To ask if you've ever had a near death experience and what went through your mind?

I had similar when being strangled by my ex, I tried to push him off for a few moments, then I lost all strength and gave up. I felt very calm and peaceful, I remember thinking 'I'm going to die but that's ok'. I assume my body released something that calmed me down, so I wasn't scared. I'm sorry you've been through something similar xxx

What a touching and fascinating thread.

i had an anaphylactic shock from the contrast dye used for a kidney scan. I felt as I was on my back, whooshing backwards and feeding absolutely panicked that I couldn’t tell anyone that i was dyIng and they needed to do something quickly. Luckily they were obviously doing something quickly as I’m still here to tell the tale but the only memories are I have are of the whooshing backwards and the terror of being unable to tell anyone I was dying.

I was in hospital and the surgery had gone badly due to complications with the tumour they were trying to remove. I just remember hearing, “come on sweetheart, please just breathe for me, come on just breathe my darling” I knew I wasn’t breathing but felt so calm and thought oh dear I think this is me then, I’m done. I never felt any fear. Anyway they continued and they got me back, so grateful for them trying so hard. Was a very long recovery, I’ve never forgotten that feeling. I never found out who that nurse was unfortunately.

Road accident. Complete sense of calm and saw everything around me with a sense of serene detachment. No pain or fear. Time operated differently and I felt outside of everything.

I ended up suddenly seriously ill, and I knew it was life-threatening. I didn’t have the peaceful time others are describing, but neither was I panicked. I’m a coper and a very practical person, highly organised, and the thoughts that went through my head were about who would tell my parents, and how devastated they would be (they were hugely dependent on me) and also who would sort out my belongings, money, general affairs etc. it was all the practical arrangements that I was thinking about.

The song was another Boney M song
“brown girl in the ring”

everytime I think of that documentary I think of that song

Not on the same level as near death but the first time I gave blood. I was 17.
I fainted and as I did I saw my life flash in front of my eyes.
It was ike a flick book of memories .
I loved seeing them .
I have low blood pressure !

I had two teeth out at the dentists when I was about seven. They used gas in those days and, because I was so frightened, I was breathing very deeply and my airway collapsed whilst I was under. I found myself in a dark tunnel. I wasn't frightened, but the tunnel was full of cartoon characters which I found a bit odd. Anyway, I was brought round and awoke to find the dentist and assistant in a bit of a panic and he was withdrawing an airway from my throat.

They eventually had to stop using gas as children were dying whilst under.

Three times. Very different circumstances.

Everything just seemed to stop. I was vaguely aware one of the times that someone seemed to be pounding my chest (compressions), but I felt nothing (no pain, nor pressure).

It was quite peaceful and I didn't feel scared.

This is a lovely thread. I'm terrified of dying and leaving my children but reading about the feeling of calm coming over you has actually made me feel a bit better.

@SerenityNowInsanityLater

I have actually clinically died [...]

What a great post! Fascinating and reassuring! Thanks for taking the time to describe it

Twice. The first was in a car accident. It happened so fast, in a split second, so there wasn’t much time to think anything. One moment my path was clear, the next there was a blur of black in front of the windscreen and then wham. I think my only thought was, Oh shit.

The second was more profound. I’d collapsed and was unresponsive but somehow I was aware of what was going on around me. I alternated between panic and disbelief, thinking I didn’t want to die like this, and calm. I willed myself to open my eyes and fight but I couldn’t. At one point I remember looking up at the stars, even though I couldn’t open my eyes, and thinking how easy it would be to drift into them. The last thing I remember is someone shouting that I wasn’t breathing and a paramedic saying to get the defib. Next thing I knew I was in an ambulance, then it’s all a blank until I woke up in hospital.

Edit: there was another time, although it hadn’t quite progressed to the ‘I’m going to die’ phase. I live alone and started choking. I wondered what the hell I was going to do but whatever I did I had to do it fast. I stuck my fingers down my throat and physically yanked it out, which was not pleasant. I witnessed my mum choking when I was a child, my dad did the Heimlich manoeuvre. It was all really distressing.

Thank you for this fascinating thread.

I choked on a piece of steak. It wasn't peaceful and calm at all, tbh. Luckily the manager of the restaurant knew the Heimlich manoeuvre (or abdominal thrusts as it's now called).

Let’s Talk Near Death.

I am terrified of choking alone and often only eat soup if I am by myself. I shouldn’t have opened this thread!

About 15+ years ago I also had a horrific choking incident on a piece of lamb chop that we were having for dinner that day. Very thankfully a family member managed to dislodge it from my throat somehow, but I haven't eaten lamb since because it scared me so much and completely put me off it!

Car crash. Everything slowed down and I just thought this is it. I still wake up in cold sweats some nights. It happened 15 years ago

@SerSerenityNowInsanityLater Your post, worded so beautifully, has actually brought tears to my eyes (in a good way 🙂).

Nearly drowned and my life flashed before me, followed by what I wasn't going to get to do before I was rescued

@PPlanBea I was about to type an almost identical post!

I did not expect to find comfort in this thread but I did. I lost my dad and my best friend within 8 months of each other a couple of years ago and the thought that their last moments were as many of you describe has really helped me.

@

This was on TV really recently, a couple of weeks ago, that scene stuck with me too!

Almost drowned.Panicked then remember feeling calm once I realised I was likely going to die.I thought 'So this is how I'm going to die'.I was sort of curious Then someone yanked me out by my arm and dislocated my shoulder which snapped me out of that.

Not me but my dad almost died from sepsis.
He said he was vaguely aware of lots of commotion in the hospital all around him and he could feel all his organs starting to fail and was sure he was going to die. He felt amazingly calm and happy and as if absolutely everything was ok. He could see a beautiful bright light and felt drawn towards it. He said he had never felt so calm, peaceful and happy in his life. It was a complete feeling of peace and as if everything was happening exactly as it should be.

These stories are fascinating and I’m so glad you are all here to share your experiences with us. Thank you.
What is the name of the podcast that you have been listening to @Cozytoesandtoast00?

This is incredible, thank you so much for sharing. Anita Moorjani describes something very similar- so comforting to those of us who have lost someone special.