A near-death experience (NDE) is the conscious, semi-conscious or recollected experience of someone who is approaching or has temporarily begun the process of dying—for example, during a cardiac arrest that is followed by resuscitation. People who recall near-death experiences have described perceiving a variety of surreal phenomena, such as seeing themselves from above or passing through a tunnel of light.
What Are Near-Death Experiences?
Thanks to advanced medical care, it has become increasingly common for people on the verge of dying to be revived and returned to normal consciousness, even after their body has begun to shut down. A subset of these people recall episodes from the period of time before they awoke that are often extraordinary and personally meaningful. The descriptions may include some details that are particular to the individual (such as seeing a family member) and others that appear, in some version, in many people’s NDE reports.
A near-death experience is, simply, an experience that a person reports having had while in a physical state in which the risk of death was imminent. Commonly, the person’s heart temporarily ceased to function at some point prior to recovery, as after a heart attack. Reports of NDEs can include images, sensations, and other conscious elements that are often vivid and striking.
The nature of near-death experiences varies from case to case, but some features have appeared in multiple reports. Feelings of peacefulness or serenity are typical in NDE accounts. They may also include vivid imagery, such as bright light, movement through a tunnel, or visions of events from one’s past (also called a “life review”). Some NDEs include “ out-of-body experiences ,” in which one feels removed from one’s physical body. And some reports describe encounters with other beings, such as loved ones or anonymous entities perceived as angels.
For some, the different elements of a near-death experience may unfold in sequence—for example, passage into darkness, followed by a sense of leaving one’s body and seeing it from outside, and then an apparent encounter with a mysterious being, ultimately ending with a return to regular consciousness.
Explore More About Near-Death Experiences
For a comprehensive understanding of near-death experiences, read our complete guide: