What Is Exploding Head Syndrome?? - TOPIC TOWN

Craig and Matt delve into the mystery of Exploding Head Syndrome! What is Exploding Head Syndrome? Have you experienced Exploding Head Syndrome? What about closed eye hallucinations?

[@stellaraddict]

I've experienced this for years in many different forms and never realized it happened to others. When I was younger it scared the hell out of me. Still does a bit but not as bad. Also it was worse when I was younger. Usually the sound comes in the form of a really loud TWANG/electrical noise. But sometimes it's more of a weaker sound, sometimes it's more kind of like a staticy pop or crack, and once, I experienced a very loud explosion that sounded like an atom bomb going off in my head. A few times it's been voices whispering, sometimes saying my name..I've also always been able to see the flashes of light and patterns but assumed everyone did?

[@ponjo02]

Mine just gets worse but so happy to learn others also suffer from this EHS.

[@erica7268]

Yes!! I hear voices and sounds like my name too. Did you experience any visual hallucinations? I saw a being in black cloak coming for me one exploding head incident

[@rdreher7380]

The closed eye hallucinations info was interesting. I never thought much of it, but I have experienced those. It works best when I put some pressure on my eyes. When I was young, sitting around on my own for some reason, I would press my eye against my knee to really get it going. While watching this I started doing it again, and I found that I could to a certain degree control it. I would say to myself "lets make a triangle" and a fuzzy white triangle would appear, then how about a sphere, and it would transform into a ball. Mostly though I just let the images come and go fleetingly, sort of aware of them, sort of not. It's meditative really. The best part is when suddenly the black opens up into a cosmos of colorful bits of static, flickering and swirling around - It's psychedelic - but they blitz out of existence as fast as they appear.

[@catashtrophe1269]

i used to do this too for some reason...i would press my palms into my eyes to get it going...just tried it ...still works.

[@melnee]

I had a stressful childhood and used to do this when I couldn't get to or fallback asleep. Travelling into the colours and shapes was so calming and beautiful, it truly felt like my own private escape into another place. I forgot all about it until this clip, amazing to realize others did this too.

[@cateelisabethlsn6400]

😂😂😂😂

[@HeyBrewHampshire]

This happens to me a lot. It sounds like one of my kids have fallen out of bed. I used to jump up and check on everyone to make sure they were okay, but then I just stopped caring, so I get much more sleep now.

[@kiddpenn]

I've gotten the loud noise several times, especially when stressed out or in a new environment, it was scary. I get the closed eye hallucinations all the time! I can see the basic color patterns pretty much any time I choose to. But I'm only able to control them when I really focus on it or I'm more sleep deprived, and only rarely form fuzzy animated scenes, like flying over a blurry river or field. One time I was super duper sleep deprived, I saw it reach level 5, but it was transparent & faded very briefly. Buuut I try to not be so sleep deprived anymore, getting too old for that...

[@obywan7901]

I’m 27-28 years old an I just had it today at 6 am for the first time of my life.I actually was dreaming and of the sudden the was an explosion right under me. It felt so real!!

[@guitarsk8r11]

Exploding head syndrome usually happens to me when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep for a couple hours. When I finally start drifting off, a ridiculously "loud" noise jolts me up. Sometimes it'll happen again, that same night, as I'm falling asleep after the first jolt. Usually the sound is more of a "ZZT" kinda noise, sorta like a bug zapper, but insanely loud and completely in my head. When I was a kid, I remember one time it being kind of an indescribable whisper shout noise or something.

[@danatretola51]

Ben Grund yes! A big buzz with a sensation

[@breadman32398]

It's just a cover up for a glitch in the matrix.

[@DroidFreak36]

I distinctly remember closed eye hallucinations, including control over them. I haven't had them recently though. Maybe it's a thing that kids have but lose as an adult.

