I’ve just found an article with two interesting cases of ‘exploding head syndrome’ – a medical condition where affected people spontaneously hear an exceptionally loud explosion-like noise.
The condition is relatively harmless, causing people only to be startled, and it doesn’t seem linked to seizure activity or epilepsy. Owing to the fact it’s both benign and uncommon, it’s not been widely studied and so its cause remains a mystery.
Case 1
A 48-year-old man was seen in December 2006. For the past several months about three to four times a month, he had been having attacks of a peculiar sensation in the head likened to the noise of an exploding bomb only at night while going off to sleep. The ‘explosion’ would wake him up and disappear completely the moment he woke up.There was no headache and no associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or any visual sensation. For the past 3 months, the frequency of these sensations had increased and had been occurring nearly daily at the time of consultation. The noise occurred only once during every night, after which he could go off to sleep. His past medical history had been unremarkable and he had never suffered from any significant headache problem. General physical and neurological examination had been unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain with contrast had been normal. He was prescribed Flunarazine 10 mg daily. At 6 months’ follow-up he had much improved and noticed the exploding head symptom only on two occasions.
Case 2
A 65-year-old man was seen in February 2007. He was hypertensive and diabetic (both well controlled on oral medication) and had been having infrequent attacks of International Headache Society migraine headache (every 2–4 months) without aura since the age of 15 years. For the past 4 months prior to consultation, every 2–3 weeks, he had been awakened while going off to sleep only during taking a daytime nap by a sudden exploding (like a bomb bursting) noise in his head lasting for only few moments.This noise was always accompanied with jerky elevation of his right arm and a queer sensation in the right side of his chest (not arm) and again lasting only momentarily. He felt quite well on waking up and could go off to sleep again. These were never accompanied by any visual flashes and never occurred during sleep at night. These sensations were very different from his migraine headaches, which lasted for several hours and the noises were not accompanied by any nausea or vomiting.
Physical examination was normal and his blood presswure in the clinic was 136/80 mmHg. He had already had a MRI of brain with contrast, MR angiography of brain and two interictal sleep EEG recordings performed before consultation with the author, all of which were normal. A video EEG with daytime sleep recording was performed, but no event could be captured.
Link to article with case studies.
Link to PubMed entry for same.
107 Comments
First of all, i’ll try to write in good english, i’m french.
Exploding head syndrome is a peculiar thing.
I’m pretty sure i experienced it several times before. Currently i’m 20 years old and it seems that I don’t have this syndrome anymore. The description in this article are pretty close to what i coul feel when it appeared. I felt it in the morning, when i was awakening. Same thing, big explosion noise and startling. Pretty weird feeling.
The only thing that I have today is hypnagogic hallucination. I don’t know if there is a link between the two. Anyway that’s interesting.
Mind Hacks is a great blog ! Keep up the good work !
I seriously thought something was horribly wrong with me. I would never explain to anybody about my experience with this in fear of being called crazy or something. I’m so glad to find out that there are other people who experience this strange phenomenon. I don’t suffer from this as often as I did when I was younger (i’m 18). I found out that I would only get woken up by this if I slept on the left side of my body. Everytime is different in the sense that I “hear” a different sound.
I have also experienced this phenomenon a handful of times, all while falling asleep. The explosion startles me and wakes me up, but as far as I can tell I am otherwise unaffected. I also have gotten occasional migraines (with aura) ever since my teens. I was once hospitalized as a teenager with an acute migraine that affected my speech with symptoms similar to those of a stroke.
I’ve had this as well, several times. I’ve long been of the impression that this is what is described in the Wikipedia entry on lucid dreaming, specifically in the segment on wake-initiated lucid dreams (WILD). Quote:
“During the actual transition into the dream state, one is likely to experience sleep paralysis, including rapid vibrations,[15] a sequence of loud sounds [etc]“.
If this is as normal as it seems from this quote, it’s not right calling it a syndrome.
I’ve had this a few times just since the last year or two – weird to see it described! Don’t much like the name though, it’s quite Scanners.
I also sometimes have “ping tinnitus” – http://www.auditory.org/mhonarc/2005/msg00703.html .
Do I win a prize? And might they be connected?
It doesn’t seem to be so uncommon after all
I don’t suppose it is. I have experienced this, sporadically, from when I was quite young until quite recently, though I didn’t tell anyone for fear that I was going insane or something of the like. I’d bet that it’s rather common
I have experienced this too, not recently, but quite often when I was in my 30s. It is a little weird because although the explosion seems quite loud, and happens quite unexpectedly, you can tell it is not a real sound. I am not sure how. Perhaps it does not echo in your ears the way a real loud sound would. I never thought something nearby had really exploded.
My guess is that it is more like the auditory equivalent of a phosphene, the product of some random stimulation of the auditory system, rather than being like lucid dreams or hypnagogic images. Those are representational phenomena, you dream or imagine events or people or things; this is just a random burst of meaningless noise.
As Daniel says, maybe it is not so uncommon after all. Probably most people just never report it. Although it worried me a little bit back when I had it quite often, it never seemed significant enough to take to the doctor. I do not think I ever mentioned it to anybody before this.
This was, of course, the subject of a recent episode of “House, MD.”
Do you know the name of the episode? or the number?
Nigel – you are exactly right about knowing that it isn’t an external sound, I had also noticed that lack of reverberation.
I had this occur back in 2004 when the Mayo Clinic initially prescribed a very low dose of seroquel for me to combat extreme insomnia (no sleep for 4-5 days). Exactly as others have described I would hear a very loud explosion, followed by a period of stuper (not seeing others report this), my whole body jerked, and of course a racing heart. The latter seemed a natural reaction to a blast in my opinion. I also quickly determined that it was an internal versus external phenomenon. The Mayo Clinic sleep specialist pulled out a book and showed me “Exploding Head Syndrome” to quell my anxiety (stuper following the event was also a symptom). I was told it was a benign seizure. As mine only occured ONCE/night and right before I went to sleep I didn’t puruse it at that time. It did eventually stop.
This syndrome has recently returned. It now occurs three or four times a night. The noise is not as “loud” as 2004, but at times it feels if an ice pick has been rammed in my eye. The body jerkng is the same, but the stuper seems shorter. This started about a month ago when taking a new med. About ready to change that med.
