Exploding head syndrome

I have just found out that I have been experiencing this lately. Last night I woke up to a loud male scream which frightened the life out of me. I’ve had other things like loud bangs waking me up too but there never is actually anything happening. It’s extremely scary though and my heart races with it.

Apparently it’s more common in women and people in their 50s, poor sleep patterns, anxiety, and stress. All of those things fit me!

I get it when stressed. Sounds like a bomb has gone off, or a car has crashed into the room. Worst one was a man saying “hello” in the creepiest most sinister voice close to my ear - I hit the ceiling in fear. I also get flashing lights behind my eyes. My mum and sister also suffer from it.

I have this too. I had no idea it had a name. I hear the doorbell, door slamming or my name being called. I have never linked it to anything but will try to keep a track now.

I have had this a couple of times

The first time was early in the morning, and I thought I heard an explosion. I asked a neighbour about it and he nodded sagely and said "oh you've got exploding head syndrome." That was literally the first I'd heard of it. I thought he was making some kind of weird joke. I was really surprised when I looked it up and found a lot of people have this.

It was so real. Like another poster, I was looking out of the window thinking there had been agas explosion or something.

I can't link it up to anything. The first time I wasn't under any stress. The second time I think I was quite stressed at work.

I get this. Like a gunshot or a loud car going past very quickly. Only notice it when I'm falling asleep. Have had vertigo and tinnitus in the past so not sure whether connected to that.

Yes I get this. It's either a loud bang or a softly spoken woman calling my name
Scared the shit out of me I'm Bipolar and thought I'd shot straight into Psychosis!

After I answered your question yesterday to say I have this occasionally, it happened last night! A short mechanical loud sound. Maybe there is some type of unconscious suggestion involved.

I have never had migraines either so dont think it is linked

It happens to me very occasionally. But the first time I noticed it and researched it was about 3 years ago when there was a loud bang in the small hours of the morning, jolting me awake. It seemed so loud, that I got up and went straight to the window, fully expecting to see smoke and flames, either from an explosion, or from a car accident.
It last happened about 6 months ago when it sounded like a large picture had fallen off the wall with a crash. There is a large framed print on the wall in our hallway downstairs, and I actually got up and went downstairs, expecting to see it lying on the floor. But of course it was still on the wall.
I sometimes hear the doorbell, or a single shriek of the fire alarm. It's so strange!

I hear the doorbell too. It’s so real, but never anyone there. I googled it and found auditory hallucinations as an explanation. It’s very disorienting!

I had it when I was recovering from surgery and my calcium levels were too low. It was exactly like the sound of a woodblock in an orchestra. Still get it now and then.

I used to get it a couple of times a week but it stopped about 5 years ago. I just read above about someone saying it stopped when they started B12 Injections. It may be a coincidence but I also started B12 5 years ago. I never put the two together before.

I sometimes get it when I'm drifting off to sleep. It seems to be connected to some kind of eyelid twitch too.

I’ve had it for decades. It’s usually a volley of knocks (like someone hammering angrily on a door to be let in), someone screaming or someone shouting my name.

I have a lot of sleep-related issues - I also get visual hallucinations when I’m waking or falling asleep. It’s usually someone standing in the corner of my room or a demon-type creature crouching on the top of my wardrobe. I also get night terrors.

I hear the doorbell. Is this what it is?
(It's never anyone at the door)

I got it after my mum died. I was obviously incredibly stressed, it went away on its own over time. It was either a sound like a car backfiring or my mum shouting my name. I was glad when I googled it and saw it was an actual thing as initially it was very disconcerting!

I have had this before, probably around 20 years ago I was sat at work eating my sandwich when a massive bang went off in my head, it was so strong I actually saw stars. It also hurt a bit.

I have only had 2 or 3 since then and none have been as big as the first one
but I do sometimes hear a door being knocked on, usually when I am trying to sleep.

personally I don’t think they are related to migraines as I have never had a migraine. Might be different for others.

Yep, me too. Mine started off as a dog barking. My dog sleeps in my room, but it's not him, he's practically comatose all night.
I've had a very frightened "Mum!" before, that made me leap out bed. Various other imaginary sounds have woken me up.
I also have tinnitus.

I've had this all my life, usually either a gunshot or a door slamming hard. Strangely it's been a lot less the last few years (now coming up to 47) maybe a handful of times a year at the most now!

I used to get this when I went into peri menopause.
Scared the crap out of me.
Since starting HRT, it's stopped. Thankfully!

Oh I didn't know it was 'a thing' or had a name!!

but yes, I get this. Mostly a loud nouse I can't explain. Sometimes someone calling my name.

Is this linked to migraines?
Does it have anything to do with migraines?
Asking as this might explain it with me.

I get this every now and again but it's so normal to me now that it doesn't bother me.