The phrase “near-death experience” is often used lightly in conversation. You’ll hear people use it in reference to any situation where death, or even just potential injury, seems probable. “That car almost hit me! Did I have a near-death experience or what?”
People use the phrase “near-death experience” In that colloquial sense all the time. But a proper near-death experience is something else entirely. It’s significantly deeper. And if you find yourself asking “did I have a near-death experience” after such a phenomenon, there are likely bigger questions you’re seeking out answers to. So let’s separate the colloquial “near-death experience” from the scientific in today’s IANDS Q&A.
The colloquialism of ‘Did I have a near-death experience?’
Let’s briefly talk about the phrase “near-death experience” in its less scientific, more vernacular usage.
When people mention “near-death experiences”, they don’t necessarily mean them in a literal sense. It’s a phrase often used to describe nearly any scary situation, and sometimes it’s used a bit more tongue-in-cheek, too. “I saw a spider on the wall! I had a near-death experience!”
Scary or high-risk situations that lead to the usage of this phrase shouldn’t be confused with an actual, medically-verifiable near-death experience, or NDE. NDEs have specific characteristics that don’t imply a fearful experience, but a more literal close encounter with death that’s followed by a separate extraordinary experience.
What does a real near-death experience consist of?
So what is a real near-death experience? And how do you know if you’ve had one? Let’s answer a few important questions and see how your own experience aligns with them.
Related: IANDS Q&A: What is a near-death experience like?
Were you actually close to death, or did you experience clinical death?
While some harrowing, life-threatening experiences such as combat have been known to lead to near-death experiences, most NDEs occur as a result of the body enduring illness or injury that brings a person very close to clinical or bodily death. Severe trauma, surgery, cardiac arrest, or other physical duress can lead to an NDE.
While something like a near-miss situation, a minor car accident, or being stuck in an elevator might be scary or even traumatizing for some, they’re not typically severe enough to cause an actual near-death experience.
Did you experience any of the NDE characteristics established by scientific research?
Near-death experiences involve more than a person’s proximity to death. In an NDE, a person also experiences things some might consider supernatural. An out-of-body experience, seeing a void or a tunnel of light, and encounters with deceased loved ones or other beings are all common characteristics of an NDE.
How ‘real’ was your experience? And how vividly do you remember it?
Near-death experiences are often described as being hyper-realistic—they feel “more real than real”. And the memories of an NDE aren’t fading or fleeting, like the memories of most dreams. They’re incredibly vivid, and experiencers often report remembering them in detail years and even decades later.
Near-death experiences aren’t similar to dreams or hallucinations. For those who’ve had NDEs, the experience is transformative, changing their entire view of the world. Their empathy is increased. They’re less fearful of death. And they may find themselves realigning their spiritual beliefs.
Still not sure? Learn about Greyson’s Near-Death Experience Scale
In 1983, professor, psychiatrist, and IANDS cofounder Bruce Greyson developed a scale that can be used to measure a person’s near-death experience. And if you’re still not certain if your experience qualifies as an NDE, it’s worth taking a look at.
Visit our article on the Greyson’s Near-Death Experience Scale and honestly answer the questions listed there. Then, look at the scoring system at the end of that article to see where you land. This scale isn’t meant to diminish your experience. But it’s a very useful tool researchers use to understand the patterns of near-death experiences, and reflecting on your experience can itself be meaningful.
Whether you had a real NDE or not, the subject is fascinating!
You don’t need to have had a real near-death experience to find this topic fascinating. It’s one of the few areas where tangible science intersects so directly with subjects of spirituality and faith.
With your help, we can continue advancing scientific research while educating the world on near-death experiences and related phenomena. We aim to combat stigmas surrounding NDEs and normalize conversations on the topics, so people are less inclined to use “did I have a near-death experience” as a colloquialism.
So what’s the verdict? Did you really have an NDE? If so, please consider submitting your NDE story. You or an experiencer you know can submit stories and stay completely anonymous in the process. You might also consider participating in an NDE research study.
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