[@theresabarnes2608]

my exploding head syndrome is driving me nuts I’ve had an episode every day for the past 2 1/2 months. I’ve had this problem off and on for the past eight years. The sound that I hear is The sound of a tree falling over amplified by 100. It happens so often but sometimes I can’t tell what sounds are real and what sounds are just in my head. I’ve never seen a flashing light or had any weird twitch just really loud sounds glass breaking people screaming. This whole experience is so frustrating.

[@ponjo02]

It is frustrating for sure. I totally live with this syndrome, so difficult to relax after it and go back to sleep.

[@Jhick71]

Exploding head syndrome is my favorite band

[@Vardagaladhiel]

I've had the closed eye hallucinations before, so really cool to find out that they have a name! I'm excited about the sleep playlist because it really is an interesting topic! I was listening to the No Such Thing as a Fish podcast the other day and they mentioned sleep, and how it's tricky to even define what exactly sleep is etc etc.

[@rowtow13]

This happens to me every now and then. As I'm falling asleep, I see a white flash and hear a loud pop, like an electrical explosion I guess. It startles me awake and then I turn to my husband and say "Did you hear that?" and he grumbles something because I'm waking him up and then I roll over and go back to sleep.

[@destinyann5550]

I just got diagnosed with it... its scary! It's been happening on and off for 3 years now... and I'm 25. Mine is horrible 😫 there are days where I wont sleep because I'm scared of it.. I have headaches for days after the " explosion " in my head.

[@xandercornwell9628]

I have exploding head syndrome and one detail you left out is after the sound your body jerks and spasms.

[@Vyseblues]

I've experienced the visual static since ever. It doesn't really show up unless i really concentrate on it.

[@TheMegaphone77]

I've heard what sounded like a bunch of metallic pipes being dropped

[@z121231211]

Has anyone else had this during the day? One time I was so tired I was daydreaming (or practically falling asleep) in class then in the daydream I was hit in the face with a hammer and my head shot back as if it actually happened. Woke me up pretty well.

[@fightboxing4545]

Someone just smacked the shit out of u to wake u up

[@couragedearheart1735]

This just happened to me and that’s why I’m here! Learnin!

[@AlystrZelland]

I've never experienced exploding head, but I'd never previously had a way of articulating those stars you see when your eyes are closed or even contemplated being able to shape them.

[@randombandicoot462]

Scared THEE hell out of me when I was about 14 or so(1974). Asleep, & there's a balloon pop sound, a bright flash, & then a slowly decaying cellophane crackle for a few(?) seconds. Only ever had that once, although had a few "imitation nightmares" that I woke up from & laughed at, bec. they couldn't come close to how much the real thing scared me. Finally heard what it was in the early 90's on Dr. Dean Adell's radio show.

[@novingale]

This was fascinating. I haven't experienced exploding head syndrome, but I do experience the feeling of falling very often in my sleep, nearly once a week. I can definitely experience level 5 of the 'closed eye hallucinations.' I can easily imagine objects and scenes, and control them, with my eyes open. I always thought this was just part of being very imaginative, I wasn't aware that it was so scientific!

[@rudiherrig2446]

I get closed eye hallucinations but I find that pressing something up against you eye while you are doing it gets it going faster and more

[@joescott]

I think the word "like" was said about 400 times in this video. ;)

[@Petr75661]

+Joe Scott it's a subliminal message. I presume you duly clicked.

[@MathAndComputers]

MIND BLOWN!

[@emi7moonmoon779]

Just experienced this last night. Sounded/felt like somebody raised their hand and hit my pillow really hard next to my head. Startled the crap out of me

[@gabi_bird]

I'm so glad you made this because I've been wanting to tell you about this somehow. When you first made your video, Wheezy, about Exploding Head Syndrome, I was like, "That's so weird and cool!" I kid you not: THAT NIGHT I experienced it. And the next as well. Then it's stopped since. Life is full of crazy coincidences, but could there be some correlation between me learning about it and experiencing it the same day?

