Dr. Debra L Shared ADC

Experience Description

In 1984, I was a 4th year medical student on overnight call at the hospital.

An elderly woman on my team was medically unstable and appeared terrified. Her arms were very ecchymotic from all the venipuncture to which she had been subjected. Her eyes revealed terror. I sat down next to her on her bed and held her hands as I offered words of comfort. We sat there awhile and I went off to the call room hoping to get some sleep. While “asleep” I had an experience of being in a loving embrace with this woman as we ascended into higher space. It was very beautiful. My beeper went off with a code red and I was back in the on-call room. I had to attend the code as a member of the team. I arrived at the room number given, which was for the same woman who had been near death; only to see the full code in progress. I knew she was gone and felt happy for her that she was no longer suffering.

In the last 8 years, I have worked as a geriatric psychiatrist in community mental health. I seem to have an affinity to recognize when people are actively transitioning in death. They seem to know that I know. It’s quite love-filled experience. I don’t think of death as anything to be afraid of and offer that assurance.

Thank you for allowing me to share this experience with you.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 00/00/1984

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? 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? While entwined in the embrace as we ascended
This was not a dream nor ordinary consciousness.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience It felt more like a dream but this was unlike any dream I have had. It was love-filled. My heart was beyond expanded.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Unaware of hearing but I did hear the beeper

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? Yes
See SDE

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
We were in space

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Loving compassion and peace

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Jewish
I had spent 3 years in a Yoga Ashram in India prior to college

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths
Christian mysticism, new age

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I have always been disturbed by the medicalization of death.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I chose to go into psychiatry due to my interest in mind and spirit

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes
I did not have my ordinary personality during experience. No agenda, only love

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes
To love

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Uncertain
The beeper brought me back. I don't know what would have happened if I kept going with her. It felt more like I was escorting her home out of the body.

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? Yes
Stay with love and stop fearing death. We are so loved.

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? Yes
I was love

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life
This experience was a sign to me that I am intuitive and have some gifts and capacities that I have cultivated while being firmly engaged in this world.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes
I trust that I can connect with people who are transitioning if they want the support.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
It has stayed with me all these years. I never told anyone until this last year.

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 had been telepathic prior to this, and this experience taught me to trust these gifts.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
45 years

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
Not shared death experience, but I was familiar with NDE and reincarnation

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I knew it was real and confirmed my intuition. I had worked as a nurse's aide and had a woman pass away by telling her it was perfectly safe to let go.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
This feels repetitive

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes
A friend died recently, I visited her remotely and spent some time with her. She was in renal failure and off dialysis. She was fine and didn't need any help.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
This was exhaustive and I shared what I know.