Diane N NDE

Experience Description

I was being worked up for symptoms of light headedness. This test had you strapped to a 'stretcher'. The first part was lying flat with electrodes monitoring the heart. Blood pressures were taken a minute apart for 3 minutes. Then the stretcher was raised vertically and pressures were monitored every 5 minutes. At the seven minute mark, I started feeling very strange and said I was going to pass out. As blackness engulfed me, I heard the staff say 'she's going out'. The next thing I remember is that I was in this wonderful meadow with brilliant light, warmth and such beautiful flowers. I had such a sense of happiness and love. I saw forms but not faces. The next thing I remember was waking up, having a hard time breathing, and feeling sick to my stomach. I later found out that between the time it took for them to lower the stretcher flat, my heart has stopped twice. Ever since then, I haven't been afraid of death.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 'February, 1995'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Happened during a test to work up light headedness. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) . I passed out and my heart stopped twice during a test.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No

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 would have to say when my heart stopped.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I would have to say when my heart stopped.

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

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did your vision differ in any way from normal? Colors seemed more colorful and everything seemed brighter.

Did your hearing differ in any way from normal? I don't recall hearing anything.

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

The experience included: Light

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 It was more of light all around.

The experience included: A landscape or city

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Loved, warm, safe, very peaceful.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

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 Methodist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I have gotten more involved with my church and celebrate peoples death more for being with Jesus and God than feeling sad.

What is your religion now? Liberal Methodist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I have gotten more involved with my church and celebrate peoples death more for being with Jesus and God than feeling sad.

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? I just remember such an overpowering sense of peace and that death isn't the end, it is just the beginning.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I shared this with my Sunday School class about 10 years after the experience. There really wasn't much comment as I recall.

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. At first I thought it was a dream. When I found out that my heart had stopped twice, then I knew that it wasn't just a dream.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. I still feel the same as above.

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 found it very moving and wonderful and joyful.