[@Slattery777]

I would assume so - tho I have no science on it just speculation

[@AlleyBetwixt]

I get the full-body jolts, usually when I'm trying to sleep, but not asleep yet. No sound though. And I still see very vivid colors/shapes/patterns in darkness, either with my eyes closed or just in a dark room. Always have. I'm almost 30. But I have other forms of visual noise at all times, some weird hallucination kinds of things similar to synesthesia, and strong afterimages that last for a long time. I imagine it's all related to some degree.

[@dreezthehunter7006]

I get this during dreams, when things seem to confuse or overwhelm me. When my imagination can't keep up, and it seems like the dream just 'pops' like a bubble. It sounds like a bang, and I instantly sit up, or jump out of bed.

[@shyrose2466]

I suffer from this since age 8. the media over exaggerates. the sound comes from inside the head (left side). it's extremely loud but only I hear it. sounds are very brief. before deep sleep. sometimes follow by anxiety, feat, flash of light, and body jerks (entire body)

[@billfromill8157]

I recently had this. I feel like I can't reach the deep level sleep now

[@Mu51kM4n]

I am pretty sure I've had exploding head syndrome before, though I didn't know it was a thing until now. I've always associated it with the "falling" dream and assumed it was that, but after hearing you describe it, I'm pretty sure I've had this happen to me. Now that I'm aware of it, I will be able to tell if and when it happens again. on another note, I have definitely had closed eye hallucinations. I used to have them all the time when I was kid. They actually creeped me out for awhile because at first I felt like I wasn't controlling them. eventually I learned that I could control them, or learned how to control them, in a very basic sense... probably level 2 or 3 that he describes. I thought I was totally alone and weird on this experience, but it's nice to know this is a thing! I don't so much have these now, unless I am purposely thinking about them.

[@TrinaLena]

I've had something happen to me multiple times with flashing lights. I even woke up thinking some one was flashing me in the face with a flash light, but nothing was there. Very odd. But thanks for...shedding some light on the topic. Ha. I'll leave now...

[@2b-coeur]

I remember when I was younger I used to see patterns when I closed my eyes and I'm going to try to start again...

[@bruceflowers5276]

It happens to me all the time. If feels like it hurts like someone blew your head off. Then just like that, its over.

[@tho2ea]

Matt, someone is playing a trick on you. Or maybe it's a toomah!!!!

[@TheGoodStuff]

tho2ea It's not a toomah!!!

[@atllover1104]

when i was little, i remember that i used to hallucinate men on horses behind my eyes, and they did persist when i opened them. for some reason this never struck me as weird. now i know what it is!

[@Mu51kM4n]

Concerning closed eye hallucinations, I have never reached level 4 where I can control shapes and patterns, but yet I have continued to see them when I opened my eyes, which is level 5, so I've sort of skipped from level 2 or 3 to level 5. It makes me wonder if I could actually control them to make objects. Though I haven't experienced them in quite a while.

[@danatretola51]

I have this sometimes. It's for real. The first time it really scared me.

[@teriscallon]

I also experienced the colors behind by eye lids. Why does it stop as you get older?

[@baguettelord4614]

Had it tonight its 3am and I'm freaked out. Like 5 minutes ago I would say it was a loud beep but now that I think about it's more like a flashbang a loud ringing

[@jackeyramone]

Oh wow! I get this all the time!

[@charlenewilson1024]

im 61 and have been experiencing it, scared me enough to think it was ghosts so I upped my sleeping meds. Someone on Fb told me what it is. I hear clicking noises and bangs.

[@0vesty]

I've experienced this exploding head syndrome once. In a dream shotgun was shot right by my left ear, it was fricking loudest sound I can imagine. It was one of the action movie type lucid dreams that I usually have :D

[@fightboxing4545]

Same shit here except mine sounded more like a .44 magnum. Not that there's much difference

[@brownirma5685]

Yes I have experienced loud crash sounds gunshot like noises screams yells freak me out more n more

[@TamaraWoods]

I've definitely had the loud slam sound. I don't think the eyelid hallucinations have happened to me. That's really interesting. I didn't really think of it as a thing before.