I am a 26 year old man who has been suffering from exploding head syndrome (god I hate the name too, haha) for a few years. I believe to have had it for awhile, but as I got older the “louder” the sounds have gotten. A few years ago I would get them more frequent, almost like clockwork every night. Some nights; a couple, or a few, others nights; one or none. I always just associated it with stress, because I would notice it occur more often when I was restless or had a lot on my mind. The most frequent noises that I get are short circuited buzzes, door slams, and recently incoherent talk/babble from loud voices. I feel paralyzed after they occur and sometimes they will sound very eerie. I have gotten the “white light” experience along with the noise, but only for very extreme cases. Something interesting as well, is that I noticed that it would happen when I slept on my side. When I would have one or more ears burried into my pillow. There was a time (3 or 4 years ago), when I would anticipate the sensation, and change sleep positions to almost “catch it” before it happened. Often times this trick would work.
Now that I’m relieved to know many others suffer from the same experience, I have grown more interested in knowing what the cause of this is. When I was younger I did take a lot of drugs recreationally, and felt that it could have been a long term reaction from it. I also have had a history with depression, and was prescribed an anti-depresent in my late teenage years.
I’m so relieved to see so many people have experienced this phenomenon. SHortly after I was diagnosed with MS about 6 years ago, I started having these episodes just as I was drifting off to sleep. It sounded as if someone dropped an encyclopedia type book flat onto a hardwood floor. The first time I got out of bed and searched for the source of the npoise, for which none could be found. When it happened again the next nite, I realizes it was in my head. With it came a quick flash of brite lite, just as long as the noise itself. Followed by a racing heart, which I assume is adrenaline. I wanted to ask my doctor about it, but had no idea how to desribe it. I had the same problem when the MS caused Restless Leg Syndrome. How do you describe this stuff to a doctor when you’ve never heard of it before??? I’v learned from this disease that the brain can play some pretty crazy tricks on you. When I saw the episode of House describing and Bless Me, even naming this phenomenon, I was so excited. Now I can Goggle it and find out if i’m having an anurism once and for all….THANK GOD for that episode. phew
i JUST experienced this feeling about 20 minutes ago, for the first time ever. i typed in “body felt loud explosion” into Google – which lead me here. the whole thing really freaked me out..
watching TV on the couch, all of a sudden – REALLY loud bang below me, felt like a bomb went off.. ears started ringing, racing heart, was a bit dizzy, then internal feelings went away after 2min or so.. have no idea what it was, felt like i was jolted by electricity from the inside out with an accompanying BOOM sound that was really really loud, so loud it made my ears ring?
someone’s gotta help!
i JUST experienced this feeling about 20 minutes ago, for the first time ever. i typed in “body felt loud explosion” into Google – which lead me here. the whole thing really freaked me out..
watching TV on the couch, all of a sudden – REALLY loud bang below me, felt like a bomb went off.. ears started ringing, racing heart, was a bit dizzy, then internal feelings went away after 2min or so.. have no idea what it was, felt like i was jolted by electricity from the inside out with an accompanying BOOM sound that was really really loud, so loud it made my ears ring?
someone’s gotta help!
over tha past 6 weeks i have 3 exploding head attacks, i am struggling with sleep at the moment and i mean 3 nights no sleep one night sleep, prior to this i have had the whole body jerking when just about to fall asleep, mine fells like 2 electric wires touching and making a sound then the loudest bang with my head jerking a few times it is scary i have suffered from severe magraine for 48 years vomiting for 8 solid hours and pain you cannot describe but with this there is no headache and no pain
Until I saw the show Doc Martin, I thought that I was the only person who had this condition. It doesn’t happen very often, it isn’t painful, & I can fall to sleep after the “event”.
Like most, I just hear a very loud blasting sound which makes me jump up & look around & wonder what the hell just happened. I’m 63 & this has been going on since my teen-aged years. It seems so stupid to me that I thought that it couldn’t happen to anyone else, so I was very shocked to see it shown on Doc Martin; it makes me wonder how many others have this condition & have never reported it! (Sort of like reporting a UFO).
When I Googled “explosion in my head”, I did not think that I would encounter not only a name for it, but that other’s have experienced it too. I thought some part of my brain was actually exploding. It is somewhat of a relief to see that I am not the only one and there isn’t an fatal underlying factor/s. It happens when I am asleep or just drifting off to sleep and I have not only experienced the very loud explosion, but also an extremely loud yell/scream/roar, which seemed to be directly in front of my face. I woke up suddenly and looked for the person who yelled, but obviously there was no-one there.
I’m 58 and I’ve been having these symptoms off and on for years. Just as I’m falling asleep a loud explosion in my head and at the same time lights as if a fireworks explosion happened. I’m still trying to figure out how to minimize this problem, but when I eat chocolate, sweets, pasta or just eat too much just before bedtime, I can almost be sure it’s going to happen. Anyway I too am relieved that I can put a name on the condition and while I don’t wish it on anyone, I’m also relieved to know it’s not just happening to me. Thanks and good will to us all……
I have this awful condition too. I don’t have the noise with it just sharp pain in my head as I’m falling asleep. It keeps occuring over and over as I’m drifting off. But I too am trying to watch what I eat to see if if makes a difference. Does pasta, chocolate and sweets affect you if you eat them late in the day or if you eat them at all?
I’m 16 and I’ve had this condition for two years…I’ve got no medical problems, never smoked nor done drugs, never really done anything that could be a cause.
I believe that there must be some kind of cause, however. I wish I knew. I have noticed that it happens more when I am tired or stressed, though. I’m not sure I would say extreme fatigue, mind.
Hi, ive been experiencing this for a while, thought I was going mad, even asked my partner if he had heard the noise, it makes my heart beat like mad, and I do get the flashing light as well as the noise, thank god there is a name for it.Is it related to epilepsy?
Back again. I’ve been thinking of the cause as well joanne. Now I’m not a medical expert, nor do possess any medical knowledge. But from what I’ve experienced, and from what I read, I’m convinced that it has something to do with the ear drum. I not only been to many loud concerts and festivals, however I am involved in music myself. Drums. Therefore it would make sense that it would relate back to that. It does feel like my ear drum is vibrating, or pulsating. I also used to dig rather deep when I would clean my ears, and I noticed that I would experience EHS symtoms that evening.
But like I said, I’m not a medical expert. Just wanted to share my thoughts.
When I first suffered an exploding head syndrome attack, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. Since that first attack, which happened a little less than two years ago, I have had close to 10 additional occurrences of exploding head syndrome. It is a horrible condition that makes you feel like you’re going insane, but aside from that, it does not seem dangerous in any way.
I have this, but instead of a bomb, it’s usually thunder, sometimes it can sound like thunder but usually it’s accompanied by a dream about thunder and it’s so loud it wakes me up. Though sometimes it’s a different sound, more like just a weird explosion or just some random loud sound while I’m trying to go to sleep, it’s really weird.
I noticed alot of the people who suffer from it are older, I’m 20 and it started when I was about 18 I think. It’s a really weird thing, it doesn’t worry me or anything but it’s kinda cool to see other people talking about it.
Wow i had this explosion in my head happen to me last night. i was laying there and i had alot on my mind and was trying to just fall asleep and i closed my eyes and seen a very white bright light and i opened my eyes and closed them and was about to nod off and then a explosion like a bomb being dropped sounded and i sat up like what the heck is going on. i turned my light on to gather myself and i got up and walked around a lil cause it startled me and i went to sleep and woke up and was fine. weirdest thing that has ever happened but im glad im not the only person that has had this.
I too thought I was the only one suffering from ‘head explosion syndrome’on this planet. I thought I was going mad or suffering from some form of mental illness until I saw the episode on ‘Doc Martin.’
I used to accussed my children of ‘waking me’ up from my sleep by making ‘loud noises!’ So glad to know I am not going crazy!!
I have heard these audible sounds in my sleep since I was about four years old, I am now 52. The sounds can appear as a loud knock, shattering glass, a ringing phone, a drum or gunshot. I assumed it was a warning of some kind, but how fascinating to know that many others have experienced this. My sister is 69 and recently told me she had been experiencing the knocks and the sound of phones and gunshots since a small child and was afraid to talk about it. She told her husband and he thought she needed to seek help with a counselor. What an awful name though, “Exploding Head SYndrome”
OK – so I thought that I would enter “Loud noise in head when falling asleep” into Google and what do I find? Exploding Head Syndrome…not something I actually expected to find. I am so surprised to see I am not alone with this “syndrome.” I too hear a loud “bang” and experience a bright white light (thank GOD its not that white light!) So, after reading these posts, does anyone have suggestions or a diagnosis/treatment from an M.D.?
Wow im so relieved that im not the only 1. i experienced this the other night for the first time, im 18. all i remember is jumping out of my sleep due to a monstrous bang in my head and a wild flash of bright light that dazed me and left me sittin up looking for a reasonable explanation. it all lasted for a short moment and i went straight to sleep afterwards. again i must stress my relief that many others are encountering this weird shit
This happens quite often but always when I’m in a deep sleep. Freaks me out bad for a minute and then when my heart stops pounding, I go easily go back to dream land.
Some history.
There are times when I don’t sleep for days, just not tired. My mind doesn’t race and I am not suffering any type of stress.
Several years ago, I would sleep for weeks at a time without waking up to eat or go to the bathroom. There just wasn’t a need to do so.
I have a 6 mm right side ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma. (Tumor that lives within the confines of my skull; Aspartame/neotame induced.)
I do not take any drugs prescribed or illegal.
I am prone to seizures.
I suffer migraines.
I am not depressed.
Do any of us have anything in common?
I just saw the Doc Martin episode that lead me to this site. I am very relieved to learn that I haven’t lost my mind. I have been woken up by super loud bangs or hearing my name screamed out since I was a child under 10 yrs. I am a 52 yr old woman, history of seizures starting in my 30′s, migraines since a teenager, bouts of depression on & off thru the yrs, hypertension since 20, asthma. The only people I ever rarely mentioned this to were my sisters growing up. They too experienced it. I’ve had severe chronic insomnia since a teenager. Never found a medicine to help with that. Would go 2-3 days no sleep & then get 1 night. & just about to sleep or just fell asleep & crash! Jumping up, racing heartbeat, sometimes sweating & terrified, sometimes couldn’t move for a while. I would like to see the connection between us all. It is way too under reported. I have an appointment with my m.d. soon & will be sure to discuss this. We all should-it’s real & we’re not crazy! I even have asked people I’ve been with or if one of my daughters was with me, I would look at them to see if they would wake! Something has to be a common factor. There’s too many of us!
I have had this exploding head syndrome thing. It started about 2 weeks ago. Mine is either just as I’m about to drop off, or sometimes before I do drop off. It’s like a loud buzzing sound for me, like someone switched on an electric razor for 2 seconds. No flashing lights though. Then it stops, and my heart races like mad. I thought I’d google it and was amazed that it is actually a condition!! Makes me feel better actually. I do worry that it is going to happen every night and can’t go to sleep for ages waiting for it to happen I guess. I’ve had it at least 3-4 times a week. I’ve started putting cotton wool in my ears which does help quite a bit…
funny that you started putting cotton in your ears! i think you might have to put it in your brain — it’s literally an “in your head” thing.
yours is buzzing. mine is a door slamming as loud as possible. yay. : /
Im 13 but a bit of a philosopher i only realy get it when iv been thiking about sci fi (space opera) mine sounds like a giant sharply clapping
ing its hands mm from my head then an adrenalin rush its realy freaky im not alone thou…woot
Like most of the people replying to this, I’ve also experienced “exploding head syndrome”. The oddest part of it is, I’m a 14 year old male. EHS usually occurs in females and those over the age of 50. My first experience with EHS was in a dream I had a year ago. I was at my school walking down the halls when suddenly the speakers turned on and let out this loud, screeching sound. It was awful. In the dream I fell to my knees and put my hands over my ears, then woke up within a few seconds. The second time and most recent time was a few weeks ago when I was fully awake (I thought). I have this big, leather sectional in my living room and it sounded as if someone took their hand and slammed it against the couch as hard as they could. It gave me quite the adrenaline rush. You could imagine how startling this must have been in the middle of the night when all was quiet. I also didn’t know it was all in my head, in fact I asked my father if he had heard the loud noise in the morning. He looked at me as if I had a third eye and a tentacle growing out of my arse, hehe. Anyway, I just heard about this condition and didn’t even know there was a name for it, much less that so many people suffer from it.
I am 76 years old and have just had my first 4 episodes of EHS since end of June. One episode was triggered by a sort of “waking dream” where my hand went to an electric plug. Following the investigation into the causes of leg ulcers and a subsequent vein bypass operation I am now on morphine; MST pills and Oramorph occasionally when the dressings are painful. I have indulged in cannabis in the past however according to another website, with 160 plus pages!, EHS has nothing to do with this. Following the beginning of the treatment I sleep in one of those lovely reclining chairs, usually during the day. My sleep pattern is usually about 80 minutes till my bladder wakes me as I enter REM sleep and the first dream. the explosions have so far occured between these sleep periods.
This happened to me just as I was waking up this morning, with roughly five or six noises occuring in a row. As I tried to drift back to sleep, it happened again and I decided to stay awake and search it online, which led me here. The sound I experience is similiar to an electrical arching/buzzing mixed with the sound of a car passing you on a road. A “whoosh” kind of sound. I’ve been suffering a great deal of stress related to anxieties (about my health, coincidentally) so I imagine it’s related to that. I knew that I wasn’t the only one suffering this, but I wasn’t expecting to find this many people who know what I’m going through.
I have this and when the explosion goes off, it is quite frightening as it is the absolute loudest internal exploding sound ever imaginable. I really do hate it, but fortunately, I am not terribly concerned about it. I believe it is related to anti-depressants, I do take paxil. I also wonder if it could be a result of over pixelization from computer screens, tv screens etc… I believe this perhaps is similar to how epilepsy is related to strobe lights. I also believe there is an inner ear correlation. Interesting stuff though, I think sleep management, pixel management…:), and maybe even having a banana (pottasium benefit) may help. hmmmmm….
I started am just like all of the other posts, started this several weeks ago, couldn’t explain it because people would think I’m nuts. I’m a social worker, so you say that I probably am nuts. HA! the more I read up on his crazy head-explosion the more I truly believe it is stress related in some, and maybe brain overload in others. SOmeone mentioned Paxil and I am onthat but am weening off, so didn’t know if that is what it was.
wow …everything you said was exactly what I was thinking and I had the EHS last night…and woke up this morning craving a banana…and ate one…that is so weird that you would say that….I felt a little better after eating the banana but am still shaky….when I had the EH event I became paralyzed after for a period of time…I was too paralyzed to even know how much time passed…and when my son woke me up this morning I could hardly speak to him…I think it is something bad like a tumor or adrenal prob…I am not sure…but I am scared
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This happens a lot to me and happens only right when I am about to/just falling asleep. I’ll wake suddenly to what would sound like someone slamming the loudest door right next to me.
It’s lovely, I tell you. And then it will happen a few more times in a row…and then I fall asleep.
Woo.
and it should be noted…i take an maoi. so it would not remotely surprise me if there was a link b/w anti-depressants and exploding head syndrome (as noted above by robyn).
I’m 63. I only started experiencing this phenomenon about five years ago. I would wonder why my SO, dogs, and our kitty were peacefully asleep during this horible noise.
In my case, it sounded like someone either bashing in doors or turning over very heavy pieces of furniture.
I was so glad when someone on one of the Comcast forums wrote in about this and provided links.
I hadn’t had an episode in almost a year until Tuesday night.
At least I know what it is and there are no intruders.
Susan
I’m a 15 yr old female, and I’ve had episodes for about 2-3 years. Whenever it happens to me, I get a very loud bzzt instead of the bang that most people hear. It always happens whenever I’m almost asleep, and occurs about 6-7 times a year… It’s nice to have a name for what was happening!
I used to stay at my grandmother’s house after school when I was a kid; I would always fall asleep until my mom could pick me up after work and take me home (we had a very weird schedule like that). I don’t know why but every time I was about to fall asleep I would hear people screaming, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. They seemed so angry and it scared the living hell out of me seeing as how I was only six years old! I would only hear the voices and they were always screaming, I never heard buzzing or crashing like some of the other comments said.
Anyway, the episodes stopped after about a year and I’ve never experienced them since. It was funny because I thought the voices were people yelling at me for past things that I had done wrong, but I’m glad that there’s a name for what I went through, albeit a rather odd name. And I would love to hear if someone out there heard voices like me.
I do feel better after reading what everyone has said because there doesn’t seem to be any danger to it. I’m a very busy person all day long with working full-time, going to school, and am a mother to three daughters, one which has severe special needs. I am writing this off as stress related and hope it goes away soon. At night when I’m trying to fall asleep I start thinking about if “ITS” going to happen, then it happens and the next 10 minutes are full of different body jerks that don’t hurt and don’t last but a second, but enough to wake my dog up that sleeps with me. Next to the “head blast”, the next worst thing is when my entire abdomen jerks in like someone just punched my stomach in but it didn’t hurt. Just bothersome. Followed by that I watch my body and may get another explosion in my head or a jerk in my leg, foot, arm, or side. By the time I start counting how many jerks I have, I have fallen asleep. Eight is the most I can remember.
I get this occasionally. Mine is a sharp static/electric buzz, kinda like someone turned on a razor or coffee grinder for a split second. Sometimes it sounds like it’s in my inner ear. Sometimes I could swear it came from the corner ceiling. It always happens as I’m dosing off, and is not related to dreaming. More like a hypnogogic jerk reaction (I get those too-mostly feels like I tripped on a step, and I jerk awake).
I never get the adrenaline rush or fear. It’s kinda funny, and has made me laugh a few times.
I do have a history of insomnia, delayed sleep phase syndrome, rare migraines, and some hearing damage as a musician.
Yours is the same as mine! I never get the loud bang, just the buzzing/razor being turned on for a split second thing, sometimes sounds like someone is pulling on an elastic band. It is so strange. Last night I had it about 8 times before I got to sleep, I tried turning onto my other side to sleep, but didnt make a difference, its also happens when I lie on my back. At the minute I’m lucky if I get one night off. I’m getting used to it, but it is still quite worrying and alarming when it happens. I do take Nytol more or less every night. I think it is worse when you are over-tired, as I was last night.. just wish it would go away for ever, and wish there was something that could stop it, because I don’t like it. Reading all these posts though, it is reassuring to know I am not alone..
Wow, great that I am not alone! This has been happening to me for quite a long time. I mentioned it to a neurologist and a few doctors but they just looked at me and gave me no clue as to any cause. I have experienced loud bangs, pops, hear music as if the tune keeps repeating, snaps, leg and arm jerks, flashes of light! The whole gamut, sometimes they hurt sometimes not. I thought that maybe it was caused by dying neurons or something like that. I do not get scared but I do not enjoy it either and I have learned to just let them happen and then I gradually fall asleep. I have learned that it occurs frequently when I do not get the sleep I need so when I am overtired and I feel it I know I am in for some clanging and banging! Probably something to do with messing up your circadian rhythm or something. I am usually fine if I get required sleep but not always. Just as long as we do not wake up in the morning and look in the mirror to see half a head, I think we’ll all be fine.
Thanks to a friend, I now have a possible answer to what I’ve experienced off and on for most of my life.Iam a 40 year old man with high blood presure (very well controlled with medication),and psoriatic arthritus.I have been off this medication for almost 2 years because I hated the side effects.The noises that wake me up are,clicks,claps,knocks,beeps,dings,and unfortunatly for me,most commonly terrifying screams.I Usually have experiences 3 to 4 times a month. Good to now there are others out there!
