What It's Like To Have Exploding Head Syndrome: Linked To Sleep Paralysis In Some People | TIME

If you've ever heard a sudden loud noise in your sleep that turns out to be imaginary, you're not losing your mind. In fact, you're among the roughly 10-15% of people who have experienced Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS).
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What It's Like To Have Exploding Head Syndrome: Linked To Sleep Paralysis In Some People | TIME
/ timemagazine

[@sydnibates3858]

For me, it felt and sounded like a sonic boom. I️ could feel it in my body. Like I️ was stunned. Bizzare.

[@liambgames8338]

Sydni bates I have exactly the same it so so loud and I was shaking after

[@alexstrachan9164]

Sydni bates same

[@pengolepengo2399]

Sydni bates same...It sucks...

[@traceymarie5615]

It was the same for me as well

[@nicklasgrande6508]

You spirit is vibrating

[@froggy9648]

It’s even more scary when you hear screaming

[@maiavalerio4003]

I get his often and its always screaming, like bloody murder screams. So scary

[@wmoros4902]

I agree. Shits fucking scary. I also hear voices or breathing

[@NANA-vb2rc]

i honestly thought i was the only one who would hear the screaming!!! it's fucking terrifying

[@tomaschour2850]

It happened to me last night for the first time. I heard my own scream. It was really realistic and i really thought it was me who was screaming for like 10 seconds.

[@brandonp2824]

Bruh...

[@Dox_Nif]

last night i literally screamed i thought we were getting nuked and i saw a flash of light. it threw me into a bad anxiety attack because it sounded so real. i couldn’t believe it.

[@xsamsungg5735]

I always hear a loud buzz sound and it feels like electricity goes straight to my brain. I wouldn't say it's painful but it's very unpleasant.

[@raydarable]

Same.

[@jimpanse7450]

Same here

[@Ophelia458]

Ecxact same thing with me. I always described it as nearly painful

[@sinissster9657]

Yes intense buzz sound and feeling it scares me

[@candace8697]

Me too!! It feels like an electrical shock

[@shelliedoyle4900]

This isn't funny, especially when it happens twice in one night, the second time I was actually scared to go back to sleep. Sound made me wake up quickly and startled, then shortness of breath followed by panic and rapid heart beat, and worse thing was the sound and flash seemed to come from near my bedroom door, so wanting to get out of the room during panic was not an option! I live alone btw

[@Pixelsam7]

Dude, it's the worst when it happens twice.

[@sadcholo2466]

it's been happening to me twice every night now for the past week. Hopefully it goes away...

[@aespaenjoyer]

i hate it when it happens :( its scary, but i cant explain it to anyone else.

[@chief5813]

Just call out to God

[@uniqueplayz7979]

It happened 3 times in one time for me. I got on my phone because I afraid to try and go to asleep again

[@aespaenjoyer]

the thing is, when my EHS happens, it takes me a while to get up. i feel like i know when i'm having it, because i would feel myself drift off to sleep but i would also feel almost paranoid.

[@piscesvennus]

chittaprrr ; I’ve found that I only get it when I’m in a paranoid state of mind to begin with

[@aeronthegirl2619]

chaste mark same

[@dreamowner]

Same

[@gay.mer9328]

I drift off, and a sound would repeat in my head, but as I am about to go to sleep the sound butfucls my ears.

[@michaelcoverdale7572]

Are you used to it that you are not scared.

[@aliajohnson1909]

Finally, this is exactly what I have. As I’m falling asleep I hear sound like a gun in a gun range. And it wakes me up for a second then I fall back asleep. I feel better knowing others go through this and that it’s harmless

[@fracturedsolace145]

So you feel better others suffer too?

[@smoke1431]

For me it sounds like I'm in a tornado always thought maybe it was because I had the fan on and it would blow it into my ear but when I wake up that's not the case had it happened before without a fan on

[@helpiamsuffering603]

For me it’s people talking in my ear, shouting or people further away from me. Never bangs or noises, just verbal stuff from ‘people’

[@manofculture8666]

@@fracturedsolace145 Don't be weird lol. She feels relieved others have it AND are fine, the second bit is the main bit. If you had a strange symptoms and others who live normal healthy lives have it too, wouldn't you be relieved?

[@kentuckyboychris]

Same here.

[@eziiikwe9961]

Has anyone only experienced a loud ringing noise? For me, when I'm about to fall asleep I hear the typical sound of the ac and fan. Then there's the low ringing when you're in a fairly quiet room. But then all of the noise drops for a second, then it turns really loud and the ringing is twice as harsh. It's like if there was a dial and someone turned it down briefly then put it all the way up. I also can't move/talk at this point and my heart rate increases(because of me being scared haha). I was just curious. I finally found out what I may be experiencing, but I want to do more research first. :D

[@redullasherryl8261]

i do experience that horrible ringing!! you arent alone tho

[@kuroblack4388]

Yeah same and you always get that feeling like you knew in a few seconds you're gonna have sleep paralysis ahah

[@chippsanders9614]

Yes! It's like someone is tuning a ringing buzz.

