Michelle H's Experience
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Experience description:

I was around 5 years old when we were sitting around the table having dinner, when all of a sudden, I had trouble swallowing.  I remember that I really needed to swallow but I couldn't.  My mum and dad moved me over to the kitchen bench where they grabbed a teaspoon to help remove the food.  I don't recall if I had difficulty breathing.  All I knew was that I was feeling VERY uncomfortable and just couldn't swallow.  I didn't know why I couldn't.  I remember the spoon down my throat and I thought it was from that reason why I couldn't swallow. 

Then the next thing I remember was, feeling no discomfort but watching the commotion of my parents.  I was standing behind them and I was at ground level.  I know I was trying to see what all the commotion was about but I couldn't see anything. It's like I was right behind them now, watching a scene.  The whole experience was so brief.  It probably only lasted for about 10 seconds when suddenly I was back and felt the discomfort of the teaspoon down my throat and then moments later, I could swallow again, though my throat felt quite sore afterwards.

 At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Yes  I was choking on food and I remember I couldn't swallow and I had a bit of trouble breathing.

 Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Uncertain    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    It's hard to say because the experience was very short, but I still remember the experience well after all these years, but I have forgotten a lot of my experiences of being that age. But I do remember this.  I asked my mother if anyone else ever choked besides me because I remember watching them, which I assumed was a spoon they were using. I never actually saw who it was though. I was standing behind them at ground level immediately after I was struggling to swallow, but then I felt no pain. It was like I was the bystander but then I was back to the part when I couldn't swallow for a few more moments before I finally had the food removed.

 How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness  

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   It seemed the same as in every day life but my experience couldn't have lasted for more than 10 seconds. It happened so fast.

 Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Hearing seemed normal. I could hear everything my parents were saying.

 Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   Yes   One minute I was up against the bench, with both parents using a spoon and trying to remove the food lodged in my throat, and then suddenly, I find myself in that same scene but this time I am standing behind them, trying to see what the commotion was about.  I remember trying to stand on tip toe but they were oblivious of me standing behind them. And then instantly, I was back in my body, feeling the unpleasantness of the situation that was undertaking, but not for long. A few seconds later, I could swallow again.

 What emotions did you feel during the experience?   At first, panic of what was happening, but while I was out of my body, watching from behind, I felt curious. I wanted to 'see' what was going on, but felt frustrated because I couldn't.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No

 Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   No  

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   No

 Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

 Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

 Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Uncertain

 Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

 Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (�life after death�)?   Yes   I'm pretty sure I had left my body, because I was no longer suffering, and yet, I still had my personality and my thoughts with me. I don't recall if I had a physical body while this was happening.  I know I felt no pain when suddenly I was back in my body again, feeling the discomforts of choking prior to the out of body experience.

 During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life�s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life�s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Uncertain  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience  

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience  

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I became very interested in reading as much about Life after Death as I grew into adulthood.  I 'know' in my heart that death isn't the end, but only the beginning.  I have experienced way too much while growing up to know that consciousness lives on after we die.  I have run into my fair share of entities that seem intelligent that suggests life after death as well.
My experience directly resulted in:   Slight changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Uncertain  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?  

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Yes   I seemed to have a psychic connection with my mum.  It happened on a few occasions where I would feel like a small child again and get very worried and sometimes emotional. Then I find out a couple of hours later that my mum had 'this feeling' that influenced her decisions. One example is, she was driving home and going a certain speed, but this one particular time when I was feeling very emotional and worried about her, she had a sense to go slower than usual. She was rounding a curve, when a car comes around that corner on the wrong side of the road. Had my mother gone her usual speed, it would have resulted in a head on collision. But somehow I sensed danger unknowingly that reached out to her.  Also, when my mother died, I sensed her death while I was in another state.  I became an emotional wreck, and did not know why. I thought I was just home sick but it turned out, she had passed away and perhaps I was picking up on her emotions when she came to me in spirit, to say goodbye.  I am not sure if this was definitely a result from my experience, but sometimes I feel I can sense spirits, and I seem to attract them too. I am really not too sure though if it has anything to do with my experience and my close brush with death.    

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  Some believe me, some don't.  It was so brief though. But even be that as it may, I believe it to be real.

 Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   No  

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was probably real  

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was probably real  

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Uncertain  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Uncertain  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No     

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

What could a national organization with an interest in near death experience (NDE) do that would be of interest to you?        I would like to see more seminars and perhaps support groups so more people can openly talk about their experiences.