What Happens Inside a Dying Mind?

What makes a person believe that he visited heaven? Is there a way for science to get at what’s really going on? In the April 2015 issue of the Atlantic, Gideon Lichfield mounts an empirical investigation of near-death experiences, concluding that more rigorous research must be pursued to understand what happens in the minds of "experiencers," as they call themselves.

One thing is abundantly clear, though. Near-death experiences are pivotal events in people's lives. "It's a catalyst for growth on many different levels—psychologically, emotionally, maybe even physiologically," says Mitch Liester, a psychiatrist.

[FrankDad]

Death is the last great adventure all of us have to take alone

[starcloud]

I'm agnostic. I don't have a religion, but I wasn't atheistic. When I was little I didn't believe there was anything that happened after death, just that our conscience simply disappears. However, at four years of age I had a near-death experience that made me question that there may be something after death. When I was four years old, I was suddenly hit with a severe asthma attack in my sleep. I didn't wake up until much later after it started and only had enough time to call for help before I passed out again. I remember that before I woke up, I was floating over my own sleeping body and that there were little stars or fireflies floating around me. I felt completely peaceful and at ease. I don't know how long it was like that, but after some time I started choking on mucus and woke up in my own body.

[ihavenoredeemingqualities]

I almost drowned when I was 3 and I remember it being the most calm and beautiful moment of my life.

[rashayneramsay]

This world is a dream when you die that's when you truly wake up

[waynegibson]

death is thegreatest trip of all thats why they save it till last

[WolfeTone]

All we have are Theories & beliefs that there is an afterlife. Nobody has yet proven anything, but the fact that we are existing now, tells me that we can & will exist again.

[Booker]

I sort of want to die a good death. Like, dying from exhaustion after fighting a bear for 5 days straight (where the bear also dies of exhaustion). I'd rather die that way than waiting to die of old age in a care home

[HEAVYNGABRIELLE]

as long as I’m in peace while I’m dead, that’s lol that matters

[DomincPhoenix]

I almost choked to death when I was a teenager. It was scary cause I was so close to passing out and I remember my vision blurring back and forth between total darkness and a quick bright light. I felt so close to death that a part of me wanted to accept it and avoid any more choking pain. More thoughts raced through my head however of everything I have in life and I just wanted to fight for it. Idk what happens after death, but right before it, it’s an emotional yet somewhat calming experience

[kilat]

The problem with science is materialism being the mainstream approach. This approach limits on what is true and this cannot be called real science because there is already a preconceived conclusion of what is true and what is not. If we are to understand NDE, science needs to open up to NDE being real and use the data we gathered through NDE in understanding it. NDE accounts themselves contains various clues on what consciousness really is and what is soul/heaven. We have a lot to gain by understanding NDE.

[wickedmcjagger]

But everyone is Preparing for their birthday, but when it comes to death day they are not prepare

[VulpinetideCuteTimesw]

I wonder if in that one spike, we lose our perception of time and end up in a dream like world for a very long time, it's only when we wake up do we sometimes forget that experience in that world or most of it. What if it's like living your regular life, a century in your mind, but a split second in your brain.

[kaimckisson]

I’m in a dreams of philosophy class right now and just learned about the near death experiences of clinical death survivors, it shows numerous examples of out of body experiences as well as experience with light and experience of peace

[NKk]

You can die, but only once, so get ready for the adventure

[prussiangreen]

I always believed that living life is merely a flashback of our whole journey in life while we are on the verge of dying.

[brandonyoung]

Weather it’s a small hallucinogenic trip or a relay of personal memories, The facts say there is a large form of brain activity before death that takes around 3-7 Minutes. After that, that’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less. We are simply tourists on this planet, given a small golden opportunity of time. Precious time. Nobody lives forever.

[MrGhoul]

Yeah I died on an operating table once. I felt a cold like I’ve never felt before start from my toes and work it’s way up to my head. I heard voices that got so loud I thought I’d go deaf. Then the voices got further and further away till I couldn’t hear anything at all. I don’t remember a whole lot after that but remember that vividly.

[justblaze]

I almost drowned and all I remember is darkness and people reciting things that happened in my lifetime

[suba]

The comment section here is just filled with quotes...

[orxange]

The thing is, nobody actually knows what it’s LIKE to die. A dead person can’t explain it, you just have to go through it yourself. Don’t sue me.