Frank C NDE

Experience Description

I attempted suicide by intentionally overdosing on drugs to induce cardiac arrest while aboard a naval vessel in April 2021. I was alone in the compartment where it occurred. Neither I nor the sailor who ultimately resuscitated me knows how long I was clinically dead.

While I was dead, I experienced what seemed to be another life. During the experience, I knew this life completely, yet I was not fully aware that I was living it in an afterlife. I was a wolf in a place that felt deeply familiar, even though I had never been there before. It was a wooded area along a river. I had a partner and two children, and throughout the experience I was filled with an overwhelming sense of unconditional love to a degree that words cannot express. I have never experienced anything like it before or since.

One evening, my partner communicated to me without words that I had to return. Instantly, I was jolted back to life. I became aware of an AED attached to my chest and learned that I had been resuscitated by the sailor who found me lying on the floor.

I remember my time there with remarkable clarity. Those are the happiest memories of my life. Since then, I have lived with a profound sense of emotional loss and a deep longing to return.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 04/15/2021

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
Attempted suicide that led to cardiac arrest onboard a ship. I was found shortly after heart failure by another sailor and resuscitated via AED defibrillator.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? 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? In terms of waking consciousness, before and after the experience, not during it.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? Less 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? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Typical.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Typical.

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? No

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
It felt familiar, but was nowhere I had been before. A section of woods along a river.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Primarily unconditional love, to the extent that words cannot express.

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 understand everything? Everything about the universe
I was aware of where I was and what had happened, but not cognizant of it. It was as if the fact that I was deceased and moved on was not important, and therefore not something I dwelled on while I was there. For instance, it was like what I had for lunch a few days ago, something you know but don't bother to remember.

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? Unaffiliated - Nothing in particular - Religious unaffiliated
I have a general sense of spirituality both before and after the experience, but I do not subscribe to any religious denomination.

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated - Nothing in particular - Religious unaffiliated
I have a general sense of spirituality both before and after the experience, but I do not subscribe to any religious denomination.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I did not have any prior convictions related to the experience, so I would defer the question.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain
I was and still am generally indifferent. I certainly have a greater spiritual belief.

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? Uncertain
I was aware that I had lived before the afterlife experience, but I had moved on and forgotten about it.

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes
There was that general sense while I had my experience, but that was not something revealed to me.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain
I did not encounter a divine being, though there was some sense that one did exist and had placed me there without any interaction between us.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes
I am confident I experienced the afterlife, for however long that was. I think the knowledge of that experience is in and of itself special.

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
Yes, as I had clearly experienced life after death until I was resuscitated.

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

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 experienced a profound sense of unconditional love throughout the duration of the experience.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life
For a few years after, I naively thought I could recreate that degree of unconditional love here in this earthly life. I have since learned otherwise, and while I am of sound mind and body, and do not desire to make another attempt on my life, I am anxious to return to the afterlife when that time comes.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
The deep and profound sense of unconditional love I felt cannot be expressed in words. Additionally, given the nature of what I experienced, it's difficult to express that I don't have an affinity for animals; I cannot account for why I experienced being one.

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 as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
I remember it vividly. I have made a conscious effort to hold on to those memories, and for that reason, just as anyone would make an effort to remember other specific events in their life, I remember it quite well.

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? The entire experience; the family I had there is greatly missed.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
Once, four and a half years after, the individual was older, well traveled, and received it well, sharing that they had heard similar accounts of unconditional love from others who had experienced an NDE. I am unsure if they were influenced by my experience.

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 have always been certain, both during, immediately after, and every moment since that what I experienced was definitely real.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I have always been certain, both during, immediately after, and every moment since that what I experienced was definitely real.

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

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
Yes, I have no further details to add.