I have had EHS for five years. I am 53. I have a bit different symptoms. I very seldom hear a loud noise, or any noise for that matter, but what happens to me is that as I am drifting off to sleep I experience a sharp pain in my head. Almost like an electrical shock. This continues to happen over and over until I’m so out of it I finally fall to sleep, this may not be until sometimes 2:30 -3:00 a.m. If I wake myself up the pain is gone. I sometimes will have a headache because of the pain. It has really ruined the quality of my life. I don’t take any drugs except Lyrica for it. I have just seen another dr. and he has prescribed Sonata. I hope this helps, but hate to be on sleep meds from now on. Has anyone noticed any link to food allergies with this? I’m trying to figure our what is the underlying cause of this. My MRI’s are always good.
I just had my first explosion this morning and wondered if it was a brain anneurism. Thanks to this site im relieved. I have been under a lot of stress but in great health otherwise. So I am not a sound sleeper and wondered if exedrin pm or a sleep aid would help. Concerned about the comment of an aspartame brain tumor as I chew a lot of sugar free gum. Any relation there?
WoooooW i have experienced a loud bang a few times also, just before sleep. Just searched it on google not expecting anything. Don’t usualy like too search medical problems on internet as it usualy makes you more worried than before you started. After reading comments it does sound like it can be brought on threw stress or bad sleep? Doesn’t sound too bad a condition!
I just read an article about Exploding Head Syndrome at CNN.com. It’s nice to know it has a name and I’m not the only person who has it. Mine sound exactly like a loud explosion in my head. I always thought it was related to my sinuses, probably because it only happens when I’m laying down prior to sleep. I realize now I haven’t had the explosions in awhile. But I have very recently noticed flashes of light, very bright light, just before dropping off to sleep. I gather this is probably related to Exploding Head Syndrome.
Well, lucky me…I got another “episode” while taking a nap. I’ve had these happen before but usually mine are a little different as well, as I don’t have the typical “gunshot” sound. I get a lot of the electrical buzzing and it seems like I’ll feel the sensation as well as hearing it.
Then I always have some horrible dream, this afternoon’s being that I was dying and trying to get to the hospital but everyone thought I was faking it…of course all the feelings with my “death” I’m sure I felt to one degree or another in my real body…as when I woke up…I did indeed have stomach pain and I had been drooling a little, etc., so I’m sure there’s some connection. Then I have confusion upon awakening which makes me think I’m having a stroke or seizure. I get up and I’m not “right” in my head for a while.
In fact, I was so “not right” in my head today that I called 911 and had them come over. In the time waiting for the ambulance I got a little less disoriented when having a bit of juice to drink. My right hand was shaking insanely and then the adrenaline kicked in. I also felt like my breathing was not right from the get-go. They came over and said my blood sugar was low and that sipping my drink might have gotten me back to a more “normal” state.
They left as I didn’t want to be carted to the hospital only to be discharged a few hours later saying I had some panic attack. This is not a panic attack and whatever goes on in my pre-sleep to dream state head is all too real. Now I have a left-sided headache/migraine to go with it – but I’ve been having one for ages. I have an MRI on Wednesday and I’m hoping they find nothing bad in there…but these things are indeed scary and make you NOT want to go back to sleep to experience them again.
I also tend to get these things when I don’t take an Ambien to sleep (like taking a nap)…with the Ambien I am oblivious to them happening IF they happen at all. I’ve been taking Ambien for years (every nite) – but it also seems like I have had these strange happenings for years as well…once in a while with the added scary confusion.
I was admitted to the hospital back in 2008 for a suspected TIA…which the neurologist stated could have been a TIA or possibly a seizure from the Ativan I had taken earlier in the day (altho it was 1/4 of a pill). I’m suspecting it was the same thing as I had today as it wore off in about the same time period (roughly 30-45 minutes).
I am 50.
(Sorry for the length – wanted to go into detail in case anyone had anything remotely like me.)
Your physical symptoms are worrying, particularly the possible low blood sugar. I wondered if you’ve had a complete physical recently, you could have a condition that needs to be treated.
When I have possible exploding head symptoms, I don’t have any symptoms except sound or light, and sometimes rapid heartbeat if it really startles me.
I’m 51 and female.
I had the disorienting feeling all day ..since it happened to me last night….I have been off balance and dropping everything I try to pick up….very clumsy feeling…..also had a head ache when I got up this AM….
I have had more tests and bloodwork than anyone I know. I’ve had more CT scans than my radiologist doctor friend knows of…and I’ve gone to more “ologists” than I care to mention. One bumps me to the next saying it’s not their specialty.
So, to answer your question…yes…I’ve had full workups (and then some) – many of them per year.
They always seem to find nothing. Nothing is good – nothing against nothing…but it would be nice if they found a tiny something which is treatable and not deadly. I’d like to be “normal” again.
My blood sugar levels have always been normal and I’ve probably had about four tests this year from different specialists and different labs.
Maybe it’s all attributed to my sleep apnea…or migraine – as I have one now.
Just was hoping others had my symptoms as well. There are safety in numbers…especially when those numbers are alive and able to make posts.
I wish you luck finding others with your symptoms; it is nice to know you’re not alone. As for your your checkups, you’ve described very well why I’ve given up on doctors. They seem to be very good at taking a person apart and putting them back together once the person has reached the stage of having very obvious symptoms, but diagnostics leave a lot to be desired.
I have had this for a few years only spasmodically but the worst bang happened last night.I have had loud bangs in the past but this was like a bomb going off in my left ear. Come to think of it , it always happens on my left side. It shook me up so much I went on Google to find what it is I have been experiencing and get help for the first time and now realise there are numerous other people suffering as well. I feel if I am starting to fight off sleep which is not natural for me. I will endevour to sleep on my left and back to see if this helps.
Yesterday was the first time I mentioed it to my wife as it didnt seem too important but it does now.Lets hope theres some light at the end of the tunnel, any suggestios appreciated but preferably not medication.
Paul, I hate phones and go for days without talking on the phone. I associate my symptoms with stuffy sinuses from year round allergies.
I have had this for a few years only spasmodically but the worst bang happened last night.I have had loud bangs in the past but this was like a bomb going off in my left ear. Come to think of it , it always happens on my left side. It shook me up so much I went on Google to find what it is I have been experiencing and get help for the first time and now realise there are numerous other people suffering as well. I feel if I am starting to fight off sleep which is not natural for me. I will endevour to sleep on my right and back to see if this helps.
Yesterday was the first time I mentioed it to my wife as it didnt seem too important but it does now.Lets hope theres some light at the end of the tunnel, any suggestions appreciated but preferably not medication. Could it be mobil phones as I always use my left ear when talking
I have had ehs for years. It has been more pronounced when coming off or going on a new antidepressant. The worst episodes in my life were approx 10 years ago when I was coming off of the antidepressant paxil. It does seem to happen more frequently in between the sleep and awake states, but I have had it happen when fully awake and engaged in some activity. I’ve rationalized it by thinking it as follows and please note that I am no scientist: the brain shifts waves and states much like a car. When the wave “jumps” to a different state instead of going the usual route, it causes ehs. Much like grinding the gears of a car. I also think there must be something chemical, perhaps an enzyme, that contributes to this. Has anyone else noticed that ehs also accompanies night terrors (which is sleep paralysis)?
Oh, and the only things I’ve ever noticed that helped are: abstaining from too many substances (ha ha), exercising, meditating and just generally being mindful. Almost like I am thinking about how I am thinking. Which can become a mobius strip of nauseating anxiety if you are not too careful. The key is quieting the mind: it seems to lubricate the brain waves into doing what they should be doing.
All I know is that I’m looking forward to a long EHS free period, because at the minute I get it practically every night, even more so when I am over tired., but I’ve read that you can go for long periods without it happening and I just hope this is true! Just glad I am not alone. I used to love going to bed, now I just think “here we go again’ every night and wait for it to start.. very frustrating.. and I am one of those people who needs 8 hours sleep, especially as I’m a busy mum of 4 children. I am 39, do have quite a bit of stress, and do get tired. I have had sleep apnoea in the past though that only happened maybe twice a year. I also have had migraine auras too. I smoke, use a mobile phone, suffer from insomnia from time to time too. It could be a number of things like this that causes it, or as I’ve read maybe a problem with the inner ear. I had never heard of it before, but am glad to read its quite common,even if it is a right pain in the you know what!
I have been suffering these episodes for over a year now ….. I saw a neurologist today who diagnosed the condition, so here I am reading up about it. I’m amazed there is a name for this condition and that others out there are experiencing the same symptoms. It’s great now I know and better too that the problem isn’t more sinister! My episodes are caused by a high stress level and full and busy days / life with little sleep (at times). I’m off to read more about the condition …… maybe some young medical graduate could consider doing a study on EHS
If it is caused by high stress levels and full/busy days and lack of sleep at times then I’m not surprised in the least that I have it!! Strangely enough I haven’t had it for the past 2 nights (nice).. even though I’ve had very little sleep for 4 nights due to a cold and bad chest, which amazes me because my head feels so congested , as do my ears.. it has been a relief though to have 2 nights off!!
Do you mind me asking how old you are Karen, and what sounds do you hear? Mine is a buzzing sound, lasting for only a second, sometimes loud and sometimes quieter.. some nights I get it about 6-8 times before I get to sleep.
Hi Jo, I’m 49 years old and have been experiencing EHS for about a year now. Initially it happened about once every 10 days and now seems to happen 4/5 times a week but usually only once a night when falling asleep. It felt like an electrical current or hot water rushing through my head in a tube / channel but now comes as a wave of pressure engulfing the left side of my head. It is more a sensation than a loud sound but the sound could be likened to a buzz as the wave moves. It feels like my head expands and at the peak it feels like a switch is going to end my life in one flicker – like a blowout! It lasts for a few seconds only. I don’t see any lights. Didn’t happen last night …phew!
I haven’t had an episode for 3 nights now either! Its great to have days off!! Won’t hold my breath though, I’m sure it will return! I also get it at least 5-6 times a week too, but it only lasts 1 second and it goes again.. like someone turning on an electric razor for a split second, sometimes its very loud and other times its fairly quiet. Very strange indeed..
I haven’t heard of it being an inner ear thing. Where did you learn of this?
Hi Shelley. I read it somewhere on one of these fact sheets on google (think it may have been wikipedia?) It just said that some think it may be caused by a result of a sudden movement of a middle ear component or blocked eustachian tube?? It is quite disturbing, but having read that it is not thought to be anything serious, makes me feel better., although I do find it frustrating because I need my sleep and find it hard to drop off at the best of times, but since this started about 4-5 months ago, it makes it even harder to drop off as I find I’m lying there waiting for the noise to happen every night.
Got this a month ago in Ibiza after a week of many late nights and not much sleep. So glad to know what it is now! An explosion in my head is exactly how I described it to people, it was like an EMP bomb in my brain. Amazing that that sort of sound can come from within us somewhere.
I can’t believe how many other people have this condition too and I’ve never ever heard about it! But it is a relief to know its not serious, though it is annoying, and doesn’t help with insomnia! Never heard a bomb going off noise, but I guess it could change to that 1 day.. really think there is a connection between stress, busy lifestyles and tiredness..
I have had this happen to me before…maybe about 3 or 4 times, but not recently. I can totally believe it could be like another poster described, caused by a result of a sudden movement of a middle ear component or blocked eustachian tube!! The only time it happened to me was during allergy season! It began happening to my 14 yr old daughter recently too and she has bad allergy problems as well as a history of ear problems, including surgery for a cholesteatoma. I firmly believe it is ear related! Anyone else notice that it happens mainly around that time for them?
Hi, it was me that said it was caused as a result of a sudden movement of a middle ear component, I don’t really believe this either, but it was something I read on the wikipedia site about EHS. Mine started a few months ago, and I get hayfever but now the season is over I’m still getting it every night more or less. I did get 3 nights off recently when I had a bad head cold, which didn’t make sense, I would have thought it would have been worse as my ears felt blocked etc.. I really dont know what causes it, i just put it down to stressful, busy life and sleep problems..
I have been having this loud bang, (sounds like a sonic boom ) ever since i was a child ( I used to think at first it was the “CRACK OF DAWN ” because that is when it always happend, once or twice a month mayby. I am now late 50s and rarley experience it.This is the first time I have looked into it , nice to know Iam not the only one,although I havent seen a credible explanation for it yet.
I to have ‘exploding head syndrome’ – I am a 38year old female. I always thought that these noises stemmed from my PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). During my ‘explosions’ I actually see a white door slamming and feel the movement of air against my face, it is also accompanied by a bright flash of light and the loudest noise. It is beginning to effect my well being as I virtually need to force myself to go to bed as I dread these episodes; some nights I will stay up well past midnight in a bid to avoid them.
I do suffer from stress/anxiety and fatigue – I take Valiumm for my anxiety but apart from this I do not take any other medications…..
I do get very disturbed by these sudden awakenings which generally occur just as I am dozing off to sleep – due to my ptsd I have a heightened sensitivity to loud noises resulting in me trembling for quite sometime after them.
