Bright flashes if I hear a loud noise when I'm going to sleep

[Thingsthatgo]

Does anyone else get this? As I'm drifting off to sleep, if anyone makes a sudden loud noise, I get a very bright, white flash. I thought it was perfectly normal until I mentioned it to some friends, who all looked at me like I had two heads.

I get this. I've never really thought if it's odd or not!

Google "exploding head syndrome", it's really a thing, sort of an audio/visual form of the jerks you sometimes get when falling asleep

I get this even when not going to sleep-it's just more obvious when going to sleep.
I've always suspected it's connected to Synesthesia which I have quite strongly. My dd has it too (the rest of our family think we're mad when we say things like "Wednesday is definitely green". I'll ask her if she sees sound too.

If I am half-asleep and there's a sudden loud noise such as a door being slammed, I see a bright flash of light on the inside of my eyelids. It doesn't happen when I'm fully awake though.

I get this. Im not even always aware of a noise. But the flash wakes me, i then spend ages looking around as it like someone's there with a torch. (terrible paranoia about anyone getting in the house)

Yes ! I’ve had the flash thing
Its like a camera flash going off in my minds eye to wake me up again , and usually at bedtime.
I don’t need a noise to have this though , it’s like my brain just “ flashes “

I experience a bright white flash when I am woken suddenly. It happens when my children wake me through the night. I remember it starting when my youngest was a baby. Every cry, shout or loud noise from them (I have 3 children) is like an electric shock in my brain. I thought it was just me...

Exploding head syndrome!

Yes this happens to me but even without noise!

Wow. I get this! Nobody I’ve mentioned it to has a clue what I mean.

I do have other synesthesia experiences (I taste colours) so it is probably related. I find it really annoying though because it feels like the flash wakes me up more than the noise would! It's exactly like PP explained, like a camera flash.

I thought that exploding head syndrome was where the sound was imaginary. This occurs for me when there's an actual loud noise.

I get this. Any loud noise and I see a bright flashing light when my eyes are closed and it's dark.

I also see what looks like one drip of water in doorways when I go from a light room to a darker one. Never found anyone else who sees that though 🙈

There is another name for it OP but I can't remember it. Apparently very normal.

Yes I get this! I actually thought this was normal. I also have exploding head syndrome. They are two different things yes!

I think it's exploding head syndrome even if the noise is real. I get it too, mostly in response to real noises. Although the more I read about exploding head syndrome the more I wonder whether I'm just imagining the noises as well.

I'm so glad I read this thread! I have it too. Mine ranges from cracks/ pops and flashes to bangs and I'm immediately dreaming or half awake/half dreaming. I also have hypnic jerks at times. Neurologist said it was normal.

I looked this up a few months ago as I get this. I saw a response on Quora which said:

As you fall into deep sleep, millions of neurons in your brain effectively shut down, however this isn’t instant. This state between being awake and asleep is called hypnogogia.

If you are sharply awoken as this change is in progress the brain instantly re-awakens all the neurons. Some of the neurons already asleep are for processing light and some for sound.

As some neurons are still active they detect all the other neurons coming back online and you can see/hear the result in a flash!

Not sure if it's true, but an interesting idea.

I get this at loud noises ...its like fireworks going off

Very interesting thread.