A near-death experience (NDE) refers to a broad range of personal experiences associated with impending death, encompassing multiple possible sensations including detachment from the body; feelings of levitation; extreme fear; total serenity, security, or warmth; the experience of absolute dissolution; and the presence of a light.
These phenomena are usually reported after an individual has been pronounced clinically dead or otherwise very close to death, hence the term near-death experience. Many NDE reports, however, originate from events that are not life-threatening. With recent developments in cardiac resuscitation techniques, the number of reported NDEs has increased.[1] Many in the scientific community regard such experiences as hallucinatory, while paranormal specialists and some mainstream scientists regard them to be evidence of an afterlife.
Popular interest in near-death experiences was initially sparked by Raymond Moody's 1975 book Life After Life and the founding of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) in 1981. According to a Gallup poll, approximately eight million Americans claim to have had a near-death experience. Some commentators, such as Simpson, claim that the number of near-death experiencers may be underestimated. People who have had a near-death experience may not be comfortable discussing the experience with others, especially when the NDE is understood as a paranormal incident.
NDEs are among the phenomena studied in the fields of parapsychology, psychology, psychiatry, and hospital medicine.
Researchers have identified the common elements that define near-death experiences. Bruce Greyson argues that the general features of the experience include impressions of being outside one's physical body, visions of deceased relatives and religious figures, and transcendence of ego and spatiotemporal boundaries.The experience may also follow a distinct progression, as illustrated below.
The traits of a classical NDE are as follows:
A sense/awareness of being dead.
A sense of peace, well-being and painlessness. Positive emotions. A feeling of being removed from the world.
An out-of-body experience. A perception of one's body from an outside position. Sometimes observing doctors and nurses performing medical resuscitation efforts.
A "tunnel experience". A sense of moving up, or through, a passageway or staircase.
A rapid movement toward and/or sudden immersion in a powerful light. Communication with the light.
An intense feeling of unconditional love.
Encountering "Beings of Light", "Beings dressed in white", or other spiritual beings. Also, the possibility of being reunited with deceased loved ones.
Being given a life review.
Being given a "life preview" in the cases of George Ritchie and Betty Eadie which Ring calls an NDE "Flash Forward".
Being presented with knowledge about one's life and the nature of the universe.
A decision by oneself or others to return to one's body, often accompanied by a reluctance to return
Approaching a border.
The notice of a very unpleasant sound or noise (Claimed by R. Moody).
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Comments
I am a 48 year old woman now, but when I was 11 years old I had a near death experience That I am still trying to figure out.
I saw blackness, and the tunnel of light like everyone else talks about. I saw someone at the end of the tunnel waiting for me as I sped faster and faster towards this person. They were made of pure light. I also felt happy and very loved. Again this is very alike what others say, But When I got close to this person, I realised I knew who it was. Then there was a horrible sucking sound and I awoke on the floor back here. I was very sad to have come back. As I was 11 when this happened, I spent many years trying to figure out who that was in the light. It was not untill my youngest son turned 18, Which was many years later, That I realised it was he, that was in the light. I never even had him untill I was 24. This still boggles my mind.
I've had ongoing bouts of sleep paralysis for over 30 years. Yes they are very scary but I've never thought they are related to ghosts. I'm not sure what triggers them, my sleep specialist thinks it may be stress but again I don't think so as I've never been under much stress when these incidents occur. I'm certainly not saying ghosts or spirits don't exist but I think if you find yourself "awake" at night, scared and unable to move it's more likely physiological than paranormal.
I once had something that can be seen as sleep paralysis,
This happened in a very old house, that has had many functions during the 200 years of it's existence.
I went to bed and fell asleep for a short time, but then woke up.
I was really frightened because I was not able to move, not even able to control my own breathing!
My head was turned towards the window in my room, and there I saw the shadow of a little girl, slowly approaching me.
I was really scared so I closed my eyes.
I tried to move, but every attempt failed. After some time I was able to move again, still frightened.
I cried for the rest of the night and I am really scared for it to happen again.
Does anyone know if this has something to do with traveling between dreaming and reality, or with ghosts or spirits?
I once had something that can be seen as sleep paralysis,
This happened in a very old house, that has had many functions during the 200 years of it's existence.
I went to bed and fell asleep for a short time, but then woke up.
I was really frightened because I was not able to move, not even able to control my own breathing!
My head was turned towards the window in my room, and there I saw the shadow of a little girl, slowly approaching me.
I was really scared so I closed my eyes.
I tried to move, but every attempt failed. After some time I was able to move again, still frightened.
I cried for the rest of the night and I am really scared for it to happen again.
Does anyone know if this has something to do with traveling between dreaming and reality, or with ghosts or spirits?
I had few Astral travellings, about 30-40 times from 2008 until 2011
MaNY. CANT REMEMBER THEM ALL, I know if I ever get to the bottom of them, I wont be here! to type this
Ever had a near death experience? A comment box to discuss about anything related to this phenomena.