Science Says~
Reports of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) can vary. Some consist of little more than a fleeting feeling that the body and mind have come loose, while others recount tales of floating far from the person's physical body and traveling to otherworldly realms. Either way, OBEs have fascinated humans for centuries, entering folklore, spiritual beliefs, and mythology.
Science defines this as a dissociative episode, which is a sensation of your consciousness leaving your body. Even though these episodes can be very frightening they usually don't last very long.
According to surveys, around 10% of the population has experienced an OBE at least once in their lifetime.
People typically experience their sense of self inside their physical body and view the world around them from this vantage point. During an OBE people report a feeling of being outside their bodies or looking at their own body from another perspective.
Common feelings that were reported during an episode may include:
- The feeling of floating outside the body
- An altered perception of the world
- A feeling as though one is looking down from themselves from above
- A sense that what is happening is very real
A Variety of factors may that may possibly trigger an OBE:
- Sleep disturbances, including Sleep Paralysis
- Physical effort following extreme exertion
- Near-death experiences
- Drugs
- Sensory deprivation or overload
- Strong G-forces (experienced by pilots and astronauts)
Recollections of two of my own OBE experiences:
Considering science has speculated the cause of these terrifying occurrences, I wanted to share two of my own episodes here that have remained cemented in my brain to this very day.
I can still see and feel my first episode that began in my early teens. Of all places, it had to happen at school in the classroom! I was a freshman and in an English class. I remember a feeling of floating and felt my body moving to the very back of the classroom where I reached the wall. And that was where I caught sight of myself sitting at my desk! I felt weak—nauseous as I scanned around the class watching the teacher and students carry on with the lesson but in slow motion. I tried to shake myself out of this but to no avail. And then as if a cord was pulling me, I shot back into my body—yes, the girl who was sitting at her desk.
I guess the pallor of my skin was noticeable as my teacher walked over to my desk to see if I was okay. Of course, I wasn't! She'd given me a pass to see the school nurse. I remember walking into her office and the first statement that came out of her mouth was,
"You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Well, perhaps I did—my spiritual self or whatever. At my age, I didn't really know what the hell had happened. I had no fever or physical signs of any malady. She'd instructed me to lie down on a cot and she called my mother who happened to work at the school as a secretary.
Long story short, my mother took me to our family doctor who had arranged an appointment with a specialist. This was just the beginning of a long journey of seeing other specialists who diagnosed me with a nervous condition and anxiety. I was put on Xanax as well. We need to remember this was back in the late sixties and most doctors, if not all had never even acknowledged an OBE or knew what it was.
The following months had me still dealing with episodes while the Xanax did nothing but make me sleepy. There was no internet and nowhere to search for information on what was happening. Most of my encounters happened at home or close to it. Too bad my spiritual body couldn't have gone further—perhaps to some nice tropical island.
Another episode I'd encountered was while I was at home cleaning with my mother. I felt it coming on with that usual tugging sensation and then everything just seemed to freeze. I couldn't feel my spirit leave my body or see it but things once again moved in slow motion—it was as if time stood still. I tried to shake it off by going about my activities. I was not paralyzed this time. All appeared normal except I felt as though I was not in the real world. It wore off shortly and I was able to talk to my mother about it. I was blessed to have an open-minded mother who did believe this was real and told me I had a 'gift'. That was surely one gift I had not wished for and wondered just what purpose it would serve?
I am now sixty-eight years old and can still recall almost all of those episodes to this day. I haven't had one since my early twenties. After speaking to others about it and doing research I now understand this condition. If only there were the resources back then we have now. With several psychologists, support groups, scientists, and paranormal experts, those who do have OBEs, can get help. I also now know that this condition is also linked to other paranormal experiences I've had during my lifetime.
Being an Empath and Sensitive does explain why I was susceptible to these encounters. I am now able to write characters who are high Empaths and able to relate in real-time what it feels like.
If there's anyone out there who is reading this and has experienced OBEs and would like to talk about it, I'm here to listen. Unless one has dealt with this, it's hard to imagine what it feels like. You are not alone.