[@pvtpain66k]

I get fractals under certain conditions, or if I squeeze my eyes closed fairly hard. Never herd noise though.

[@Sibbichi]

Yeah I've gone through stage five, yet not stage 4 for some reason I can't control mine. It works way better if you press down on your eyes.

[@Slattery777]

Thx pbs

[@ARampantJesus]

I've never heard of this even being a thing... that's crazy though. That'd scare the hell out of me.

[@nipsnaps22]

kids, don't ignore the elephant man shout out, it's a great classic.

[@Ninterd2]

This was a pretty darn interesting video. *18th*. I wonder what the next *18th* video will be all about.

[@mickblock]

I have a recurring dream where I'm about to climb stairs and I decide that if I want to I can float up them. Sometimes I let it happen and I start floating kind of uncontrollably. I always feel like I "let something overtake me" that I shouldn't have, coupled with the fear that someone will see me and I'll freak them out. Has anyone else had a dream experience like this specifically or otherwise?

[@JustinAlexanderBell]

I have experienced it, more than once actually.

[@anthonymelendez2605]

I must have the worst case possible of this, my experience with this is I don’t have the sensation of a sound when it happens it’s like the pressure of an explosion like lighting a mortar and it going off next to you the kicker is I don’t normally wake up right away and it’s uncomfortable and I experience multiple “sensations” of a shock wave before waking and I experience wanting to wake during this and can’t and when I do I would have nights of not being able to fall asleep because I would fall back into the experience. The only thing I have found to prevent them is to lower stress and get good sleep regularly but I still suffer some restless nights here and there but not as bad as when I first started.

[@alexella9689]

I have had it once. It sounded like a really large piece of metal (like truck size) thudding on the ground.

[@MAUL0r1]

@thegoodstuff can deaf people experience exploding head syndrome?

[@themarquisivanmcwatt4809]

From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephantiasis "Some conditions that have this symptom include: -- Proteus syndrome, the genetic disorder of the so-called Elephant Man" So... yeah.

[@Bonesph]

I have had sleep paralysis a half dozen times and today I had this with sleep paralysis. So it does have to do with dreaming.

[@2Up2DownLiving]

Gunshots, sounds like gravel being thrown at a board, static like electrical buzzing.......i can go without it experiencing it for months....then get bouts of it just before i fall asleep. It's loud!

[@evergirl1231]

Also omg I can't believe that pattern thing is a thing! I used to do that all the time when I was a kid. I believe I reach level 3 or 4

[@JeezboozXD]

From time to time when I'm going to sleep, I hear a loud siren that I have to control with my mind to reduce its volume. If I don't I fee like my eardrums are going to burst. Its fucking terrifying.

[@annacanna1529]

I bet this is what kids are seeing when they swear there’s a monster in their bedroom

[@rustymustard7798]

Closed eye hallucinations can be induced by closing your eyes and applying a gentle pressure to the closed eyelid. This will cause a stimulation of the rods and cones due to increased pressure that the brain interprets as visual information. Fractals are one of the more common hallucinations, and i hypothesize is a result of the convolutional properties of the optic nerve. If you practice you can control it. Check out extreme sleep paralysis, it's like EHS, but instead of a bang, it's a continuous, deafening sound usually accompanied by a shadowy presence and mortal sense of dread. You can't react in any way to it physically or mentally and though it may just be a moment, the experience seems endless. Sometimes the presence shows a featureless face that is absolutely terrifying, and on rare occasions they'll either try to stop you from breathing by weighting your chest and covering your mouth, and i've had 'them' try to do what i can only describe as the 'brain suck' There was two of them, one of them sat on my chest and wrenched my jaw open while the other restrained my head. The faceless thing made me look directly at it and i felt as if they were trying to steal something. By this time my eyes were open but they were still there. They squeezed my head harder and tried to do whatever it is they do, and finally i willed myself to move, i BIT the one holding my jaw open and could feel a digit in my teeth, and wrestled my head away from the second one. I was standing against the wall looking right at two things that looked a lot like the grey aliens, but with no features, no eyes, nose, mouth or even skin, their faces were just an endless void. Finally, i basically used my force of will to resist them and they backed off, dematerializing as they stared at me with the void-face. So yeah, sleep paralysis can be pretty freakin' 'metal' when the voidfaces show up and try to steal your mind. I know it's just tricks of the brain but it's pretty impressive that a few pounds of gray mush can generate these experiences that stretch time and shatter your concept of reality in an instant that you experience as an eternity of terror. I've seen these beings before as well, usually skulking around the shadows of sleep paralysis, but i've also seen them while fully awake and active.

[@WhatsBellow]

Rusty Mustard holy fk

[@erica7268]

Omg. I thought I was remote viewing or something but I can create objects. Its usually people just doing boring things. I’ve had exploding head syndrome. I’ve had sleep problems my whole life. I heard what sounded like an am radio really loud and then it felt like I was falling Then I saw a large being in a black cloak coming for me and then it sounded like a gun went off in my head and felt like my head hit a cement wall. It’s awful. I think that with all these sleep problems I should be able to astral project easily but I can’t. I’ve been trying for years. I did when I was little I remember what astral legs feels like. I will work on the creating objects though. It creeps me out sometimes because I’m afraid what’s going to happen so I make it stop and focus differently. But tonight I’ll try for unicorns and rainbows

[@fookutube501]

Matt is right its just like the night jolt(jerk) you get when fall off to sleep but your body feel.EHS is in your head so it make sense for it to be a bang or gunshot or some sort

[@Yesh77777]

I experienced it twice it was around noon coming down off acid it was right when I was about to sleep..I was like F that. I'll just ride out the acid awake..I was super tired from not sleeping for two days.

[@helcroft3313]

I want one of those PBS Digital Studios shirts.

[@daniellevaillant4650]

And a flash of light

[@evergirl1231]

Either I've experienced this or my brother slammed his bedroom door.

[@saxoungrammaticus9132]

If you rub your eyes it makes cool patterns. I used to pretend I was seeing the time warp from Doctor Who.

[@ricksanchez8521]

I've done mushrooms enough to be no stranger to auditory hallucinations.

[@benaaronmusic]

I can't wait until *MAY* *18th* (Matt's voice)

[@Miranda_Writes]

Mine sounded like a balloon popping.

[@chiangmaipies]

I experienced it this afternoon. Hence my search on youtube. This occurs about a few times a year. Quite frightening. Always occurs with late afternoon naps. But I'm prepared to experience it as I really enjoy my sleep. At its worst it sounds like a bomb has exploded.

[@dinonid1234]

Closed eye hallucinations...Ahhh....

[@tstryker03]

I often wake up to a huge chubbs.

[@allsonrice648]

Elephantiasis is right.

[@isa.sharif]

Well, this video is 1 day late for EXPLOSION WEDNESDAY!

[@cpypcy]

I got used to it, i just compare them like meh this one was pathetic not even loud.

[@nipsnaps22]

Craig, that shit is way too tight.

[@cateelisabethlsn6400]

It's literally "falling" asleep. The sound is like something with electricity in a cartoon. So is the light. How they show an explosion in a cartoon. I have it every day. Maybe because I go to bed early. I had this "falling" asleep a lot when I was a kid (then it reallyfelt like falling). Now I'm in my early 50s. Now it's really something popping in my head with noise and light. I can't recall having this in between the ages. It's quite scary sometimes. My heart is always racing like hell. This was a funny video, thx 😂😂😂