It is so good to know that I am not alone in my experience – I very much appreciate your input my ‘fellow head exploders’ :O)
I have to say your head explosions sound quite scary Alexis.. It’s hardly surprising you dread going to bed. Not good as you already suffer from stress and anxiety. Although mine aren’t as bad as yours, mine sound like buzzing or like someone is pinging an elastic band loudly in my ear.., I do get them almost every night. I guess after 4 months I’m getting used to them, but it doesn’t make me look forward to going to bed either, you lie there waiting for them to start. Some nights I get one or two, others I get up to 6 maybe more. That is annoying. I hope in time your episodes go away, as I’m hoping mine is just a phase..
thank you i felt very relieved to find someone else that was a fellow head exploder until today i thought i was going do laly tap again quite scary but now i do feel reasured that this appears quite common i will sleep better knowing this and hopefully not be awoken buy a loud bang in the night bang on farout keith
thank you alexis, i felt very relieved to find someone else that was a fellow head exploder, until today i thought i was going do lally tap again,quite scary but now i do feel reasured that this appears quite common, i will sleep better knowing this and hopefully not be awoken buy a loud bang in the night ,; bang on; farout keith
it is reassuring to know that it is so common, I had never heard of it until it happened to me and researched it on google! Not pleasant, but I’ve learnt to live with it, and just enjoy the nights off from it!
I have had this sensation for several years. I’m now 49. I’ve heard my name being called very loudly in the past. Voices, which I thought were messages being left on my answering machine, and most common, the LOUD BANGING as if someone is pounding on the door. Last night was really bad. I got up and checked, thinking someone was here. It’s such a loud knocking noise, I couldn’t understand why the dog didn’t bark. Checked everything and all was well. Yesterday was a very stressful day with an unresolved family issue that has been going on for 10 years. I had a feeling I wouldn’t sleep well! I honestly didn’t know others experienced this. I have only told my husband in the past. I also suffer from ear aches and ringing. Maybe that’s the connection?
I think there is definately a connection between this and the ears! I often get night time tinnitus, not that loud but the noise of a hoover on or a boiler droning quietly, annoying though! Mine is mostly a buzzing sound lasting 1 second only, almost like someone switched on an electric razor for a brief second. Can be loud though, and makes getting to sleep harder, because Im lying there wondering if I will get it again, and often I do, has been known to happen about 6 times in one night. I also find it happens more if I am stressed or over-tired. I guess its a mystery, but I truly believe its more to do with the inner ears and stress levels.
I experience this so often it’s crazy. Sometimes it sounds like a cartoon lightening zap, other times its almost like a gunshot in my brain and I can feel it. Then I panic because I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I’m honestly not sure when I started experiencing it. But it is almost most definitely when I’m in between being awake and asleep and it’s more intense when I use sedating medications like nyquil, vicodin/percoset/tramadol and the like. Sometimes it just scares the piss out of me.
Unlike almost every poster I only experience this when I’m awake? And I don’t mean lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. I mean *awake*- driving my car, doing the dishes, walking in a store. Only once when I was 16 did I experience it waking up. I swore at the time I heard a sonic boom. It didn’t happen again for nearly 20 years. Now I hear, ususally two to five times a week, a loud metallic bang- as if I’m standing in the middle of an empty gymnasium and the all the doors slam shut. There’s a quick not quite vibration that comes over me and then it’s business as usual. But I also get the sudden loud electronic tone that lasts for about 5 seconds as if I’ve just tuned in to a radio freq, and sometimes if I’m working in a quiet area I can also hear voices…as if there’s a tv or radio in another room on low volume. Veerrry creepy…
No mental illness, but I do have a rare migraine condition- I don’t manifest headache. The migraine is persistent, daily, and chronic. I also have rotational vertigo that is also chronic (me and the room *never* stop spinning) all three, or maybe all three are really one, started at the same time. There has to be an actual physiological cause…its too coincidental.
I have the explosions in my head also. My doctor never heard of such a thing, wanted a sleep study done, which I haven’t done. I have to wonder about all kinds of causes. I had a brain concussion many years ago, which must not be a factor in them as so many are having them. Mine now come with different sounds rather than an explosion when I first noticed them. Hope we all can find answers to stop them.
I’m 46 and have been experiencing EHS since I was a child (8-10 years). I hear a distant whirring sound that grows closer and louder until it is deafening. I get a sense of vertigo and fear, spinning wildly and waiting for my head to explode. Then I awake, but it often continues as soon as I close my eyes. This my repeat three or more times, until eventually it stops and I fall asleep. Occasionally, I awake from it with paralysis, terror and a sense that something or someone evil is in the room. It’s terrifying. This all seems to happen a few times every other month or so.
I am 65yrs of age, i too experience EHS,not often but always at night when laying in bed, im sure in my case it is associated with inner ear problems, i tend to have a lot of ear infections, and more often than not when i lay down the room spins for a few seconds., the loud banging noise jolts me but apart from that i have no other symptoms, i have never been to the doctors with this problem and i think it is quite common
I have been experiencing this now for the pasttwo months,or so… I was so relieved to find many others with similar symptoms. I tried to explain this to my wife and to my doctor. I’,m sure I sounded like a nut. It’s hard to describe. In my case, it was like a burst of energy with percieved vibrations and a bright flash. Not so much like a bomb going off. I thnk that they would occur for about 1 second or less. This only happens at night and while laying on my back just before falling asleep. I thought initially that I was having some kind of minor seizure or something. There is never any pain, but it sured scared the hell out of me the first couple of times. I was affraid to tell anyone. An odd thing… When this occurs (1 or 2 times a week) the first one always startles me,However,I can usually sense when the next ones will happen about 5 seconds before the do.
Oh yeah, another thing is that I get way too little sleep. 4 to 5 hours a night. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Your episodes sounds like mine when I am awake. It’s more of a distortion of reality. If you think about it, it is kind of intriguing to know that somewhere in your brain there is something greater than everyday life going on in there. I find it exciting, as an intellectual, to be apart of something neurologically unique.
I have had exploding head my whole life. I have it during the day sometimes, my reality seems to shrink, and surrounding sounds get extremely loud for about a second then go back to normal like nothing even happened. Sounds can range from a simple SMACK! of a ruler on a table to a gunshot type sound before I fall asleep. I always thought it was normal for you hear stuff before REM. It definitely is more persistent if I had not slept in a day or so haha. Exploding head doesn’t bother me, I’m use to it, and it’s kinda cool. I never get headaches, I’m healthy, and active. Lucid dreaming is easy for me. I have “terrors”, or sleep paralysis, but it isn’t particularly scary in any way. I’m a nocturnal, and have insomnia as well. I guess sleep has a lot to do with EHS.
