#20- FACT OR FICTION

In Psychology, we had the opportunity to debate whether near-death experiences are real or just a figment of the imagination! Very interesting stuff!

By definition, a near-death experience is “an altered state of consciousness” and is often accompanied by “out-of-body experiences, light-at-the-end-of-a-tunnel perceptions, and a state of calmness.” Among the millions who have claimed to have had such experiences, most are people that are recovering after experiencing “cardiac arrest or some other life-threatening condition” (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2015). There are many people who think near-death experiences are simply errors of brain function. Others believe that near-death experiences are illusions; many believe that they are just figments of the imagination. The debate is interesting because frankly, it is nearly impossible to test and prove. It is hard to determine if somebody is telling the truth, or if they were simply duped due to an extreme experience and a lapse in their brain function. Near-death experiences are rare, but truly do occur in certain situations. They are unique experiences that can occur in extreme or tense medical circumstances, and allow people to experience peace and calmness in those crucial moments.

These rare experiences can and do occur in some medical situations; while giving birth to my little sister Lindsey, my mom had what is known as a near-death experience. She had only been in the hospital for about half an hour, but everything was moving very fast, and as often is the case with childbirths, the situation was intense. In this case, everything was moving too fast; many doctors and nurses were frantically working to make sure that everything went smoothly. My mom, who is a self-proclaimed worrywart, was having a hard time. Naturally, she was worried about her own well-being, but even more worried about the health of her baby. My mom says that in a certain moment, she all of a sudden felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. She did experience the state of calmness, and says that it was a good feeling; she did not feel panicky or scared. She also explains that she briefly had the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel perception, and she felt that she was simply observing the situation. In that moment, she was in the middle of several doctors and nurses, and was in the long process of giving birth to her fourth child. However, for several seconds, she felt that she was not the one living it; she felt as though she was only observing all the happenings from a bird’s-eye view. Before long, she returned to her normal state of consciousness, and became perfectly aware of the situation that she was in. Once she returned to her normal state of consciousness, she felt completely unaffected by the unique experience that she had. Now, eighteen years later, she remembers it vividly, and still talks about the unique feeling of calmness that she felt. For her, it serves as a spiritual experience, and something that she learned from (J. Welch, personal communication, October 30, 2015).

As a member of the Church, I believe that the veil separating us and those who have passed away is thin. In many cases, people who have had near-death experiences claim to have seen deceased friends and relatives, as well as feelings of comfort and tranquility. Looking at these experiences with a spiritual perspective, it is very reasonable to say that these reports are accurate: family members and friends who have passed on can offer comfort and strength to their loved ones who are in the midst of a medical emergency. Though it is something that science can’t prove, I believe that family members who have passed away can and do have a part in these near-death experiences that benefit their descendants in need.

Looking at it through the scientific scope, there is still some evidence that indicates that these experiences are real. With modern-day medical technology, there are many procedures that help people to survive cardiac arrest and practically bring people back to life. There are many similarities among the recorded cases of near-death experiences, suggesting that these reviving medical procedures cause consistent responses in the brain (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2015). Knowing that these brain responses are basically uniform, it is reasonable to believe that these reported experiences are accurate. In fact, animals show an increase in consciousness during cardiac arrest. Many people believe that near-death experiences are only figments of the imagination. This research suggests otherwise; it’s possible that people actually have higher levels of consciousness during these intense and extreme moments (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2015).

As I previously stated, it is very hard to prove that near-death experiences are or are not real. However, scientific evidence suggests that these wild experiences reported by millions of people are real. Additionally, my testimony indicates to me that these experiences are real and occur in response to people in extreme need.