Catherine NDE

Experience Description

I was involved in a road accident. I was crossing a road and hit by a large van. When in the hospital, I was taken to the operating theater to treat some of my injuries. While under anesthesia, I died and had to be resuscitated.

When I died, I remember leaving my body. I saw the operating theater as I was floating up. Then, I continued rising in total darkness. I was in a 'bubble' and scared as I thought that I may be in this nothingness forever. Shortly afterwards, I became aware of other people who had passed away and were also rising in the same way that I was doing. All of these people were at different stages, depending on what time they had died.

I could hear my name being called. I came back to the operating theater but not in my body. I continued hearing repeated instructions, 'Catherine - come back, come back, come back.' and knew that I had to go back to my body.

I did come back into my body and woke up but I had to 'settle' back in to it.

I found the experience quite distressing as I thought I was going up to be judged and may be found unworthy.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: November 1984

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain Accident CPR given Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function). I died and had to be resuscitated

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I saw the operating theater and the people in there. 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 Everything was just being; no effort, just being and acceptance of that.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? During death and first when I was back in my body.

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

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

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. I didn't see with eyes, I just 'saw'.

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

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes other people who had passed.

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? Some unfamiliar and strange place. A dark place for transition

What emotions did you feel during the experience? distress.

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? I felt no longer in conflict with nature

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Catholic

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Christian- Catholic

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

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

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

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? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain I know that God exists from experiences after that.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

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

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? No

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? No

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

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Slight changes in my life. I now know I just need to let things be by putting it in God's hands and it will be ok. I do not need to make any decisions.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes It was so different from consciousness.

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

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes just friends

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

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real

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

g6g172m_nde