[@kingfreak8548]

Kuro Black bruh exactly this i know when that shits coming and i just sit awake for a while avoiding it lmao.

[@grantfredrickson5803]

DUDE THATS EXACTLY ME

[@RobertoLicardie]

Had a lucid dream about 4 days ago. Today, right after my am classes, I took a nap around 2pm. I had a very lucid dream, then I woke up, Only to realize I had a sleep paralysis. I didn't freak out because I knew what it was and the best thing to do was to go back to sleep - so I did. As I was falling asleep, my ears started ringing. Like when it's completely silent. That ringing kept increasing rapidly. Eventually, it came to an end but it triggered a loud sound. It sounded like an explosion... And my left ear felt the echo it caused. Anyways, whilst the Ringing was increasing, I could feel neural slashes inside my head. very weird, not sure how to explain myself. The best I could say is they were slashes that were very physical.... But in the back of my brain.

[@wowbruh2511]

Roberto Licardie just remember next time you have sleep paralysis...make your mind THINK. Whatever is there you want out. Fire a fucking fireball at it or something lol. Just try not to be worried and think of it surviving it. Remember. Once you know your dreaming. You can do anything. As long as you THINK. And dont think about anything that could get in the way.

[@HDFootballFootage]

Bro same thing here fam Holly

[@hankhill334]

This is very weird I was also lucid dreaming right before the dream ended the random person took me into a dark room and said "look listen" then Bang! I shit you not it literally sounded like I took my own pistol and shot it right next to my head. The Gunshot was so real it vibrated my head awake. Loudest imaginary lifelike sound I've ever heard while sleeping

[@michaelcoverdale7572]

@@hankhill334 wtf

[@JustJoshBruh]

Kurtis holy shit are you serious

[@harleyspeedthrust4013]

I get both exploding head syndrome and sleep paralysis, often at the same time. In fact I am here because I just had two episodes again. The creepy part is that they often occur in a nested dream, so I'm trying to wake up into something that's actually still a dream. I usually can't wake up when I get the episodes, and when I try to move, the noise gets much louder (and I find that I can't move). Although I would much rather take these ehs combined sleep paralysis attacks over the ones with demons. Those are legitimately scary as hell Edit: by far the most terrifying attack I had was when I was awake, I was facing the wall with my eyes open trying to get some sleep. I heard some woman in the room and I was freaked out, I thought she was evil and I told her. Her voice suddenly changed and it had a deeper and inhuman quality to it. Then these loud alarms started going off, and when I turned to look at her she was gone. Hell I wasn't even paralyzed

[@MahadHadadi]

Hey hope you’re okey. I also experience the same thing with you. Did you get over it yet?

[@harleyspeedthrust4013]

@@MahadHadadi nah I had another attack last week w the same woman and I was awake Wbu bro

[@animergirl]

hey friend ive the same problem as you said

[@nunyabissness1]

At this point, you're better off making friends with her so the attacks won't bother you anymore. Easier said than done, we all sound crazy in this comment section but, worth a shot?

[@javo5270]

bro i have the same problem, finally I know i am not the only one

[@kingfreak8548]

i’ve heard the music beautiful melodies then it gets extremely loud right before a static /AC type sound comes ringing, i normally wake myself up at this point bc i know sleep paralysis is on the way. Crazy.

[@davidlape9213]

This has happened to me a few times and scared the hell out of me. Sounded almost like a gunshot.

[@rex74t]

I got mine today for the first time sounded like a sharp thunder

[@moritz759]

Same here and I saw a lightning. But it wasn't that bad

[@daniellew.9957]

Lol it isn't your period, dude

[@draw2death421]

For me its like a sudden loud wind that blows to my ear for like half a seccond

[@ChrisandAri.]

Draw 2Death omg same j swear why though it’s scary

[@abel3619]

Bad actors if you have it, it scares you awake

[@MetalChleb]

Woke up this night to a woman scream. I was terrified it was so Realistic. I discovered that i have EHS around 3 years ago when i watched a short on youtube about it, but for 7 years i thought there was something next to me making the noises to my ear and escaping when i wake up

[@Zeitgeist6]

I've had that. But usually it's like someone slamming a door shut. But I too have had the voices waking me up while no one was there. But those are rare.

[@asjavlogs6107]

The only time I get this is when I sleep early then when I try to sleep again that’s when it happens anyone else gets that too

[@ertyiopas1514]

little mama also happens when I stay up late

[@maplebooth1818]

Brooo samee for me, i sleep rlly early like at 9 or 10 then i dream then i wake up at 2 am then i use my phone for a bit i try to sleep again i get it. Its almost instant. I dream instantly and it happens. For me, i get peoples voices. The volume slowly increases and i have to force myself to wake up.

[@cadencase5216]

YES!!😭

[@l3tterstoy0u]

I have been experiencing this for around 2 years now. When I fall asleep at night, right before I am fully asleep, there will be a sound that goes from very quiet and slowly 'ramps up' and finishes with a big sharp electrical sound. When the sound happens, there is a sudden flash of light (similar to the thunder and lightning others have described) and then it sounds like a computer shut-down (beee-ooooo). I had the most intense one last night. It happened around 5 AM before I woke up and it again started quietly and ramped up to deafening electrical noise. It felt like it lasted for 2-3 minutes. There was no imagery associated with it, but the best way I could describe it is 'if this happened in real life, I would have been holding my ears and running for shelter' as if a sonic boom / nuclear bomb had just landed. I remember telling myself 'don't move, it's okay, stay calm and keep breathing' as if the world was ending. I am laughing writing about it because I am so relieved I'm not the only one!

[@nissanoo0393]

Ivd had this one today around 5 am aswell, exactly the same as you described but my one had 2 imagines of someone I know they were flashing with single lines of an old TV screeching all around it, a little scary at but it was awesome at the same time? as I was in it I felt comfortable, I also had my eyes opened for the last 20 seconds (felt like 20) as I was slowly recovering down and regining consciousness of what happend

[@wsaifi4807]

Do you feel any pain while its happening? Because i do feel pain while i hear the sound and flashes and when I wakeup all the pain disappear as if it didn’t happen and I want to know if I’m the only one?

[@niko_hand589]

If you've ever held your breath or flexed so hard that you pass out (don't ask), for me at least, I wake up with a metallic taste in my mouth, and also hear a metallic ringing clang and loud noise when regaining consciousness. It's really weird. I've also experienced ehs. I have sleep paralysis quite often. But last time I had ehs was a long time ago. It sounded like a metal clang too, like having your ear against a metal plate and having someone clang it with a steel hammer.

[@destinyesports4837]

I think I had the most creepiest exploding head syndrome. So it happened to me one night when I just fell asleep and I was riding my bike and then I was going towards space and all of a sudden this loud scream came out of no where, it was hurting my ears. Then I just thought it wasn't a big deal so I fell back asleep again. Then I had another exploding head syndrome where I was like in the 1870s and there was alot of people and a man with a hammer kept banging my head and beating me then after guess what! The really loud scream came back again then I woke up. Take a note I couls not move or barely wake up. And it happened 2 times in one night!

[@marisolcaxhanteje4821]

I think i have exploding head syndrome because i will have a jolt to wake up its just i dont get a loud bang it just makes me want to jolt and i scares me

[@anonmon8550]

I was woken up by screaming before too. IT felt so real that i called 911! LOL crazy because its so real that it cant be distinguished between real or imagined.

[@TheZephyrsWind]

Yes, when I used to have them, they were gunshots, explosions, or what was worst to me, screaming at the top of the lungs (usually at me, or my name).

[@recyclingcan1959]

I usually get screams claps or sounds in my ear like "BOO!" its very scary

[@GRA5S]

My creepiest was someone calling my name, it always sounds like it's coming from outside my window or the room next to mine. The voices are from people I know like my parents and friends. The way my name was called wasn't creepy at all, it just sounds like a normal person trying to wake me or catch my attention but the fact that I'm alone is what makes it slightly creepy for me.

[@azulan730]

I get them after going to sleep while extremely tired (after waking up in the middle of the night) and I have to be lying on my back. I used to be afraid and force my eyes open when it happens but now I love it and hope I have them as often as possible. If you keep calm and accept EHS when it happens you start to float and can hallucinate. Its only scary if you're afraid of it. Only downside of EHS is it doesn't last long enough ;)

[@owenstaples7550]

This is pretty much how I've felt about it. I noticed that mine only happen in the morning when I'm still half asleep and I used to be able to force it to happen on command and I would get some pretty cool feelings and hallucinations. almost like a mix between sleep paralysis and lucid dream. but after about ten seconds, the ringinging and the tingling fade out and you wake up.

[@insideout277]

Exactly what I was thinking too. Accept it and let it come. Follow the sound. One time I decided to listen to it it and let go. Not fight it. The ticking sound getting louder and louder and as I listen the rhythm goes faster and faster to a point I was getting into a trance like state. All of a sudden it went silent. I was floating in a dark space and two dark figures appear. I told them I was not afraid and they let me in a door or something. Anyway a hallucinogenic experience quite satisfying.

[@owenstaples7550]

@@insideout277 sweet

[@TheAmazingChrisDK]

For me it's usually a lady screaming into my ears, it's terrifying

[@smalle5533]

Yeah idk what the f it is bruh but it’s always a lady like “AHHHH” like so close into my ear and it sounds demonic

[@wonkylondon3204]

Before she was yelling, can you describe what she was doing? Because I think I met her before.

[@azaa3148]

does the lady laugh sometime?

[@craetondadonbeats4619]

I hear kids crying feels like something is tryna. Touch. Me. Demonic screams. I. Can't. Even explain

[@girlyhooligan6814]

I have this. Scares the crap outta me every time. Loudest boom ever. I get it about once a week.

[@schrodingerdiscovery]

This has happened to me over the last few nights. I feel as if someone is knocking on my front door. It's great to know that there's a scientific explanation to this because I was getting creeped out reading all other crazy theories about this on the internet. Knowing that I am experiencing EHS makes me feel much calmer now.

[@leavemealone3165]

I had the same thing happen to me after I gave birth to my 3rd child. It happened a few times during the middle of the night and heard loud banging on the door as if someone were trying to break in. I'd wake up my partner to go check the doors but nobody was there. It seems so real at first that it literally gives you chills.

[@SylearX]

@@leavemealone3165 I had the same thing, i live alone and it felt like someone was trying to rapidly open the door aggressively when locked and breaking windows. Also was lucid dreaming, most weirdest thing I ever experienced

[@nyeisagriffin-turner3318]

I'm 27. I've been feeling with this for a long time. Well over 13 years. And to be honest, I've learned to live with it. There are nights where I'll hear knocking at the door and I wake up asking who is it lol but I fall right back to sleep because I'm used to it. I've heard everything from a bomb to a piano and all of the above.

[@senpaihouston]

I just had the piano a few days ago was better than the other ones i had

[@SlyHikari03]

I hear the weirdest sounds as I’m trying to sleep. It always changes.

[@silentj624]

I hears voices sometimes, too. Sometimes one person, sometimes a bunch at once like the sound of people talking in a restaurant.

[@Iraqi_Potato_Chips]

Having EHS and sleep paralysis all the time at the same time makes me want to avoid sleep

[@maccmoses]

Does anyone else have constant ringing in their ears too?

[@theseattlegreen1871]

MrHayven Games My ears are still ringing. This is something that no-one knows what it is. Only guesses ...

[@juliane9887]

Hi, it's a little late, but it sounds literally like tinnitus...

[@paavo1294]

Happened me last night when tried to sleep... Sounded like loud static noise

[@aeronthegirl2619]

BAAVOZ same problem I have

[@someoneontheinternet6378]

Same

[@jakefromstatefarm7363]

You exactly described it

[@nakymawlot]

Yeah and when i try to control it...it felt as if my teeth and bone will get fried

[@danielhamrick8827]

Same 3 quick loud static sounds happening multiple times a night

[@RealityBoat]

its so scary i hear loud screaming or a norma noise will get louder and louder untill it becomes percing, it also kinda feels like sleep paralysis

[@everythingtv4875]

yesss and when it happens it usually take me a a lot of effort to wake up from ut. like i know i’m drifting off to sleep but the sounds getting louder and louder

[@dcompose]

I have this but it's evolved ovee the years to where it even happens when I'm fully awake. Anyone else experience that?

[@tusharkhaire2564]

DCompose yes I have been experiencing it even when i am not asleep. It's goes on for like 5 to 10 minutes. And everything around me seems to happen at a tremendous speed and I am.able to hear every sound in detail. No I am not on any drugs whatsoever

[@danbalanel]

@@tusharkhaire2564 It happens to me as well. Sometimes it's worse and it lasts for like 30 minutes. I usually see 2 balls rolling down an alley and they change in size fast.

[@cyberstonks]

same here

[@ieropoli3]

Yes happen to me like every day now

[@supercreativeusernamebcidk]

Yup

[@guss6469]

The noise was bad but the worst part was feeling like my head was full of ozone and was smoking like a shorted outlet, every time I would start to fall asleep I would snap awake out of fear it was about to happen again

[@aidansheadache2142]

From what I remember, I've only had it twice. Both times it sounded like a mix of a SUPER loud and shrill scream, and TV static at full volume. Really weird stuff lol.

[@phonegamerz269]

Yeahh

[@esemusic8294]

I've literally just had an episode, so I came here..

[@Alex-yu4fl]

I’ve experienced this, it started with me falling asleep like normal. Right before I drifted off, I heard ringing in my ears, this ringing got so loud it sounded like a jet engine going off next to my head and i saw a bright light getting brighter which end resulted in a sorta lucid dream kinda feeling. Very scary and fascinating at the same time

[@scope7685]

this is exactly what i hear its like i have a plane inside my head also i hear voices sometimes of whispering and crying

[@saralayla8563]

ExActly I hear ringing

[@annekevangorkum]

It happens often to me when I sleep on my back, not when turned on one side. Maybe helpful for others? When you realise it's not dangerous, it becomes fascinating.

