Sounds that are not really there and Dreams.

While laying down some nights I can imagine different types of sounds, such as a piano playing, the sound of an ocean ect. Sometimes the sounds seem as if they come out into real life and I'm really hearing them, or actually FEELING them. Some sort of vibration. I know the sounds are not real, but its as if I'm hearing them with a different set of ears. I can sometimes feel the sound going through my body. Doing this helps me sleep, and sometimes help me achieve lucid dreams. Thing is, I have no idea whats going on and I have not found any information on this. The experiences are not scary in anyway, but extremely peaceful. Any feedback would be appreciated, Thanks!!

Those sounds are just as mysterious as that inner screen. Where the heck is that inner screen? I watch it occasionally and it's proper advanced 3D, full colour. It does seem to be behind my eyelids but I'm almost positive it would leave no trace if you were to dissect my eyeballs. ooh yuk!

Recently, I've heard a very loud popping sound right as I begin to fall asleep. It sounds like a firecracker going off. Scared the crap out of me. Obviously, I wake up immediately. I thought maybe it was a neurological problem. I googled it and it turns out it is a rare but harmless condition called...(get this)...exploding head sydrome or disorder or whatever...hilarious. A certified doctor named this condition...sounds like something my three year old would call it...lol.

reply to post by lambs to lions


I get that a lot. But it's not a pop sound it's more like an electrical bzzztt! or dzzztt! I hate it.

Yeah Ive read about Exploding Head Syndrome and Ive experienced this as well, but it seems very different than what I'm experiencing. At first I thought I found what was happening but as I read through it just isn't the same from my perspective.

reply to post by Morbid_One


A lot of times when I am trying to fall asleep I'll hear a family member (my mom mainly), or friend screaming out my name really loudly. It scares the crap out of me and I always jolt up. I don't know if I'm having intense flashbacks of being yelled at before or what. . . but it freaks me out never the less.

I've been woken up to almost an echo type voice. I'll open my eyes and I'm laying there . I'm hearing either a voice or sound that is starting to fade off. Its like i brought it out of my dream. Wonder if it's the same thing that makes you feel pain in your sleep. If I dream about getting stabbed and it causes me to wake up, there is a sensation in the same area.

Chill out guys, these sounds and experiences are completely normal.

From memory I think they occur during the period when the body is just starting to enter the initial stages of sleep.

I used to get these all the time, hearing all sorts of strange things like musical instruments, strange voices, weird electronic sounds and different languages.

I wouldn't worry about them, actually in fact I'd enjoy them!

I used to get this a lot, but they weren't pleasant piano playing sorts of sounds, a lot of the time I would hear someone franticly hammering on my front door, or shouting my name in quite a scary way. It scared the **** out of me quite a few times.

I put it down to hypnogogia

Hypnagogic imagery is often auditory or has an auditory component. Like the visuals, hypnagogic sounds vary in intensity from faint impressions to loud noises, such as crashes and bangs (exploding head syndrome). People may imagine their own name called or a doorbell ringing

reply to post by davespanners


That's exactly correct, thanks for refreshing my memory.

Fairly recently I went through a stage where I would feel like I was falling or like a series of waves/pressure was rushing through my body just before I went to sleep and I attribute it to what you have described.

Sorry to hear that your experiences are particulary unpleasant

I get this....usually musical sounds or tunes. But they are not tunes I have 'heard' before...I have not noticed if they increase lucid dreams. Not scary just a bit weird. Nice to know I am not the only one

I'm still uncertain, I can actually lay down and "listen" for these sounds. I could go from an awake state and just lay down on a couch and do it instantly. I have to be 100% focused and not thinking any thoughts. I'll create a few sounds in my head to get my body to start trying to "listen" without using my actual physical ears and moments to minutes later I'll start hearing the sounds. A strange vibration goes through my body as well, as if the sound is passing through my body. There is nothing scary about the sounds, and they are never loud. Ive also experienced sleep paralysis for the last 12 years but its nothing close to that, I wonder if all these sleep phenomena are related in some way.