Experience description:

            It was approximately 20 minutes after learning of my older brothers death in a trench cave-in.  I was standing outside of our front door with a police officer, who was crying.  I was holding onto his arm and looking at him and asking him if they're positive it was Johnny, and are they sure he is dead.  During this time, I briefly moved out of my body...I mean I, the physical me, was standing and holding onto the officers arm, but another part of "me" was standing beside me.  It was a very brief experience, but it shook me.  It's been almost 20 years and I can still "experience" that moment in time.  I can still see me as well as a consciousness next to me.  I believe it was a mental/emotional coping measure, as the shock of his death was intense.  I was in a dream-like state for many hours after...but, quite functional and in a "take charge" frame of mind.  I had to, after all, take care of my parents...but even thinking about them that day, I feel like I only have glimpses of them.  Their panic and seeing them like I've never seen them made me VERY anxious and panicky.

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

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No      

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    The moment I realized I was me and I was a consciousness standing next to the physical me.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            The moment I realized I was me and I was a consciousness standing next to the physical me.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     It was, thinking back, hazy.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Shock, deep discomfort and sadness.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I was two "people."  Time seemed to slow.  The experience was very brief.         

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     I feel more spiritually aware.  It may not be directly related to this experience, but since my brothers' death, I FEEL things differently...I can feel the pain and sadness of another, physically feel it in my chest.  I can also, when I'm concentrating intently, can feel on another person's body where their negative energy is.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I didn't share it for several years.  Their reactions were varied, but not critical.  I don't think they're influenced.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Uncertain            Ever since I can remember I have always wondered if a person goes to another realm/dimension...whether in death or in consciousness.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I knew it was real, but I didn't give it a lot of thought because I had so much to take care of.  I pushed it aside, thought about it from time to time, but didn't dwell on it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?    It made me realize all the more how complex and fascinating our minds are...how it helps us cope with stresses (little everyday stresses and the big rare stresses.)

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Again, it was real.  I don't think my brain would remember as vividly had it only been an illusion...my brain remembers right down to what my fingers looked like curled around the officers' wrist.  There is too much specific detail for it to be otherwise.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain      I know I look at life and people, as well as spirituality different...but I believe it was because of the death itself.  The OBE (? if that's what it was) I think confirms for me that there are many, many dimensions and that we (those of us on earth, if you will) have only seen a glimmer of those dimensions.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Only that I've never met anyone else who had an experience like mine...I've never met a person who's had a NDE or OBE, I don't believe anyway.

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