[@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.

[@hannahd8731]

Has anyone ever heard a second of loud music?

[@harleyspeedthrust4013]

Yeah sometimes if it's a good dream, towards the end. It's legit the most beautiful music I've ever heard and it doesn't even exist :(

[@elmeowyaaaaa]

It feels like someone i pounding your head on something and sounds like space traveling

[@thrustinthanos6913]

This happened to me and I wasn’t even asleep I was just laying in bed kinda tired and I hear a loud bang

[@thebloodofjesuschrist5586]

Loud bang..do you feel like slap?

[@danielhamrick8827]

Apparently it happens right when ur about to fall asleep

[@tourettesonfiree]

I get this regularly, last night, for example. I closed my eyes for about 10-20minutes and heard the strangest buzzing sound shoot through my ears and almost the vision of a bright light flash at the same time. Of course followed by sleep paralysis symptoms but due to having the condition for so long I have the ability to snap out ofit when it starts to happen. Still a very unpleasant expereince... Something I wish I didn't have to deal with (Tourette Syndrome, OCD sufferer here too)

[@Bekaizer]

Happened to me several times. Especially when I’m taking a nap. So usually I have normal dreams and then it suddenly turns into a horror plot then boom, either the lightning hits me or an electricity hits my whole body and ofc I cannot move. So I lay there and my whole body (especially brain) starts buzzing as if it is about to explode. Its not really a sound but more like a sensation. So I feel this electricity shock in my body and cant move. Lasts for several seconds. Then it stops and starts again. Usually after the third or fourth time I manage to move some parts of my body. And after I wake up, i realize that nothing hurts. Its so strange cuz i was right here seconds ago feeling the worst pain in my life. Anyways, if you guys are experiencing this, usually it happens because of sleep deprivation or stress. Try to get a good sleep and you should be fine.

[@deepakrajgupta6927]

Same things are happening with me & when i fell asleep then i was unable to move my body then suddenly some sound started coming inside my head & I thought that my head will be going to explode & i think that feeling is so physical in head..i m quite worried about that sensation in head

[@MrRiderLtd]

It happened 5 in the morning i thought someone was braking into my house. I SHAT MYSELF.

[@riz-rq9wr]

MAYBACH MUSIC omg sameeeeeee I was so scared my mother said maybe I was dreaming but I know I was up it made me so paranoid after my heart was beating fast

[@darkwhisper7595]

Lol

[@helldronez]

@@riz-rq9wr hey thats same as me, i heard loud bang bomb with some flash vision also it's been 5 times in just 2019-2020. my heart go full speed when i woke up, also i woke up with jumping out of bed usually sit or standing. so scary.

[@mouse-inaround5185]

I will tell you this is the scariest thing ever. I have been getting this for about 2-3 years, usually once every 2-3 weeks. I close my eyes, and it sound like cymbals and gunshots, I cannot move during this, I am completely paralysed. The sound starts off soft but very quickly becomes deafening. I cannot scream or speak, I just internally freak out. Mine lasts for about 10 seconds until I manage to move anything, as soon as a somehow move even a toe I open my eyes and the sound is gone. The scariest part is that a couple of times when I manage to get out of one, I close my eyes and it happens again and again and again. During the first second when it starts if I'm quick enough to open my eyes I can get out of it before it happens.

[@pieterklaaskrugmann]

Mouse-in Around i have it since i was 12 , i am 43 now. Only once in a couple of years. The exploding head syndrome is bad , but manageble. Its the f paralizing thats scares me

[@mouse-inaround5185]

pieterklaaskrugmann ikr the paralysis is so dang scary. Like your whole body is just numb and you can't even move a toe.

[@lyckl_6609]

Mouse-in Around I had this happen to me twice(EHS) but I have had a slight problem remembering them in detail they seem like a dream but I know they are not but mine came in the form of stern VERY hard knocking from a window in my bedroom. but I'm not positive I have it but I have all the symptoms. one question how did you know they were gunshots did they just sound like gunshots or did you just get a very strong feeling they were gunshots. I the knocking was very loud and could have got it confused. Btw this happend when my sister was awake and she did not hear anything I was the only one

[@destinyesports4837]

Mouse-in Around same! Happened to me 2 times in one day! So creepy! I done the same thing as u when I slept I had the exploding head syndrome it was a really really loud scream and then I just couldn't wake up or move.

[@Bella-yc6kq]

Is everything completely black when this happens?

[@sophcharms2134]

I hear loud voices that come from my head, then they get so loud as if someone were having a conversation right next to me then my brain realizes what’s going on then it stops

[@ToeTickler123]

I hear someone scream at me and I wake up twitching, once the scream said “wake up” I couldn’t understand the last word

[@cw123]

I've has this since I was a kid, it's always a doorbell for me.

