When it became apparent to me that I could not just open my eyes and be back in the car again, I immediately freaked out a little bit and became frantic to go back.  I began saying "Just let me go back, just let me go back, just let me go back, please...".  After suffering for what seemed too long, I was back in the car and we were nearing our house.  When I got back, I knew that I had to somehow help to make my life experience worthwhile.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No       I was relaxed laying on the back seat of the car, stretched right out.  I was gazing out the back window at a sunny blue sky.  I began wondering what it would be like to die and to repeat that phrase to myself.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I was alert during the entire experience.  My inner dialogue never stopped for long during the experience.  When I was entered the void, my consciousness had just switched from one place to another in an instant.

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:            I was alert during the entire experience.  My inner dialogue never stopped for long during the experience.  When I was entered the void, my consciousness had just switched from one place to another in an instant.

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      I was in a pitch black void in which nothing could be seen.  The only presence in the void was myself.

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      As mentioned earlier, my thoughts were louder than usual.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Surprise, disappointment, fear, frantic desire to escape the void, relief at being back and desire to do something with my life to help out somehow.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Uncertain      It was a void without any space or definition.   Just blackness and me alone in it.

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No       No, I entered the void and experienced my reactions to it.  When I popped back into this reality, I was instantly glad to be back and knew that I had to help out or else I would feel disappointed when my life was over for real and I had to reflect on what I had done with my time on Earth.  I was just a kid but that is what the experience made me instantly aware of at the time.  I learned early that good deeds are what we can contribute for a meaningful life.

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            The black void was the blackest blackness surround me.  There was no end to it.  My thoughts rang out much too loudly.  I did not want to be there.  I wanted to be on the back seat of my mom's car as soon as possible instead.  I felt trapped while I was in the void and that I had been impossibly separated from my life.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No       My train of thoughts seemed to keep time for me.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes            Helping others and generally helping out gives meaning to our lives when it is all over.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain
            My intuition and insight seem to have been pretty strong for awhile.  Not sure if these have been enhanced by this event since I was just a kid at the time.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      Uncertain.  That is around the same age that I began seeing the old fashioned lady in the bustle dress walking around the summer cottage that we had.  Throughout the years, I have seen other spirits since that time (as an adult as well).  Come to think of it, earlier than that I had had some experiences of my consciousness moving above my body slowly in a floating sort of way a few times.  As an adult, I have been told that I have healing hands. 

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Other than my brothers and my sister, I have not shared this with anyone else.  I told my sister and then my brother years after.  The experience stayed fresh in my memory.  They found the experience interesting and hopefully they were influenced in a positive way by the experience by absorbing the simple lesson that I had learned from it.

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    At the time, I knew that what I experienced was real to me.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            Just the whole thing.  To an eleven year old or so kid, it was a pretty mind blowing experience. I learned that it is much better to have good things to look back on when your life is over than it is to have done nothing when you had the chance to do otherwise.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    It was an incredible and real experience and still is pretty wild when I think about it now.  What made it especially real for me is that I kept up the inner dialogue as I went into, was in and exited the black void.  It was an instant big huge lesson for me.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain      I was this really shy kid and remained a shy person for a long time.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Uncertain      As a kid, I didn't have any beliefs or practices at the time that I took to heart.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No                  

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes