What Is Exploding Head Syndrome?
You just crawled onto your bed for an afternoon nap.
Your eyes are heavy and you’re slowly falling asleep when suddenly *BOOM*
No, a bomb didn’t go off in your house, but one did go off in your head!
What Is Exploding Head Syndrome?
Exploding head syndrome is a parasomnia, which involves undesired events around sleep.
Those who experience exploding head syndrome hear an imaginary loud noise before falling asleep.
Many describe the sound as loud and sharp like the crack of a whip, an explosion, a gunshot, a thunderclap, a metallic crashing sound, or an electrical vibration.
It can also wake you up in the middle of the night.
Some people report having a cluster of attacks throughout the night, leading to a restless sleep.
Sometimes weeks or months pass before the sound replays.
A flash of light might accompany the sound.
The experience is usually painless, outside of a few who reported sharp head pain.
What Causes Exploding Head Syndrome?
The direct cause of exploding head syndrome is unknown.
Many believe it occurs more often when exhausted or stressed.
It usually happens when the brain transitions from wakefulness to sleep, much like the “hypnagogic jerk,” or involuntary muscle spasm occurring right before we transition to dreamland.
The hypnagogic jerk usually results in a leg kick or arm flailing.
The main symptom of exploding head syndrome is anxiety.
Many become anxious before bed, fearing they will hear the noise.
After hearing the noise they remain anxious.
Nerves result in a lack of sleep, causing sufferers to feel tired throughout the day.
Again no one knows why exploding head syndrome or other “hypnagogic jerks” occur.
One theory suggests it’s a simple misfiring of nerves naturally occurring during the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
Another theory takes an evolutionary approach linking to an ancient primate reflex.
The brain misinterprets sleep relaxation as a sign that we are falling out of a tree, causing our muscles to tense.
If exploding head syndrome is related to stress, individuals should seek stress management techniques such as yoga to solve the issue.