[@kyla149]

Mine was like someone aggressive knocking

[@vMatzG]

My head feels like it gets really tight and painful. And it sounds like I’m in a wind tunnel with loads of whistling that painfully loud.

[@teekay6569]

vMatzG “wind tunnel “ - perfect description of mine

[@Malisa77]

That’s how it was for me, extremely loud, like when wind or an ear piercingly loud sound makes your ears want to close, and I can’t move or scream. It’s happened twice now and I’m hoping it’ll never happen again, because it’s hard to get back to sleep and pretty scary!! Sorry guys, I hope yours stops also. I wish they’d do more studies on this.

[@esemusic8294]

I can relate to that tightness of the head.. So strange.. Almost painful as well..

[@aafkgirl91]

I was drifting of to sleep, and was seeing a bookshelf in front of me, a man grabbed a book on the top, but the book slipped out of his hand and down to the floor. When the book hit the ground, I woke up with large bang in my head.

[@mistypedhi]

I have this but it is never fireworks, gunfire or thunder. It is usually knocking, banging, voices of people I know, doorknob turning..etc. also it ONLY happens if I have to wake up without having fully rested and then after some time of being alert I try to resume sleeping. Every time without fail. If I sleep 5 hours, wake up for 30 minutes and go back to bed, this will happen.

[@stepstochrist4820]

Yep, Im not sure if i was dreaming or awake though. which is concerning. It seemed as if there were blue flickering lights outside my door. Than my heart started pounding. all of a sudden there was loud thunder sound or something like knocking of a door next to my head. i was shaking for a good 5 min and didn't sleep.

[@riz-rq9wr]

santiago OMG sameeee I heard a really loud sound i got up asking if they heard it it was like 2:30am and my mother said I must have been dreaming smh I know I have PTSD I hate loud sounds where I live at times it's gun shots or loud fire works smh

[@-Jay-001]

Not just bangs, it can be people shouting or chattering, people shouting my name, or doorbells ringing! Majority of the time the noises wake me up. If however the chattering is low then it can lead to a dream forming.

[@misa7945]

i usually hear someone bang on my door or someone slamming a door

[@riz-rq9wr]

sameeeee smh

[@JmeJ83]

Happened to me three times in my life 🤕 the most recent last night! It literally sounded like a explosion inside my head just as i was drifting off to sleep, my heart was racing after that and i couldn't get to sleep for ages it's very scary 😔

[@bakerxlove7893]

I've had this happen quite a few times and it feels very real. I looked it up awhile back and realized it was actually a thing and I wasn't alone. I remember saying to my bf, I think this is what I have and he said 'what?' " Exploding head syndrome." And he burst out laughing cause he thought I was joking lol.

[@harshitasingh601]

I read all these comments and I can relate but it all feels like something extraordinary and special to me as well.. like some kind of Ascension or spiritual awakening... Does anyone else feels that?

[@user-jl8km8lx9f]

I want to share some stories, one of the nights i was dreaming something incoherent in my sleep, well it feels like you are aware at your surrounding but at the same time you are in kind of dizzy/confused state, honestly its kind of comforting though, feels nostalgic like it remind you of your childhood memories for unknown reasons untill out of nowhere there is something exploded near me, the sounds feels so real that i jolted awake with my heart beating like crazy, i sweating bullets and scared to fall asleep.

[@dreamowner]

I hear a buzz that kinda sounds electric and ramps up over time, it always wakes me up and makes me paranoid to sleep again

[@ElegantElliott]

I heard a rewind and resume sound affext it was the craziest I couldn’t explain I was half asleep half awake just woke up instantly and heard a rewind sound like I resumed back into this life again. Weirdest thing I felt in my life. And it just happened to me too 😢😪

[@enjii]

exactly what i heard, a really fast rewind sound

[@sothbeachboy2195]

It felt like someone pounded me in the head, I opened my eyes and then back to sleep

[@thebloodofjesuschrist5586]

Do you feel like some one slap u

[@esemusic8294]

@@thebloodofjesuschrist5586 this is what happened to me.. I actually thought it might have been a ghost.. Glad there's an explanation for it..

[@elmstreetslasher4558]

I just had one today, and it sounded like a bomb going off scary as hell, plus I had a few others way in the past. But damn it's intense!😩

[@harley6182]

Usually it sounds like a crowd applauding ot a tv full blast in the next room. Freaks me out!

[@nikayareynolds5349]

For me I heard what sounded like a loud motor bike right next to my ear

[@YsBlackLabel]

Same. Screeting tires

[@CoreDreamStudios]

I wonder why I never had EHS, I'm high anxiety, and sleep all kinds of odd hours and less than 4 hours during the weekdays. However, reading everyone's experiences, what sounds like to me is, EHS is basically your ears/eyes enabled pathways and you're half asleep and experiencing the sounds/visuals from your dream but you're awake. Interesting but scary.

