Exploding Head Syndrome
A parasomnia is a general term for an unwanted effect that occurs while sleeping or trying to go to sleep. One parasomnia, sleepwalking (or somnambulism) is a very well known, and often widely ridiculed, form of parasomnias. However, there are others that we might experience but never hear about.
Exploding Head Syndrome. Exploding Head Syndrome is a title used to describe a person hearing sudden loud crashes during sleep. People often describe them as gunshots, cymbals crashing, or explosions. One might also hear the sound of someone yelling their name, screaming random words, or completely random shouting. These auditory hallucinations can sometimes be accompanied by flashes of light or muscular twitches. People experiencing an episode may also frequently experience myoclonic jerks.
Exploding Head Syndrome Causes
- Women experience EHS more than men
- EHS often happens in conjunction with other sleep disorders
- If you are taking a sleep aid
- Individuals with a history of mental health issues may be at greater risk
- People experiencing a period of a lot of stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Substance abuse
As said before the episode itself is painless, however, if you are experiencing these problems and they interfere with your daily life or in some other way greatly disturb you, it is recommended that you seek professional help for treatment options.