Exploding head syndrome

[Newrumpus]

I developed this a few years ago and I was a bit worried until I figured out what it was. I don’t know anyone else who has this but it is apparently not rare. It also has the best name for a benign phenomenon. Does anyone here experience this and if so what form does it take?

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.

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!

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.

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 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 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 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!