In a book I was reading today, the author was saying that the effects of a traumatic NDE can be dealt with by a long series of therapeutic exercises. I believe he’s right. I also believe that most experiencers do not have the time, the interest in reliving their torment, nor the financial means to undergo years of therapy in order to integrate the experience.
What are your thoughts? Would it be worth getting past the questions, the anxiety, the emotional and spiritual torment, to be “fixed”? Would you do that?
I was wondering about another consideration — one which reflects neurtological considerations. A recent study by Briton & Bootzin (2006) suggests that altered temporal lobe functioning may be involved in the near-death experience and that individuals who have had such experiences are ‘physiologically distinct’ from the general population. I wonder what this implies vis-a-vis the ‘treatment’ necessary? What’s it mean to the client who’s altered neurology may be a “neuro-typical” response??? Alan
There’s a good deal of evidence of some temporal lobe involvement in NDEs. That by itself isn’t reductionist in my mind, because EVERY event we experience has some physiological involvement, just as every TV show involves the set we own. There are different kinds of temporal lobe excitation, for instance. I don’t know about “physiologically distinct”; will have to ask. Offhand, it’s hard to think of a way that would have any impact on the treatment, short of significant neuro impairment.
I imagine that therapy directly addressing NDE’s is rather hard to find in smaller towns and cities, and nearly non-existent in rural areas. Even where it’s available, I’m sure it isn’t cheap, at least for someone working on a low wage, or with a large family. So what to do?
First, Near Death Experiencer’s need to know is that what they have experienced is valid and real. They are not crazy. IANDS, and various books, websites and blogs address this.
It could be argued that it’s up to the experiencer to seek out information, but if we’re talking about someone living in an isolated situation, or an experiencer with an extremely dogmatic atheist/religious fundamentalist support system, access could be limited or discouraged.
So we also need to continue to promote the Near Death Experience as a legitimate phenomenon in the various media. One of the benefits that I see of the AWARE study is that when the results start to come out (no matter what the results are), NDE’s will be in the mainstream media forefront for a while, and more experiencers will stop, recognize and relate their experiences to the issue.
Secondly, a support system is critical. Friends of IANDS groups are an ideal way, but for those folks that don’t have FOI groups in their communities, there are various ‘experiencer only’ forums online. Sort of a seek and ye shall find kinda thing. Books provide information and inspiration, but books don’t change people, relationships do.
Unfortunately, most of the stuff out there is about positive NDE’s, with maybe a brief hat tip to ‘distressing’ (Hellish) experiences. Books like yours and blogs like this are critically necessary to address the issue. I suspect that many Hellish experiencers do not come forward because they are getting the message from the NDE community itself that “There’s nothing but goodness to see here, now move along, bad NDE’s are not really welcome”.
It’s a pity that there isn’t more research into distressing NDE’s, as I’ll bet that such studies would shed a lot of light and give more credibility to the overall phenomenon.
Your points are so well taken. I think it’s likely that most people who’ve had a distressing NDE don’t feel welcome much of anyplace where emphasis is on the pleasurable experiences, and especially where it is assumed that people “attract what they are.” I’ve encountered that on more than a few occasions. It’s a dangerous idea on any number of fronts, in my view. Obviously, I agree about the need for getting out the word–it’s why this blog exists.
I have been searching for some sort of peer group to address the problems I have been having. I have found that life is totally different now. The Near death experience in itself was no problem. Maybe because my experience lasted over 2 weeks and not a few minutes. I feel totally out of touch and in La la land. It has been almost 10 years and getting worse all the time. Can anyone help point me in the right direction ? I am very vulnerable and in distress
Please see my email to you.
I was in a car accident and then a coma for one month. I had a very vivid life in the time I was gone. I have not one person in my life now from before the accident and coping is rough. If you find anything, please share.