Thomas B NDE

Experience Description

G and I were very drunk when we decided to walk to an area of Hartford where drugs were available. We bought heroin and a syringe. After injection, I fell head first down two flights of stairs. G, drunk as he was, put me in a bed and went about his business for an indeterminate time. He contends that when he came back later I wasn't breathing. He slapped me and dragged me upright at which time I regained consciousness.

While unconscious, I viewed from above, as if near the ceiling, my seemingly dead body. My thought was that my parents would be devastated by my death and would have the embarrassment of having their neighbors and associates read about me in the Hartford Courant - 'Young man with no signs of previous I.V. drug use found dead in Hartford apartment.' I remember feeling very sorry for them, but had no thoughts about myself. I then regained consciousness.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 1969

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Drug overdose Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function)

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 clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness The entire time.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? The entire time.

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

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I don't remember any sounds.

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? Empathy.

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 none

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Liberal none

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? Yes I once heard a voice that saved my life: 'BACK OFF!' I stopped tailgating a wide-load semi with a fifty to sixty feet sport fishing boat chained to its trailer. Within two to three minutes, there was a loud bang and the boat flew up off the trailer and landed where my car would have been. And no, that's not what was on the mud flaps.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I've shared it with widely varied responses.

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 I was mystified.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I revel in life's many mysteries.

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