I really don't sleep through the night because of incontinence, and got up to go to the bathroom around 2 A.M.  As I got out of bed, and started walking to the bathroom, I noticed something in my bed.  I stopped and looked, and my body was still lying asleep in bed, next to my wife.   

I was awake, and knew I wasn't asleep, but I could still see my body lying in bed.  I stood frozen next to myself, not knowing what to do.  I called for my wife, and she responded, telling me to leave her alone she was sleeping.  I asked her to shake me to rouse me and wake me up.  She said, obviously you're awake if we're talking. 

I stood there looking at myself, knowing I wasn't dreaming, and the fact that I had just gotten a response from my wife reassured me that I was awake.   

I have sleep apnea, and often mess with my mask while asleep according to my wife.  While I stood there, I watched myself adjust my mask and turn over to reposition myself.  I could hear my teeth grinding, and watched myself put my arm over my wife's side to hold her.   

This whole scene was very real, and I know I wasn't sleeping.  I wasn't worried or scared at the time, I was actually very comfortable with what was going on.  I stood there and watched myself sleep for some time, then finally decided to touch myself to see if I would wake up.  When I reached to put my hand on my shoulder, I woke up before I actually touched myself.  When the sleeping me woke up, I was startled. 

My wife felt me move, and already stirring because I had called for her, she said would you just go to sleep and leave me alone.  At that point, I realized I was within my body, and no longer watching.  The next morning, my wife expressed frustration that I had called to her and woke her up, and said that I was loud and seemed irritated myself, almost worried.   

I told her what happened and she said I was dreaming, and it just felt real.  I know this was not a dream, I was standing next to our bed, and called out her name, and she woke up and responded to me.  She remembered the conversation, however short it may have been, and remembered me jumping, startled as I entered my body again. 

This experience is very unreal to me, and I don't know how to process it.  Nothing like this has ever happened to me, and until I did a web search, I thought the only time anyone ever had an OBE is when they were dead, and were trying to get back into their body rather than following light. 

I had no light to follow, no voices, no other beings with me.  I was alone, watching myself sleep.  Is this an OBE, or was I really dreaming?  To me, it is real, I jus don't know how to process and deal with it.  Is this common?  Will it happen again since it's happened once already?  How do most people deal with this?

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No      

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     The experience is still very new to me.  This has never happened to me, and I am still questioning whether or not it actually happened.

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

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I was awake, standing next to myself in bed, while the other me, for lack of a better term, was sleeping.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No, it was not like a dream.  I was fully aware of what was going on around me, and consciously thought I was going to the bathroom.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     I was watching myself sleep, I could see everything that was happening around me.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Nervousness, confusion, unrest, maybe a little fear.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes     My wife heard me talking to her while I was out of body, and affirmed the next day that we were talking.  She said she thought I was in bed while I was getting her attention.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes     My hearing was much better.  The most faint noises in the room were louder than normal. 

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes     I tried to grab my shoulder to wake myself up, but the sleeping me woke up before I touched myself.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     Feel closer to God.  Although I am very spiritual to begin with, I feel a stronger sense of faith.  I do not fear death as much now that I am processing the situation.  I feel like this was a sign from God that our spirit does exist, almost like He was giving me more reason to believe.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       It hasn't so much yet, I am still processing and trying to figure out what really happened.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     Feel different about death, not as much fear or uncertainty.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     My wife-thought I was dreaming