Experience description:

I was a teenager, and had been out that evening with my best friend. I was staying at her house. Every weekend we used to head out, drinking beer with our friends at a night market filled with food stalls, until our curfew, when we would head home by taxi (to either my or her house). Once there we would crash, sharing a double bed (sleeping 'top to tail') and then head out to go shopping and get pizza the next day. The night of my NDE/OBE followed the same pattern, and I don't remember any event or thing leading up to it that was any different. We were regular teenagers, doing teenage things... So, we went to sleep. Me on the right side of the bed (head at the headboard end) and her on the left (with her feet at the headboard end).

At some point I woke up with the most amazing, free feeling of weightlessness. I drifted slowly up and away from my body. I didn't have any fear, or feel bad at all. In fact, I'd say that I felt the absolute opposite, just 'wow!'. It felt really good to be so light and free. 'I' (because it was definitely 'me' - minus my physical body) was light, and absolutely free of all concerns and emotions. Honestly the closest I can describe it as is how it must feel to be zero gravity. Like I was helium. I was so excited by the feeling of weightlessness, that I turned a backwards summersault in the air (much as I would have underwater in a swimming pool... which was what I did almost daily, living in the tropics, to cool down after school. I was always diving in, and holding my breath, doing hand stands on the bottom of the pool). And so i guess, being a kid, I did the exact same thing, and it certainly felt as pleasurable and fun.

If I had to describe my mood as I rose up from that summersault, I'd say happy, excited and UNBELIEVABLY FREE. However, after the summersault I drifted further up and away from my body, which I could now see below me, lying on the bed. (Me on the right, my friend on the left. Though I wasn't overly aware of the details, I just knew that was me 'down there').

And then I became afraid, because I knew if I drifted much further away, I'd go too far.

That was all I thought - I couldn't go too far, or I'd never get back.

All of this seemed to happen at the same time - but in that moment of realization, I shouted 'NO!' (and I heard myself shouting it, really loud) - and in that instant, SUDDENLY, I was back in my body. Just like that I 'woke up' or, came back into my body, shouting 'NO!' into the mattress - which I was face down on. (Asleep on my stomach).

As I lifted my face from the mattress, I had the notion that I'd been suffocating in my sleep, and that's what had caused it. I have no way of verifying if it was oxygen deprivation, if I was dying, or if it was 'just a dream', except it was more real that anything I'd ever experienced before and I could (and still can) recall all the sensations vividly.

It felt very real. Realer than real life, which I now know other NDErs have experienced as well.

When I told my best friend about it, she said it was just a dream, and I guess I never really persued it any further, not telling anyone, but never forgetting. It wasn't until last year, 2020, that something made me begin watching NDEs on YouTube and the accounts I heard made me realise that was what it was. (Even though I didn't see light or a tunnel or meet any beings, the sensation I felt is just too similar to other accounts to be a mere dream.)

Because I wasn't in an accident or on the operating table, I tend to call it an OBE rather than a NDE - but I feel strongly that I was suffocating in my sleep, and that is what prompted the experience. So maybe I was dying?

I've never had anything like it since, and I had no residual side effects, other than a lifelong interest in spirituality and religion - but I do have a strong sense that there have been several times in my life where I could have died (an overturned white-water raft in New Zealand, a bus in Nepal, and a couple of near-misses involving cars) where I have felt like I had 'help' in surviving. (Like it wasn't my time. Much like it wasn't my time during my NDE/OBE - which was why I shouted NO! and woke up.)

I may be thinking too much about this part - but I have come to believe that something outside of myself, made me shout 'NO!' that night and put me back into my body. I say 'put', because I wasn't pushed and I had no sensation of 'help' from a being - I just was back! But it is a knowoing that it wasn't just 'me' that decided to return. It was something bigger than me that stepped in, and made it so! I guess because it all happened in the same instant. Knowing I was getting too far away and wouldn't be able to get back and actually being back - it just happened in a nano second - far quicker than I could have thought about it, decided what to do about it, and taken action.

