Experience description:

One early evening in 1972 while I was driving on a freeway in Atlanta, suddenly I found myself ( or my consciousness and sight) floating near the ceiling in the back seat.  I could see the back of my body that was STILL driving the car but I couldn't see the front of myself in the front seat.  I was alone and was headed for a club meeting in town.  I was terrified seeing that I was no longer at the wheel ( or at least not all of me was at the wheel). Then in a flash I was back in my body and was relieved to see my  freeway exit come into view.  When I got to my club driveway, some of my friends came rushing over to me and wondered why I looked so pale.  When I told of my experience, no one could make head or tail of it. This was the early 70's and paranormal experiences such as OBE and NDE weren't common knowledge or at least weren't reported to the masses.  As a result, I never regained complete confidence in driving on a freeway unless I was feeling completely together and assured.  I have had other paranormal experiences connected with travel in that it seemed I had been rescued from life threatening experiences. At the time of the OBE, I was not drinking (I don't drink), and was not on any type of medication or drugs.  However, I was under a lot of stress due to marital difficulties.  I have found in my life that when I am under a lot of stress,  paranormal  or spiritual experiences are more likely to occur.

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       .

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    During the whole time

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    Normal consciousness and alertness              During the whole time

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.)?  No      

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.)?            No      

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Fear and confusion

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

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      

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           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     Couldn't tell just how long I was separated from my body while my body was driving and my consciousness and sight was floating in the back seat.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

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

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes    

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    I had to search for answers in researching metaphysical principles and paranormal experiences.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?   

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real   

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

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