Strange noises when falling asleep

[projektr]

When i lay down in bed, just before i am about to fall asleep i hear this loud noise. I cannot explain it completely but it sounds like an electric discharge. I can distinguish many sounds and i cannot identify where this sound comes from. I know it comes from inside the room. It can be in any room. Once i noticed it come from a stereo next to me which was not plugged in, and even if it was, it was faulty and not in working condition. These noises only occur when i'm off guard, when i'm falling asleep and engrossed in thoughts. They can occur several times at night. However it wont occur when i am focused or if i don't pay attention and fall asleep quickly. I usually have trouble sleeping and it takes quite a while before i doze off.

Anyone experience the same or something similar?

Or perhaps someone can explain why this happens?

i would love to hear.

Regards,

projektr

[MisterJingo]

Hey projektr,

This sounds very much like hypnogogic hallucinations. They are usually experienced in states you describe, just on the edge of sleep and not trying to maintain awarness. Most common auditory hallucinations including banging and having your name called.

[projektr]

I'm glad you replied misterjingo as i've read many of your posts and find them very interesting. I think we share similar believes and understandings.

Since these noises seem real to me, then would it be possible to hallucinate an OBE? or is an OBE an hallucination?

Thanks for the reply

[MisterJingo]

Hey projektr,

First I'd like to say the fact you are so aware of such hypnogogic happenings is a good sign. I've found a very close link between AP and the hypnogogic state. So being aware of any hypnogogics is a good step on the road to OBE.
Secondly, you can probably tell from my previous posts I'm pretty much on the wall in regards to what OBEs represent. I think the OBE experience in itself is worthy of exploration regardless of its possible foundations – even if it 'might' be hallucination (which I'm not saying it necessarily is ).
The sheer amount of people who experience OBEs from all cultures and countries show the OBE experience itself transcends any single belief system or philosophy.
I don't think one needs to buy into any belief system of what an OBE is or isn't, it's enough to focus ones intent on experiencing the OBE state. So for now, I attempt to explore the OBE/AP state on a philosophically neutral ground.

[andonitxo]

That precise effect is explained in the book "Art and practice of astral projection" by Ophiel. The "dream method" is a gross version of the more modern lucid dreaming techniques. In words of the author this method, invented by another guy, related that in its dreams voyages he suffered from a high pitch noisy that got louder as he got more apart from his physical body.

Don't know if he found any solution to that problem, but that story sounds a bit weird to me. For sure it was some kind of inner fear he had to projecting.

Anyway, being in that state you describe try to ask for the help of your subconscious mind. Something like "please, (your name), I'd like to know where that noise comes from. Show it to me. Thanks".

[projektr]

Thank you for the feedback MisterJingo and andonitxo.

I had no hallucinations last night 
I've tried hard to have an OBE but i still haven't been able to project. During the day time i've listened to many brain wave generator presets but they always give me a headache rather than help me induce an OBE. I was told also one technique being where you become aware of your dream whislt dreaming would turn into an OBE - I became aware a few times and instead of projecting i wake up. Maybe i am attempting it wrongly. As i have tried focusing my mind whilst falling asleep to have one, and as well when i am completely awake. So far, nothing. Perhaps it comes down to ones beliefs, or understandings.

[projektr]

Right, the sounds i am hearing is not a hallucination. It's an actual sound as described in my first post. I was actually writing a big reply to misterjingos first post on how realistic this sound is and how it cant be perceived as false to me, i can tell the difference, but after reading up a bit on hypnagogic halluncinations i came to believe the possibility of me having them. However, after last night i had someone witness this sound while they were completely awake and i on the verge of falling asleep. And as described its a loud sound.
Perhaps i am taking this too seriously, but it seems to me the occurrence of these sounds are caused by me

[chrisg]

http://www.dailyping.com/archive/2002/01/05/

[mork]

I get this too sometimes!  I also get this sound like someone is banging on a tin roof with a sledge hammer.  Had it since I was a kid.  Mum thought it was tinnitus, went to the doctor and he said nope.  Learned to use it to help me project.

[projektr]

I read up on EHS and it's not that serious. Although what i experience is quite similar to EHS and Hypnagogic Hallucinations, as said in my previous post, it is an actual sound that occurs. It's only one sound i hear that seems like a quick electric discharge.

[Zarklon]

It also sounds to me like hypnagogic sounds which in fact do occur very close to the border of sleep for me at least.  I suggest if you really want to explore these sounds try staying up for a very long time like if you wake up at 8:00am stay up until about 4 or 5am   or later depending on what kind of schedule you have.. the more sleep deprived the easier it is to hear these sounds almost instantly after hitting the pillow but do try to keep yourself away and attempt to go OBE and just wait.. I stayed up really late the other night and it took only 10 seconds for me to hear my mothers voice having a conversation with someone and all of a sudden a moment later it sounded like somoene firmly kicked my door and my eyes shot open.. I knew what it was but I nearly opened the door just to make sure noone was knocking or anything.. keep in mind my mother was 30 minutes away...   I think you are at the closest part of an OBE once these sounds occur but unfortunately for me I always end up falling asleep very shortly after noticing these sounds.  Anyone have any suggestion for me to try after hearing hypnagogic noises? I can hear them just about every time I attempt to project but my problem is still falling asleep.

[Virgin Astral]

I usually hear severe banging, slamming doors, and talking.  When I hear this, I know its time to giddyup!   

[fuse]

lol, what a coincidence, i was actually about 2 make a topic about exactly the same thing or what i think is the same thing. I usually get this noise when I'm really tired and my mind is really quiet. Its quite a powerful feeling, it sounds like an electric shock (the kind you see on movies) but its very loud and only does half a second burst of the sound. It always jolts me back to being awake.

From what i have identified, it never has any symptoms, like any signs that its about to happen, it just happens quite randomly.

[Doringo]

I haven't tried to astral project or anything, but sometimes as I fall asleep consciously (I.e. I focus on the darkness I see when I close my eyes) I hear this gradually rising high pitched noise in my left ear. It usually stops after I mentally tell it to shut up, though.  It kind of scared me the first time, but I've only heard it a few times.

[fuse]

Apparently it is called Exploding head syndrome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_head_syndrome

Although the site describes it more like its a disorder, i would disagree as it seems to happen to everyone, it just seems to be based on what type of sleeper you are heavy or light. Im a light sleeper so i pay more attention to it.

[Virgin Astral]

Crazy.  I've had Exploding Head Syndrome several times, almost everytime in transition, although, now days it seems to be less, and less, or not as bad.

Before I knew what it was called, I used to always say, "It feels like your head is going to explode."  Thought they would of had a more technical term for this.  lol