This entire time, I could still see that my physical body and arm were asleep and beside him. I could also sense his body - not his soul -differently, as if I had thousands of sensors reacting at once to touch, but never warm...in this state, I am cold. I then immediately traveled (in the same conscious but electric state) - which was NOT sleep - to a future. A very overpopulated future, where millions of people live inside buildings with hundreds of floors. The people were in small dirty cafes, dressed brightly and spoke loudly (and with poor grammar) to gain attention of passer-bys. They were in desperate need of attention due to the over population issue, so it was common for everyone to 'express' themselves loudly as if on TV - even in private conversations. I then returned back, and tried to return to my body. I had to struggle very hard to wake up, really pushing from somewhere within. Once I did, I stayed awake and panicked for quite some time. Then returned to normal sleep. The experience has left me convinced that I'm physically not OK, that my experience borders on death...I was alarmed at my emotional disconnection from my family in this state.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Yes            Percocet/mild narcotic pain reliever

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain      I was aware that I had difficulty breathing. That my breath was too shallow, but I couldn't reconnect with my body.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I felt very alert and conscious, but also very constrained within this alternate consciousness and very panicked about my physical well-being. It's terrifying to be trapped with such unwieldy energy - it feels incredibly vulnerable, that I can be hurt or drawn to places by other people or forces.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No. It feels like inhabiting another form, involuntarily. It is not pleasant, and heightens the feeling of dependence on our physical body for conscious fulfillment. Though it did feel like a natural state, I was disconcerted by the idea that I could leave entirely - and that our relationships in this world and consciousness are arbitrary.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     I was a mass of energy, electric and variable. I had some type of mass, as I can always move fluidly, though not necessarily quickly. I now know that I can move the electric mass beyond my body.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Terror. Abject terror that something is wrong with my physical body, suffocation, stroke, etc. and that I shouldn't be conscious in this way. I'm also aware that it's unwieldy - that other beings in this state, who are stronger, can draw me to them because I'm vulnerable, still tied to my physical body. I also felt an overwhelming sense of self and reason, that I was worried about my husband and child finding me dead in the morning all because I chose to wander.  And that ultimately, there is no time - everything occurs simultaneously.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           Just my own frequency, humming, resonating and tuning in to so many conversations and temporal locations. It's as if my alternate conscious has a tuner with stations that I have no choice in deciding. If I decide to listen to something I find of interest, I'm immediately present - not in a dream - but physically present, though still in a state of electric consciousness. And my reception to emotions, details, conversations and the environment is much more heightened than in a normal physical state of being. When i traveled down my husband's back, I could feel every skin cell, every hair and muscle - even the layers of skin before his muscle. I intentionally moved them to see if he would respond, and he did, which surprised me.

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?            Yes     Just a future overpopulated world.

Did you see a light?           Yes     I saw a circle with thousands of points of light, drawing me strongly through the middle.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No       I watched them as a passive being, but did not interact. It would not have been possible.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? Yes    

See above - I moved my husband's body to see if he would react.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Uncertain      My husband never conceded to feeling my touch or movement in the middle of the night.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes     My cognitive abilities were heightened, as was my sense of self. I felt like I was made of millions of sensors that reacted simultaneously, all connected through the electric vibration, and at times the feeling overpowered my reason.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     It felt as though my effort to leave my body took a massive amount of coordination, patience and time. I had to reassure myself often, while looking at my sleeping body, that my brain was capable of taking care of my breathing during sleep, while I traveled. The feeling of being on the edge of death never left me, nor has it the following day.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No       Not really. Though I've never had any doubt of my own soul's existence or that of others. The overpopulated future looked pretty dire...

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No       No boundary, apart from my own energy. I did not feel totally in control - in fact I felt vulnerable to attack.

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes     I became aware of a far distant future. That people live by the millions in cities comprised of massive buildings beyond our imagination. That going outside is not a possibility, and that the buildings are packed and dirty. There are luxuries and people, for the most part, are the same...but competing constantly for attention from one another.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes     I'm not sure how I returned from the future, but I did decide that it was time to return to my body. I had to push very hard to come back, struggling against paralysis and shallow breathing. When I returned, my body had never left it's position, my hand anchored to my husband's back. I did have to take deep breaths, and my heart was racing.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain      Not sure. I don't feel the same anymore.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No       Well, except for concern about imminent death.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       People think I'm crazy, which is OK.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Uncertain      I don't know yet. Possibly.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     They were concerned about my anxiety, and that I had recent surgery. I had vivid experiences after anesthesia that connected me to a different world, though again I was simply passing by. My friends and family are worried that I'm too connected to it still, and want me to return to my body - through exercise, going to Temple, etc.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Fear. I know that I have a soul, but I am not ready to leave yet. Traveling, while interesting, is not healthy for our bodies and minds - we have work to do here, in the natural world.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was the realization that I can actually control my spirit and consciousness in a new form. It was also interesting that my rational mind seemed dominant, while my emotions were dormant. I didn't 'feel' so much as move and react, observe and conclude. I did feel overpowered by sensation, which was the basis for my worry that I was doing damage to my physical body.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I believe that ALL animate beings probably have the ability to travel into this conscious state, but that it's only enacted during the process of death. If I were better trained, if these abilities were more evolved and developed in my brain, they could lead to practical applications and perhaps contribute to our world. But I'm not sure about the impact this might have on our evolution...we are limited by our physical senses because of our lives here. We are meant to build something of value in this world, even if our primary consciousness is based in a different one. We exist here, temporarily, because our bodies can hold our soul for only a short time...but it is a gift, nonetheless.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes     I've noticed that this experience began out of fear, seeing someone in my house or invading my consciousness. I've now come to recognize that I was building my ability each time I entered the new state of consciousness. With last night's actual out of body experience, I see the possibility of slipping away permanently as a real danger. I use prescription pain killers only occasionally, after a recent neck surgery. I plan to stop these immediately. It is not my time to leave...though, I admittedly had this happen before - always during sleep, and after rigorous exercise.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes    

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    Thank you for allowing me to share this experience. I'm not sure if this website is grounded in actual science, but it's comforting to learn that so many people have had an OBE. Even more so if they were scared or anxious about it afterwards. The 'real' experience is one that is not pleasant. It is your energy, in entirety, leaving this existence...to be aware of this, and the devastation it could have on loved ones, should not be pleasantly thought of...