[vishva8kumara]

About an year ago I had to take an EEG, because I had terrible cluster headaches that last only few seconds to minutes. While taking the test, the technician was constantly telling me to stay awake even while I was wide awake.

Later I saw that my EEG reads prominent long wave-lengths that resemble delta waves usually found while in deep sleep. I'm sure I didn't fall asleep at all during the test. Other than that, alpha and beta were very weak.

The doctor and neurologist didn't say much about that. But I have seen several EEGs, not as many as they have. All I know from them is that they didn't find anything related to a cluster headache from that EEG.

What does that really mean to have prominent delta waves while wide awake..

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by vishva8kumara

About an year ago I had to take an EEG, because I had terrible cluster headaches that last only few seconds to minutes. While taking the test, the technician was constantly telling me to stay awake even while I was wide awake.

Later I saw that my EEG reads prominent long wave-lengths that resemble delta waves usually found while in deep sleep. I'm sure I didn't fall asleep at all during the test. Other than that, alpha and beta were very weak.

The doctor and neurologist didn't say much about that. But I have seen several EEGs, not as many as they have. All I know from them is that they didn't find anything related to a cluster headache from that EEG.

What does that really mean to have prominent delta waves while wide awake..

To me, it just means you were very relaxed. you were calm, not triggered, not dissociating, not upset just calm and relaxed. it is normal for people to have delta waves if they are in a state of mind where they are controlling their emotions, and breathing. purposely remaining in a mindful state of mind. many normal people who practice yoga, mindfulness, relaxation can cause their self to have delta waves while still awake. there are therapy approaches that actually teach a person to control their thoughts and emotions and purposely enter a deeply relaxed, non triggered state of mind.. one such approach is called bio feedback, another one is relaxation visualizations, another one is self hypnosis - hypnosis used for things like anxiety, stopping annoying habits... some religions also teach how to improve delta waves (enter a deep state of calm and relaxation while awake) medications can also cause a person to enter a deep state of calmness....

in other words the test showed that you can do what it takes many people years to learn how to....enter a deep state of calm while still awake.

Im not surprised they said it didnt show anything to do with your headaches. head aches usually cause a person to not feel good mentally which shows up on EEG's as higher alpha and beta waves and lower delta waves. at least that what shows up- on mine when I have headaches vs being in a calm state of mind.

[vishva8kumara]

That is great to hear. Thank you very much.

I was indeed very relaxed while taking the test. But it was a controlled environment, very calm, and not like the outside world. We even did the hyper-ventilation EEG, and that didn't trigger the headache either.

Anxiety and OCD are on my diagnosis, and I was on Lexapro at that time; 30mg.

I 'have' practiced Buddhist meditations, New-age spirituality, energy healing and Wu-shu / Tai-chi.
But still, when things go wrong - everything goes wrong.

[-jimi-]

It is possible for parts of the brain to be asleep while others are awake. It can also be possible for the brain to show awake patterns mixed with delta for short bursts. This can happen for instance because of severe sleep deprivation, lesions or epilepsy. The whole brain simply cannot be in constant delta wave and the patient being awake. It is simply impossible. If this was the case I'd think the EEG needed to be repeated because it then seems like glitchy machinery.