(I'm a procastinator, it takes me ages to make decisions!) But this was instant! I was back, just like that!

Could it have been just a survival mechanism kicking in? Maybe... But if it was, if that's 'all it was', then it was still lovely.

The light sensation of being body-less, free, and not having a single concern in the world about ANYTHING, just for a brief movement that night, has freed me from the fear of death. And that is what I would emphasize to anyone reading this. There's absolutely nothing to fear - we literally take no negative feelings, emotions, pain, sense of anguish or fear, with us.

It's all attached to the body and seemingly, quickly forgotten!

We go with an incredible lightness (and for me, a sense of freedom, and a feeling of curiosity and excitement) slipping into it without any pain or fear to a reality so close we will (when it's out time) pass into it as easily as stepping from shadow into sunlight. Or like waking up from sleep. Or like helium...

So, make the most of your time here in the heavy physical world (as we walk around as thought wearing lead boots) with out heavy feelings - tasting, touching, and enjoying the physicality of the world and your body - knowing that it is temporary. And there is something amazing waiting for you. Don't be afraid. We are all going to be incredibly liberated!

Anyway, that's what happened to me when I was a teenager, and what I remember of that night.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Uncertain  On the face of it, no. I was a normal, healthy teenager, with no medical issues. However, when I 'woke up' I was face down on my bed, so I think I may have been suffocating.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      As I floated away from my body. I felt an incredible freedom and lightness, and I was very aware that it (I) felt amazing!

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   It was, or maybe I felt, more real... (more alive?) more aware of myself, that in normal everyday consiousness.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I don't remember 'seeing' more vividly, but I certainly FELT more vividly. For me, it was more feeling than seeing. Feeling myself lighter. Feeling myself floating away. Then feeling myself coming back into my body.

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 rememeber any thing regarding hearing.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   Uncertain   I just saw myself and my friend, lying on the bed. I'm pretty sure that there was no other sensation or awareness of earthly events, and around me was only a dimness or darkness, that I wasn't really aware of.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   AMAZING lightness, freedom, happiness, excitement, curiosity. That was it. Nothing else. Just amazing.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   No  

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
There was no time. And then when I returned to my body, the thought and the action all happened at once.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes
It was invisible, but a sense of knowing that if I drifted too far (or went too far away) from my body, I wouldn't be able to get back to it.

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
I heard a loud 'NO' that was so loud and so instant, I was back in my body the moment I shouted it (and heard it). I wasn't given a decision, or a choice - it was just a definite 'line' that I wasn't to cross. (If that makes sense.) I kind of shouted it, heard it, and responded with the action all at the same time. And I was back in my body, instantly.

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I was a teenager, and so didn't have beliefs or worldly knowledge at that time. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before, nor had I heard accounts or other's experiences back then in which it frame it as an NDE.

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 th  

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   It's difficult to say exactly what changes I have experienced, as I was a teenager, living abroad at the time, and there were many influences in my life at the time that were profound. I am the first to admit that my life and outlook is different to the vast majority, I live in Thailand and meditate daily. I notice synchronicities and am grateful for everything, but that could have been growing up in Singapore and attending an International school. I went through depression in my early 20's and survived it (and thrived) by backpacking through India on my own at 22... So I don't know how much of that is due to what. (If that makes sense.) I'm sure it's had SOME impact on me, I'm just not sure I can quantify how much.

My experience directly resulted in:   Unknown

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Uncertain   - no details -

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain   -- no details -

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     - no details -

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I told my best friend the next day, and she dismissed it as a dream. I've not really shared it with any one else.

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   - no details -

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   - no details -

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Uncertain   Uncertain

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   - no details -   No

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   Yes

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   - no details -   I'm interested in all experiences and personal accounts, both present and historical. I call my recent study of NDEs my 'religion'. So, I'm interested in that aspect. Did Christ have an NDE? What about other religions? Do they have accounts in other cultures? Are accounts of resurrection, in the bible, relaying NDEs? Were ancient cultures having them?