[@leonpettway7679]

I've found my community! Finally an explanation it's been about 15 years dealing with this but it's happening less frequently nowadays thankfully.

[@Cordoba98]

I started experiencing this, it usually starts to sound like a TV with no cable. That’s swooosh sound gets really loud then I start seeing flashes then the sound lowers then once again the sound is so loud I can feel the pressure in my eardrums then I wake up.

[@RafatSultana-dd2ek]

But I felt like, the more second passes the more head pain and vibration increases, by calming down myself I escape from this

[@melissasteiner7954]

When I was younger I very vividly remember a dream that I had about WW2 and I was a soldier on a ship serving breakfast when all of a sudden I heard gunshots. Then when I thought that was over there was a loud bang from under me and I fell. I woke up with a scream ringing so loud in my head that I could barely hear the next day. I had the same dream a little while ago and I woke up screaming and shaking like I was having a seizure and when I stopped shaking I was frozen solid, scared to move or anything. I woke up the next morning only to find me covered in sweat and my bf said I was sobbing throughout the night.

[@a-grahxm_569]

i had a dream where i got hit in the head by a frying pan and it made a loud noise, i woke up screaming.

[@sahiba399]

When I was about 7-10, I would have EHS almost every night and morning waking up and it would last from anywhere between a few minutes to about twenty. It used to sound like somebody was non-stop clapping cymbals together and annoyed the absolute shit out of me until I figured out what it was ;-; Also, I had it a few times recently where I was having a nightmare and I could hear a really loud demonic scream, followed by a sort of high frequency and it started to hurt my ears so I woke up and felt strange. The next day, I had the same nightmare, followed by the demonic scream, but I was dreaming lucidly so I knew what to do and I was thinking "not this shit again" in my head and kicked around in bed until I woke myself up.

[@txrn79]

I usually hear what I think is: my kids calling me, my kids yelling , a book slamming down on a desk, doors slamming, the firing of a gun. These come in the morning as I wake up. I also have lucid dreams, sleep paralysis, hallucinations upon waking of birds and moths and it's just all so weird. It just happens.

[@OnionTheSquid]

When I'm transitioning from wake to sleep without losing consciousness, I hear repetitive loud noises while I can't move, while inside a lucid nightmare, then transforming into lucid dream

[@OnionTheSquid]

I also feel my heart about to explode

[@jakefromstatefarm7363]

Probably one of my scariest experience ever. It sounded like the loudest noise you could ever hear and in my dream i couldnt move i was in sleep paralysis and my toe was at my chest level, terrifying

[@kt3o5]

I just had this happened for the second time. First time I was in elementary school and it was a school bell ringing. Today, it was kinda like a cymbal...

[@cloroxdisinfectantspray1804]

I would not want to self diagnose with EHS because I think you may have to be diagnosed with it. However, ever since I was a kid I would hear voices before I went to bed which are generally small conversations or words. Up until recently it was generally quiet conversation but now it includes explosions, breaking noises, yelling, laughter, electricity-type noises, and random waves of sound. It sounds a lot like exploding head syndrome from what I've studied.

[@gazellepop]

It's rare but when this happens, it's either the sound of a car crash or a woman's scream. Always leaves me confused on which side of reality I'm on in the middle of night, freaked out and wide awake.

[@GRA5S]

Mine varies, very rarely I can hear someone call my name and it sounds like they're outside or in the other room. The voices are always someone I knew. Often times it's the sound of something falling on the ground, glass shattering, the door violently closing, a loud bang and somebody having a lightsaber duel. lol

[@dragonmyballsz268]

I tought i was going crazy, at first it was just loud boom, like a canon, then some were like a firework explode right on top ur head, the sound was too real for me that made my ears "feels" it. sometimes i even heard crowd of people, like family gathering, inaudible noises, car screeching (i didnt live near street, at least there s no road near my house that could make car go screeching). the worse would be the sleep paralyze while also hearing those noises.

[@jaspermatty]

Mine is always the doorbell ringing, followed by heavy knocking. It’s so creepy to wake up to - and especially when you go to both the front and back door and nobody’s there and it’s the middle of the night.

[@honey_wink]

I was about to call asleep and my eyes where closing. I was almost fully asleep then I heard like a big boom in the corner of my room. I was so scared it freaked me out I literally was looking for the sound and remembered that there is EHS. So now I’m a bit paranoid

[@a_diamond]

Yep. I'm narcoleptic and have this pretty regularly and it sucks.

[@youdontevenexisttome2347]

I have exploding head syndrome and sleep paralysis. You’re not alone

[@niks1life]

Happens to me at least once a year… Last night it sounded like someone dropped something that was really heavy. I’m housesitting in a very large house, so (of course) I thought someone was breaking in on me.

