Brinton M Probable NDE

Experience Description

I had been in unbearably excruciating pain for several days due to a toothache, so I went to the dentist. He immediately admitted me for an emergency root canal. Once in the chair, I was given nitrous oxide via a mask placed over my nose and face. Then the dentist left the room. I inhaled repeatedly and deeply because I wanted the pain to stop. Apparently, I inhaled to much nitrous oxide because I stopped breathing.

I floated up and out of my body to the ceiling. I turned and was looking down from the perspective of ceiling. I saw my body down in the chair, the room and all its contents, and the nurse preparing a table of instruments to side of room. I watched as she went over to my body and then shook me. She quickly ran out of the room. She came back with the dentist. He started violently rubbing my chest with his fist. During all this I was viewing everythong going on from above. I can still see it all clearly from memory. I can describe the hair on the top of the dentist's head and the shape of his back and shoulders as he rubbed my chest. At that moment, I rose through the ceiling itself and went into an infinite blackness. It was devoid of all light whatsoever and without any substance other than total darkness. I knew that I was dead but what was frightening was the absolute darkness that was devoid of any presence other than myself. It was a terrifying place beyond description. I felt totally alone in utter darkness. I immediately started desperately begging God to help me. I suddenly felt sucked back down into my body as if in a vacuum.

I gasped in air and simultaneously viewed the obviously alarmed dentist vigorously resucitating me. He stopped when I breathed in again and was back in my body.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: Summer 1981

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No. Surgery-related. While under general anesthesia. CPR given. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function)

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely distressing

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal. I had normal consciousness the entire time I was in my body and out of my body. I was more aware of it because of such a new experience that was frightening to me. I knew If I didn't get back into my body, that I was dead and I didn't want to be in the place I was at. It was so devoid of light and an absollutely terrifying place.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Never felt unconscious at all. One moment I was in my body. The next out of it.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning. Time seemed irrelevant.

Were your senses More vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Same vision; different perspective.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Same

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

The experience included: Void

The experience included: Darkness

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? No

Did you see an Unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. It was utter darkness, but a real place.

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Alarmed/frightened/interested

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? I remembered many past events. When going through ceiling into the black Void, I reviewed all moments of my life very fast.

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life. I begged God to save me and let me live again in my body. I wanted to go back.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Slightly important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant. I wasn't particularly religous at the time of death experience

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I believe in the existence of God and eternal life.

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Moderately important to me

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths. I am Christian with no attendance of an organized church.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. I sort of believed in God but when in total Darkness, I knew that it was a place devoid of Him.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I know that life continues after death, therefore I am not as grieved by the death of others or loved ones as most people are.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Uncertain I was simply aware that I didn't want to remain where I was.

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? God probably does not exist

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes I knew God was my only hope.

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? God definitely exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Did you believe that our earthly lives Are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes Life continues after leaving body.

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? An afterlife probably exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife definitely exists Yes My consciousness was the same but without physicality.

Did you fear death prior to your experience? I moderately feared death

Do you fear death after your experience? I do not fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives Are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? Uncertain I knew I did not want to exist where I was.

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Slightly compassionate toward others

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

Were you compassionate after your experience? Greatly compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life. I know God is and that He obviously wants me here or I would not be here.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I'm somewhat nicer.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience. It was as real as anything I have experienced before, during, and after.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Occasionally, I am aware of spiritual realities that I was previously unaware of.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Most people disregard my Death as something other than actual death. They think I was hallucinating due to the nitrous oxide. Therefore I do not often share my death experience with others.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real. I have always known my experience was real but don't think about it as often as time goes by.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. If something is real, one knows it is if they are aware of reality as opposed to non-reality.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? Describe in detail leaving ones body.