Cheryl NDE

Experience Description:

I was in a rubber dingy, my mother was pulling me. I was with a friend. The friend had a life jacket on. I did not. The dingy tipped in the middle of the lake.

I remember looking down at myself going in the water. A bright light surrounded me. I was watching myself drown from somewhere high above. I could see my arms flailing, air bubbles come out of my mouth, I saw the vivid color of my swimsuit, and I was watching all of this, feeling quite dispassionate. I was not afraid, curious, sad, or anything. Dispassionate described it best.

The next thing I knew my mother had grabbed me around the waist and she managed to get me to the surface. As far as I can recall there weren't any ill after effects.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1961 or 1962

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident Drowning Life threatening event, but not clinical death Drowning.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain 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? Normal consciousness and alertness

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The whole time, but I should think when I was going down in the water.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

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

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. When I was watching myself almost drown the colors and everything were very crisp.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Neither

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

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes I vividly remember that when I was watching myself drown, it was as if there was a 'spotlight' on my body, and it seemed as though the light was shining down on me from above somewhere.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I did not feel any emotions. I was very dispassionate.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Neither

Did you have a feeling of joy? Neither

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? Neither

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal Hard to say, I was veryyoung

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal

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? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Neither

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

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

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I am more aware of things.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I was much older when I said anything, I guess about twenty years later, and the people I have spoken with about it have not influenced me.

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 can't answer that truthfully for I have no idea what it all meant.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I do not know what this event means. I still do not.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? I would like to know what it means.