[@hanu7032]

Everytime this happens theres a loud ringing inside my head that gets louder if I tried to move. I also get sleep paralysis and lucid dream afterwards, like I would dream about waking up from the ringing noise for 2-3 times before I actually wake up and realize it was a dream. Our brain is weird sometimes.

[@elchamber]

Maybe it's our use of electronic devices that's the culprit. Ironically, it's also what I use to avoid it. I play some atmospheric sounds like rain or "music playing in another room" effect that hides or help me ignore those other sounds.

[@AvAfanfromfrance]

When I have mines, it usually just sounds like a massive explosion echoing in the neighborhood or sometimes it has an electric "zap" sound to it, like a giant metallic sound like the EMP sequence in BF4 or war of the worlds tripods.

[@foyjustice7212]

Exactly how mine sounded. Like a huge electronic bang or ping. War of the worlds all most exactly.

[@lh3540]

I get this sometimes right as I'm dropping off into sleep, sounds like a slammed door. I'm aware of what it is and don't think much of it. I also get the feeling of tripping or falling right as I'm about to sleep.

[@riz-rq9wr]

L H omg sameee I hate it

[@TheProdigy-xb7bs]

I usually hear a loud bang like a gun shot, but one time I heard screams and that was absolutely terrifying

[@jubaeralam5690]

Same thing happens to me also! And I feel like my ear drums are gonna burst out and my head will explode.The sound starts somewhat slow and slowy keeps getting louder until I cant take it more and wake up

[@theart8039]

I wasn't even asleep when this happened to me as I was reading a book. It felt like a massive hammer hit the side of my house three times..I knew immediately that this was bad on a spiritual level because shortly after my Partners Dad died and so did my two beautiful dogs...I believe that it was a warning from "something" that some bad stuff was about to happen and it did

[@haydenta5305]

I think I had mine for the first time today. I was having a dream and then I woke up to a sound to a gunshot noise and a bullet casing hitting the ground. I was very confused so I got out of bed to look if something has fallen and saw nothing. I was literally freaking out.

[@riz-rq9wr]

Hayden Albright sameee I feel so paranoid after and can't sleep omg it's annoying and scary

[@ramenwithaliens5431]

So no one hears a loud clap!! 😭

[@j.madelozo8222]

It just happened to me a few minutes ago while I was drifting off to sleep. It sounded as if a heavy object fell into a wooden surface and made a loud noise. I tested hitting wooden objects near me to reproduce the noise, but unsuccessful, so I thought that maybe it was all in my head and clicked on this video. 😂

[@shanesullivan5918]

Just happened to me last night for the first time. I was fast asleep and woke up to what sounded like a sonic boom in my room

[@AlexRichardson98]

Did anyone else heard a sonic boom in your sleep. It recently happened to me this morning at 4 am after I went back to sleep.

[@emily.shortss]

i have this every single night when im trying to sleep and i usually cannot move for a few seconds while its happening but ive learned to stay calm. i hear like the loud sounds of like swords and knives or smth clashing and it feels like electricity throughout my body. it happens usually when im really tired trying to go to sleep. its just annoying and it makes me often scared to go to sleep 😕

[@effiedemas7316]

Stay away from new age practises, do (the lords prayer) b4 sleep ,and cross yourself 3x and your house in the air and your room as well ,like orthodox Christians do right hand three fingers ,and you'll see how quickly it stops , demonstrating only fear jesus and the crossStay away from new age practises, do (the lords prayer) b4 sleep ,and cross yourself 3x and your house in the air and your room as well ,like orthodox Christians do right hand three fingers ,and you'll see how quickly it stops , demonstrating only fear jesus and the cross

[@thedeadfr0g]

This happened to me twice already once a loud scream and the second time was a buzzing noise like a bee and everytime i wake up and look around there's nobody or nothing there and feel crazy

[@bobbob-vw4cc]

The most common EHS for me 1. explosion 2. door slam 3. scream 4. phone ring

[@timauth]

I experienced this last night, although it wasn't my first time. In my sleep, I heard a boom so loud that I woke up in fear. The weirdest thing was that I couldn't move for a few seconds. I was frozen. After a few seconds, I was able to move and i shot straight up as if looking for the noise. But, because I've experienced it before, I knew that the noise didn't really happen and was only in my head. Still such a hell of a way to wake up.

[@AuthenticSelfGrowth]

Omg I get this occasionally. I'll hear a loud banging like someone is knocking on my door or walls very loudly. Atleast i now know I'm not the only one

[@nunyabissness1]

Mine happens when I've been sleeping for a few hours. It only happens once every few years and I think I've experienced it like 4 times at this point but the "sound" has always been the same. I can only describe it as an extremely loud balloon pop. Scares the hell outta me for about 2 seconds and all of a sudden I have a ton of energy.

[@ninjalizzim428]

Have you been dealing with anything spiritually?