Anyone heard of exploding head syndrome?

I already have major sleep issues with ptsd...now this. Its 4th of July almost all the time. How does one cope with this?

I’ve heard of it (have it). Never sought treatment for it. Basically getting healthier and dealing with stress and depression better seemed to help.

o.m.freaking.g. I had never heard of this before but I jsut googled it and from what i read I have experienced this. it feels SO REAL when it happens. I have gotten up in the middle of the night after "hearing" a super-loud BANG and searched the house and outside and found nothing. I'm rather blown away that this is actually.a.thing. damn.

In my case since I can’t hear I know it’s in my head.

Yes, I have heard of it and I used to experience it now and then. Horrible. The experience is freaky enough - then someone had to go and name it that. Although, it is actually called "episodic cranial sensory shock."

In the past, I have also read that some people who experience EHS also have migraines.

I'm sorry you've had such an unpleasant experience, deejay.

Yeah I've had this happen many times. Crashes and bangs and fireworks and doorbells and one time a patriotic song. It happened in the mornings when the sun would wake me up. Its supposed to be pretty rare I'm not sure how true that is. I just randomly stumbled upon the name after having the symptoms for awhile. Mental health proffesionals have just laughed when I've brought it up.

I used to hear my phone ringing when it wasnt, in the middle of the night. This was when it did often used to ring in the middle of the night (when i was home sleeping) for my job. Or i would hear someone call my name. It pstopped a couple years maybe after i retired? But i still had hirribke work nightmares for like 20 years, where i had not turned in my timesheets for months. Actually just last week i dreamt i had overslept and would be hours late for work.

Its still 4th of July here most nights. It doesn't happen if I nap to in the daytime....weird and an awful way to be woken up.

That's a very long time. I'm glad you don't work there anymore. I still get high levels of anxiety when someone, even a friendly person, from my old workplace contacts me, because I feel like they'll ask me to come back. I mean, obviously I'd say no.
It's crazy how long these things can stick with us. I quit that job 4 years ago, and it still makes me anxious even thinking about it. None of us should ever have to stick with a job that has that type of long lasting negative effect. I'm very sorry you went through that, and for 20 years even..

@Deejay14: sorry for derailing your thread This is the first I've heard of exploding head syndrome. Sounds like a very uncool condition

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Originally Posted by unaluna I used to hear my phone ringing when it wasnt, in the middle of the night. This was when it did often used to ring in the middle of the night (when i was home sleeping) for my job. Or i would hear someone call my name. It pstopped a couple years maybe after i retired? But i still had hirribke work nightmares for like 20 years, where i had not turned in my timesheets for months. Actually just last week i dreamt i had overslept and would be hours late for work.

I often hear my phone ringing when it isn't. Irritating. I worked for 15 years in a coffeehouse, left the job 8 years ago, and still regularly dream that I'm working. The dreams are good, though. Just busy and tiring.

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Originally Posted by Deejay14 Its still 4th of July here most nights. It doesn't happen if I nap to in the daytime....weird and an awful way to be woken up.

It's odd, though, that the EHS happens in your sleep. Or maybe it isn't odd, so I shouldn't say that. For me I think it always happened just as I was sinking into sleep, then *BOOM*. I'm really sorry you're having it happen. Do you think it's connected to anxiety?

You just reminded me - my first work dream was in my senior year in college, when i waitressed and dreamt i was serving hash browns all night. I guess that was an omen!

Not totally sure but I do have ptsd. It happens at that same time for me then I am wide awake for hour. Double whammy!!