Jim B's NDE

Experience description: 

I was going to nap.  I instructed my wife to wake me by 3 PM if she didn't hear me up at that time.  I laid on the bed and noted that the clock read 1:50.  My next memory was being in the corner of my bedroom watching people come and go.  It was eerily quiet.  In an instant I found myself near the ceiling in our entryway.  I was watching and listening to a gentleman standing there directing people where to go:  the wife was in the kitchen being questioned; the victim was in the bedroom. 

In another instant I was lying on the floor of the bedroom with a paramedic literally sitting on my chest:  I couldn't draw a breath to tell him to get off; I thought I was going to die from being unable to breathe.  I remember calling on all my strength to throw him off.  I was successful.  I managed to stand, and was immediately restrained by three paramedics.  I was then strapped to a gurney, and taken to a hospital.  I had evidently risen from bed, and in going out into the hallway tripped and cracked my head on the ceramic tile in the hallway. 

As a result of the fall, I suffered a broken toe when I tripped, and sub-dural and sub-arachnid hematomas to my head.  While I was in the corner of the bedroom and the ceiling in the entryway, I never saw my body being worked-on.  The paramedics reported to my wife that I was being "combative" - trying to crawl back into the bedroom.  Other than throwing off the paramedic because I couldn't breathe, I have no recollection of being "combative".

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I have no recollection of being able to understand what was happening.  I vividly remember being in the corner of the bedroom watching people come and go; then, I remember being overhead in the entryway watching and listening to a gentleman "direct traffic".  I did not observe my body.  While overhead in the entryway, I was not given a choice as to whether I wanted to stay there or return to my body.  One instant I was observing; the next instant I was lying on the bedroom floor with a paramedic sitting on my chest.  Only after the experience was I able to reflect on what had happened.  When I say afterwards, I mean almost immediately.  I shared the experience immediately and often with my family.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    Normal consciousness and alertness           

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     It was like watching High Definition TV, as compared to normal:  all people and things were vivid; there was no darkness or shadows.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?
            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt a calmness and serenity I had never experienced before.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I had no idea as to what was happening.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     As quickly as I could, I told my family.  They were supportive.  As time has gone by, my wife seems to be somewhat skeptical.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Yes     I had read and seen on TV reports of experiences such as I experienced.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    Immediately afterwards, I was mystified and in a hurry to share the experience with my loved ones.  I didn't know what to make of it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The church to which I go teaches that we are all spiritual beings.  I can understand this now, as I feel my spirit is what observed the happenings in both the bedroom and entryway.  There was a feeling of calmness and serenity I had never felt before.  Those feelings ended when my spirit rejoined my body.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I have lost a fear of dying as a result of the calmness and serenity I felt while out of my body.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     I do not let a day go by without telling my loved ones that I love them.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes            The experience solidified my belief that we are all spiritual beings in human bodies for a time.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes