Paul B Probable NDE

Experience Description

I was a store man at the time, alone working on the office computer at about 2:00 am. I don't know why I started coughing but I did, it quickly became uncontrollable, then after a while I felt my windpipe close, I knew I was in trouble. My initial feeling was to panic, but I reasoned what good would it do? A few seconds later, a work colleague 'Gripper' (nickname) entered the office. Gripper is a huge guy, twenty stones plus and paws like a bear, he starts slapping my back then front and it isn't having any affect, so I grab his arms and turn in towards him, then I fold them and try to get him to hold his thumbs right, all this time I haven't taken a breath. (I found out later that Gripper had never heard of the Heimlich maneuver.) THEN IT HAPPENED.

I slipped out, that is I wasn't connected to my body. The discomfort in my throat (it was never painful) was gone. My first thought was, that's it I'm dead, only I'm not dead, I feel okay, I can see, I still can't breathe. Just then a voice that seemed to come from my head (it wasn't a voice more like a thought that didn't seem to be mine) said, 'You don't need to breathe, you're body needs to breathe, you don't!' That makes sense I thought. When this event occurred, I was never frightened but I was in a state of shock that I would think would be normal. Then I thought what have I got left, that is I had better try and move something. Believe me, I hadn't even blinked, maybe it was the shock. I was just figuring out what part of me I should try to move when I was back in my body. All the discomfort returned to my throat and Gripper's arms were squeezing me and then WHOOOOOOOOOSH - my throat opened and I could breathe.

I couldn't talk for several minutes, but I could breathe.

At this point I must state, I saw no strange lights, people or tunnels, I was, when the OBE occurred, still in the office, I wouldn't say standing because I couldn't feel any connection with the floor or anything else. Also I wasn't aware what was happening with Gripper and my body - strangely it didn't even occur to me at the time, I kind of accepted and felt comfortable in my new 'state'. I must state also that at no time did I lose consciousness, I felt as 'me' out the body as in. I now realize that my consciousness is me and that when my body dies I don't. I couldn't put a time on how long I was out my body, I don't think, looking back, that it was my time to go.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: approx. 10 years ago

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Allergic reaction 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' I suffered a coughing fit which caused my trachea to close.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I lost awareness of my body

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 The same level from start to finish.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The same level from start to finish.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning I cannot say how long I was out, only that it must have been seconds, but it seemed longer.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I was in shock to some extent, I was at the time trying to focus on exactly what had become of me. I didn't panic, I wasn't frightened, but I wasn't confident either. It's hard to explain that although I could see. I was staring out the office window, not focusing on anything. My consciousness was about my mind not reacting to what I could see.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I wasn't aware of hearing anything when out of my body, just the voice in my head, which answered two questions, one of which I have forgotten.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

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? 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? No

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Calm, accepting, but shocked.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

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

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? Scenes from the world's future

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal spiritualist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal spiritualist

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? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

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

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? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? When you come away from your body it's extremely meaningful.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Close friends and family.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I am a spiritualist. I believed in the survival of the spirit; consciousness - now I know for sure.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real Because at no point did my conscious mind change. I was alert throughout, one thing flowed into the other - I did not blackout at any point.

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

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain My third eye opened when I experienced a connection with my father (passed on) at a spiritualist meeting. I do not believe I saw with my third eye when I had my NDE, or at least not in the same way.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? A voice in my head has spoken to me once before, to stop an accident from happening - I didn't listen, the accident happened.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? People find it hard to believe until it happens to them. I don't really care if people doubt my sincerity, I am not here to experience other people's events and happenings and they are not here to experience mine. I tell people who express an interest in these matters as I am always willing to listen to their experiences.