Stephen B's Fear Death Experience

I experienced a life review moments before a car that I was driving smashed into a telephone pole. By luck the driver's side door flipped open and I was thrown out of the car. It seemed at the time that my mind was preparing itself for death. In an instant I saw major milestones in my life from being a baby until the present. I do not remember if I saw a white light at the end of the life review but I remember thinking that I was not prepared to die...too young.   

From that time on I have always been very aware of how one's life on earth can quickly be gone. I feel that I have since that day been living on 'borrowed time' and have strove to enjoy each and every day.

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?  During the life review.

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

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:        It was more focused and intense, almost stopped in time.

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.)?          Uncertain     My mind took over and forced the images in my life review. During that instant I was not using my vision per se.

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.)?
          Uncertain     I don't recall hearing anything during the life review.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          neutral at first, as an observer, then at the end when I felt that my mind was preparing for death, I was perhaps remorseful that my life would end so soon.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?        Uncertain     I believe that I saw a white light at the end of the life review, just before I was thrown from the car. It was not important at the time.

Did you see a light?         Uncertain     I believe that I saw a white light at the end of the life review, just before I was thrown from the car. It was not important at the time.

Did you meet or see any other beings?         No     

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?   Yes    I saw images that summarized my life to date, baby, young boy, older boy, etc. Maybe saw immediate family, it's been a long time since the incident. 

From that time on I have always been very aware of how one's life on earth can quickly be gone. I feel that I have since that day been living on 'borrowed time' and have strove to enjoy each and every day.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?         No     

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?          No     

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Yes    Yes, time seemed to stop during the life review. The life review was instantaneous and rapid.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes    I felt that death was a reality. I was not and am not afraid of death, however, at that point in  time, I was not prepared for death. Death did not seem scary.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain     I believe that if I had not been thrown from the car, then my soul would have gone to the spirit world and been joined with others.

Did you become aware of future events?      No         

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?       Uncertain     I have a greater appreciation of life and understand the futility of seeking peace, happiness, and fulfillment in material objects.

Have you shared this experience with others?        Yes    I shared the experience immediately with the person riding in the car with me---moments after the accident, then with my girlfriend later that night and with my mother even later in the evening. It was an eerie/supernatural, or least uncommon experience.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No     

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   It happened.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you? Yes, the fact that I didn't die--very meaningful:) 

I believe that a life review is perhaps a common experience that people have when they are about to die. Knowing that this is perhaps the manner in which we leave the physical body may make it less scary, at least in my mind, there is nothing to be fearful of.