atlas

i've been hearing things for most of my life, but i'm unsure if they count as hallucinations. i don't have specific voices that talk to me, so much as constantly hearing people call my name, unintelligible speaking from somewhere far away, doors opening and closing, alarms, footsteps, and music. they're often very quiet and get much worse when i'm stressed. i don't know if it matters, but during a particularly traumatic part of my life, i suffered from exploding head syndrome.

For years and years, I ve heard my name called, doors opening and closing, knocking, and indistinct mumbling seeming to come from elsewhere in my house or whatever room I m in. I ll think someone is calling me or playing music when I m home alone. It doesn t happen all the time, but far more frequently than anyone I know.

It only gets worse when I m stressed. I ll hear someone scream my name before falling asleep and once, even just a blood-curdling scream.

I never thought i was hallucinating, because it always seems so real and so far off. The sounds are never bizarre. Just mundane noises that aren t really there.

What could this be? Am I overreacting?