Glad to hear I’m not alone. Last night after about half an hour of falling asleep. I suddenly awake with a horrific start as a huge noise like a bomb blast was heard by me. My heart was racing and I was totally confused for a couple of seconds as to what was that noise. I looked about the room and saw my daughter still on the computer , then realised that she hadn’t heard a thing and that it was all in my head. I felt fine. No dizzy spells, no headache all was fine with me, and I just drifted off back to sleep. Weird.
I’m not sure if this is what I experienced but something similar just happened. I haven’t gotten much sleep this week. I slept this morning.
I was asleep from 1:16am to 2:50am when this happened. Flashing lights above me, like a dozen search helicopters, and a noise like 30 tea kettles whistling all above my head. In my dark room.
I had to fight out of it. Turned on the television and music. Now I’m here.
I just saw an old episode of Doc Martin which mentioned EHS which brings me here. I’m 60 and live by myself so it’s most disconcerting to hear loud noises in the middle of the night! Mine tend to be explosive type sounds but I’ve also heard my name being called. I’ve had weird sleep ocurrences most of my life and recently found myself standing next to my bed yelling at my Mom who’s been dead for 9 years (but not in my dreams).
All of it I’ve always attributed to being an imaginative, sensitive, creative type person so I’ve never sought treatment of any kind. When I was a kid, I could tuck in with my little grandma who was like my own personal pillow.
My sleep interruptions seem to be worse in times of stress and pressure. I also experience brief outbursts of shaking as I’m falling asleep and that wakes me up. Sometimes, this is made worse if I ingest alot of caffiene that day.
The upside is that I dream in color alot as I’ve gotten older. It’s wonderful. So many people have horrible health problems and my sleep problems are not that bad so I’m grateful.
Though I have had 3 – 4 ehs experiences per year for a couple of years I only found out what this was today.
The first time it happened (at night sleeping) I thought our house had exploded and that I was only seconds from dying from falling debris. By the time I turned to my husband (I wanted us to die holding each other) I realized that our house was still surrounding us as usual and nothing physical had happened. These episodes continued in much the same way until about a month ago when I experienced one while awake. I was sitting at my computer when I had an odd feeling of something about to happen. I then felt buzzing/electricity outlining my body followed by the catastrophic explosion. Immediately after that everything was back to normal. It was only after episode that that I mentioned all this to my doctor. He had never heard of anything like this but he said he would do some research; he did, and that is how I heard of it today when his office called me to let me know of ehs..
One thing about my experiences is that I never thought of it as happening inside my head. It always felt as though it was something I was hearing that was going on. Think of the difference between ‘hearing a bolt of lightning striking close by’ and ‘thinking of hearing about a bolt of lightning hitting close by’. To my conceptualization these are two completely different things.
I am 69 and take very low doses of Zoloft. I have had sleeping problems but they are minimal now. I snore but rarely to the extent that I wake my husband. I do sleep on my left side. This does not frighten me any more and I am happy to know that others have this syndrome and that is it not considered to be any particular problem.
I just experienced one, it only happens to me when I’m about to sleep. Like what it feels like just a fewshort seconds. Sometimes its a loud noise like something near by had exploded. Most of the time though its this very bright white light and the explosion sound. I’m female 28 years old.
Like all of you – I am very relieved to learn this condition is experienced by others. When I have an EHS it always seems I am just starting to nod off and then – wham – a loud zap followed by a flash of light – and I wake right up – and of course my heart is pounding because it scares me.
I am not depressed – and I am not suffering from too much stress. I take diovan – a high blood pressure medication – daily. The only other thing I thought could be causing it is my allergies and the allergy medications I take?? (Not one in particular – I try different ones all the time).
I am female – 57 yrs old and I have had these episodes – probably for the last 4 or 5 years.
I think I’ve been experiencing Exploding Head Syndrome for nearly 4 months now. I’m 21 and have no health problems. I’d wake up at around 4-5am (but has happened as late as 7am) and about 15 mins afterward I’d experience a strange noise. It feels like a mass of vibrations inside my head. If my eyes are shut then sometimes my vision will be affected, and if they are open I will hallucinate – I usually see strange lights floating about the room. While this is going on I’m more often than not paralysed. I can’t even open my mouth to scream and sometimes feel smothered. I honestly thought that I was going mad. I’ve experienced this on my side, on my back, and face down and sometimes more than once each night
This happened to me today. Just as I was falling asleep. There was a very load bang and bright lights befind my eyes. It scared me so I went to the ED. The DR there did a CAT scan. He said it looked clean. He then said I had Vertigo? I never said I was dizzy. I have had vertiga before abd this was no it.
I’m glad to read there are other people who -have had this happen.
Im 31 yr old from Iceland. I have had this since I remember my self. My attacks are more then just explotions. The strange thing is (or I belive so) that before I go to REM sleep, I know it I am at that stage. I can sometimes control my dreams very well. Also it is like my head is shacking (or my eyes). Sometimes I get the explotions but more common for me is that my heads start to shake (even it is not shaking actually). Strange…
I am 23 and a psychology student. My lecturer made me realise that I have been experiencing this today!
I don’t remember how long I’ve had it I can remember a few experiences which have left me shaken!
The most recent happened about 2 weeks ago, I had a loud crash as if two cars had collided and I saw lightening strike the pile-on outside my house! I was convinced it actually happened but my boyfriend said he hadn’t heard anything!
Until today I’ve been convinced that it happened! But after hearing it being described it clicked and I realised that it’s occurred before, however without any visions.
I too was sleeping on my side then (don’t know if that has anything to do with it). I’ve also suffered with Veritgo in the past which has messed up my internal ears I think I sometimes suffer with very minor tinnitus!
It’s quite funny that I wouldn’t have realised I experience this if it wasn’t for my lecture. When you wake up you just forget about it, I bet there are so many more people who have it but don’t realise it too!
I have just had my first experience of head explosion, I am a 58 year old female.
In my dream the explosion was a lightening strike, I woke up with a racing heart and thought I had had a stroke!
Reassuring to read so many people have experienced this.
I did wake up earlier in the night with a headache and have had migraines in the past.
A couple days ago I walked through my dining room and heard a loud explosion. No one else seemed to hear it. About an hour later I heard a noise while walking in the exact same spot, this time it sounded like pans crashing against each other. My husband didnt hear anything, he was about 10 ft away. I saw dark spots the rest of the day. My thoughts went to schitsophrenia. I finally told my husband and he mentioned inner ear problems. I googled the problem and found this exploding head syndrome. I read through many comments and found we all have many of the same symptoms. My history..esp as a child (according to my mother) age 16 migraines. With aura…age 35 outer body experiences ..during sleep being able to fly and see my body.. those stopped..age 43 head explosions while sleeping..until 2 days ago i was convinced it was all just part of a dream state..now it bas happened twice while fully awake walking by the same area of the house.