Zoth** · 05-24-2013 10:42 PM

Everything you said is described here. And it mentions exploding head syndrome as a form of hypnagogic hallucination. Including the flashes of light.

**0Beechlgz** · 05-24-2013 10:50 PM

I get the feeling I'm missing the bigger picture in relation to your message, or that you're trying to imply something but I can't quite figure out what.

**Zoth** · 05-24-2013 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by 0Beechlgz

I get the feeling I'm missing the bigger picture in relation to your message, or that you're trying to imply something but I can't quite figure out what.

I wasn't implying anything

I merely went to try to find some information regarding the topic you mentioned and posted it as I was a bit confused about what exactly exploding head syndrome was. Because...it looked like something really bad xD Quite an interesting phenomenon, I never heard about it before 0o

**ringoyam** · 05-25-2013 07:28 AM

ive had something similar where i suddenly heard this really loud buzz can't remember if i saw either of the patterns though

**Sageous** · 05-25-2013 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by 0Beechlgz

I get the feeling I'm missing the bigger picture in relation to your message, or that you're trying to imply something but I can't quite figure out what.

I couldn't help but notice a communication gap here. I'm sure it was resolved, but just in case:

0Beechlgz, Zoth had actually provided you a Wikipedia link that thoroughly describes exploding head syndrome, and the link is the word "here." I think the presence of the link turns his post into something that makes a lot more sense. Again, I'm sure you already figured this out, but I thought I'd share.

As long as I'm here: I cannot believe that there's actually been research, or at least scientific comment, on exploding head syndrome! I sure hope it's not more serious than the "just another bang in the night" category I had already placed it in, because I get a good clap of electric thunder in my head regularly. Since it probably is just another noise, I suppose it's nice that there's nothing too trivial for science to examine.

**Ksero** · 05-26-2013 06:31 AM

I experience Exploding Head syndrome every time I WILD, and although It may feel like some set off an atomic bomb inside your head, as far as I can tell there are no lingering side effects, other than huge WTF the first time it happens

. Just do your best to keep calm and it will pass, I have found, in my experience at least, that if you freak out or get anxious about it, it will only intensify the feeling (brighter lights, louder sounds), the best thing to do is ride it out, I usually take comfort in knowing that a lucid dream is right around the corner.

**Sibyline** · 06-02-2013 08:22 PM

Everything is a bloody syndrome these days. I myself am suffering from tsunami nose syndrome right now. It's a wonder I can still type.

**bdaniels914** · 06-19-2013 04:27 AM

I have been experiencing exploding head syndrome since I was in junior high. I am 23 now.

I always described it as "my brain cells popping" or "zaps in my brain." I never really put much thought into until about 3 years ago.

I regularly experience exploding head syndrome. It is sort of a warning sign to me that I'll be falling into sleep paralysis. I've been experiencing sleep paralysis since I was about 16.

Every time I experience sleep paralysis or hypnagogia, I get major exploding head syndrome. My brain will zap for several minutes very loudly. It never hurts, but it does put me in a state of anxiety.

I've been trying to master sleep paralysis for years because it can be used as a tool to astral project or lucid dream. I just can't get passed the anxiety that it puts me through. I have mastered getting myself out of sleep paralysis when it happens.

I usually get EHS when I am falling into the REM cycle. It wakes me up when it happens so from that point I do everything in my will to stay awake so that I don't get into a hypnagogic state.

I never knew what to search for EHS. Everyone would think I was crazy when I would explain it. Very recently, I was reading a topic of strange sleeping disorders and EHS was one of them. I was so relieved when I actually found something about it.

I wish there more information on it. I feel like EHS and sleep paralysis should be studied way more. They open doors to places that you have to master meditation to get to or maybe take some DMT.

I am glad there is some info on it and I'm glad to read other people's experiences with both EHS and sleep paralysis.