Lee NDE

I was living in Santa Barbara that summer. I got very sick with a pneumonia-type illness. I did not go to a doctor. I did feel very ill and took cough medicine with codeine that I got from a friend. I think I just felt like I was leaving at one time. That it was impossible to be in my body. I remember a tunnel and a far off light. I remember knowing that going into the light I would not be able to come back. I struggled and then I came back. I sometimes wonder if it was real. I had never heard of a tunnel or about NDE before this happened so why do I wonder if it was real? It has always bothered me. I doubt myself yet have felt like my old religious belief is not really the way it is. My belief is more all encompassing. I am changed from this experience but still confused. I feel like I must be very imaginative yet how could I have made it up?

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: August 1972

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Illness Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain I felt like I was not attached but did not see my body apart from me.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I felt conscious in that I was alert but my body seemed very remote.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning I know that 'now time' is not really important to me. I do not like being held in time. I do not like clocks that dictate my life. I feel like it is not easy being in time and space. It is limiting.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain I remember a tunnel but not sure if I entered it. If I went into the light at the end of the tunnel I could not come back.

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

The experience included: Darkness

The experience included: Light

Did you see an unearthly light? Yes It was far off and was very bright.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe I really have a different belief system but do not really know what it is - I just do not hold to the strictness of my old faith.

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes I felt I could not go beyond a certain point (the light) or I would not return to this life.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will I am not sure - I know I decided to not go into the light or maybe even the tunnel. I am not sure how far into this I got.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate

What is your religion now? Liberal

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I am more open, less strict in my faith.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain In my experience I am not sure if it is a real NDE I just knew that if I passed thru this tunnel and entered the light there was no coming back. I did not enter the light. Otherwise I would not be here.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I feel like I have a deeper way of "seeing" things. I know before a person dies that they are going to die. It has been difficult because this has happened quite a few times.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I do not think they got it.

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

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Uncertain