Ever been dead?

[Scott R]

I was "dead" for about two minuets in the ER a while back following an accident. Honestly there was nothing, just lights out and nothing else. When I was revived I came right back to all my worldly problems and resumed life.

But for the time I was gone I didn't exist, just nothing. Much like getting punched out in the ring. When I woke up it was a bit disappointing, because in darkness I'm certain nothing mattered. And if I had stayed that way I would not have ever known.

Sorry no "religious experiences" (maybe because I'm not religious) but I would not be broken up if it happened again since I consider it a positive experience.

Anyone else?

[Hugh R]

1976, I was on my 10-speed in Boston, at night, a taxi took a left turn in front of me and t-boned my bike and me. Left me for dead. Never did find the taxi. The right down handled bar went into my bag and came out around my navel. I remember the impact, but nothing else. I woke up a few weeks or so later in ICE at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. It was a Catholic Teaching hospital. [I'm not Catholic] I was told I was given the Last Rites, twice. I apparently lost so much blood and didn't have a pulse, I was clinically dead. I still remember nothing from the post-accident, until a few weeks later, when I woke up. No memories of clouds, angels, nothing. I lost my right nut,and they re-attached the left nut and I lost several feet of intestine. BTW, I was told I'd never have kids, I have two naturally conceived wonderful healthy kids and my gut works pretty well.

[M.D. Holloway]

I can say with almost 100% certainty that when your heart stops beating, your lungs are not filling with air and your brain no longer sparks...that's that. I've been with enough people at the time of their death to recognize a light being turned off.

I can see why it would be scary stuff. The concept of never ever again is not an easy thing to grasp. Life is so precious. Seems like those who believe in a life after death put less value on the life of today.

I just wish all those who believe in the myth would someday wake up but sadly I don't see it happening. If it ever did, there might be a chance at world peace.

[Don Ro]

I was "dead" the first 40 years of my life.
Oh wait! I was unconscious...same thing, only different.

[Scott R]

I'm just certain that "dead" was better. If for no other reason than I'm sure there was NOTHING after, which is nice in a way.

[sc_rufctr]

I've never been near dead but I have been under general anaesthetic.
It was just lights out followed by nothing and then waking up in your hospital bed. It's like no time passes. So I guess that would be the same sort of feeling.

Whatever it is, it is... Since the beginning of time "man" has contemplated death. That's the price we pay for being self aware.
Do I think about it? Sometimes but I'm 50 so hopefully it's a long way off yet.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I'm just certain that "dead" was better. If for no other reason than I'm sure there was NOTHING after, which is nice in a way.

I can understand this. True rest and peace.

[JavaBrewer]

I'll equate death to your first real earthquake experience. For all your life the ground has never failed. But then it does and you're lost. Death is only suffered by the living. You're here for one fleeting moment and gone the next. Not so terrible when you really think about it.

[Don Ro]

"Not so terrible when you really think about it."
~~~~~~~~`
I don't know.
Lying on your death bed, spittin' out your blood, knowing what's coming.
I wonder how many of us would not, at some point, have a helluva case of the heebie-jeebies.
The 'body ego' may not be so easy to give up.

[cantdrv55]

That's really depressing. I was looking forward to a second life.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The knowledge of there being nothing but the here and now makes it more precious and significant IMHO. I've been under general anesthesia twice and it was as described - nothing, just "lost time". No lights, voices or any of that.

If you research euthanasia techniques used in veterinary medicine and in some other countries all that's involved is administering a slightly higher dose of the same chemicals used to knock you out to the point it causes the heart to stop. Essentially it's the same experience as anasthesia - just you don't wake up. Based on that I'd say there's pretty good reason to believe that when you go, you just go. Click. Game over and nothing. No afterlife, no heaven, no nothing. Just gone. For me that's comforting and motivating - my time here is precious and I don't want to waste it foolishly on meaningless pursuits or chasing false hopes. It's also why I don't like people who waste my time and why I tend to not suffer fools easily. Your time is the only commodity you ever really have no matter who you are - rich or poor, king or pauper, young or old, man or woman. IMHO nobody has the right to take it from anyone else. To do so is an unforgivable crime. Don't waste my time and I won't waste yours.

I am somewhat fascinated by this subject - I've read the intro to "Proof of Heaven" by Eben Alexander, MD (a neurologist who had a death experience which leads him to some interesting beliefs about there actually being a "hereafter"). He makes some interesting observations and has some good insights based on his knowledge of how the brain and human perception works - I'm curious to read the full book at some point; I don't know if I'll be convinced that there's a "heaven" or whatever but maybe... I suppose it's possible that there's more to reality than we see or presently comprehend but thus far I haven't seen any real evidence for it. Maybe he has some to offer. I just hope it doesn't turn into another preachy bunch of BS like "Heaven is for Real" which I'm convinced was written just to garner attention and rationalize a predetermined conclusion (and further the agenda of religious institutions trying to keep themselves relevant).

I guess we won't really know until we get there but I expect it'll be a "lights out then nothing" event. We wink into existence through no choice of fault of our own, with no say in the matter, then exist for a short time, then wink out. Based on what I've seen, witnesses and experienced I think that's closest to the truth - none of this stuff about angels, heaven, pearly gates, gods or what-not. Humanity would do better to focus on the here and now rather than what might happen after death anyway. This is one of many reasons I find religion (particularly "conventional", church-based, institutionalized religion) to be an enormous waste of time and energy - false hopes and expectations, devaluation of the human condition ("life goes on forever so what does right now really matter?"), self-promotional BS centered on control, acquisition of money, influence and power, etc. I have no use for any of it.

I'm open to being convinced otherwise but the bar is high. As Carl Sagan once said, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".

[Nostril Cheese]

I've had some experiences with Native American friends that led me to believe I was dead.

Once over-rotated on a dirt bike and landed on the back of my head. Knocked unconscious and a concussion.

There's also that oddly comfortable fade-out and everything goes dark feeling when you're stupid enough to get caught in a sleeper hold.

[motion]

This thread freaks me out. I won't be able to sleep tonight.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by motion

This thread freaks me out. I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Just think about ways to make money.

[pete3799]

Not yet.

Knocked myself out one time. Was trying to loosen a chain binder that was really tight. Leaned into it and gave a quick tug.....it snapped open and slammed me in the head......went down like a sack of potatoes.

[recycled sixtie]

The only time of being close to dead was being knocked out by a large dude coming up in a truck in a narrow lane and found me sleeping in the back of a VW bug(I had next to no money). He could not get by me in his truck so decided to punch me in the cheek. The lights went out and came to when I hit the ground.

Not really afraid of dying as being close to 70 yo as the body gets older it is not as efficient. I cannot climb mountain passes like I used when I was 60. Eventually the body like a ripe fruit will fall off the tree. By the time I am 80 I will be less efficient and will be that much more prepared for death. Thinking of both my grandmothers dying at 72 and they certainly did not have great quality of life prior to dying. 70's now is pretty young. I find life very satisfying now. Best time of my life was around 19-20 years old though working on a farm and driving my 58 VW bug across Canada and the US.

Very happy that those of you that were really dead came back! Hence the expression came back from the dead.

[KFC911]

A long time ex-g/f was a hospice nurse...death is a peaceful passing to the way it was before you were born and much less traumatic imo

I don't fear it....why would one?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The knowledge of there being nothing but the here and now makes it more precious and significant IMHO. I've been under general anesthesia twice and it was as described - nothing, just "lost time". No lights, voices or any of that.

If you research euthanasia techniques used in veterinary medicine and in some other countries all that's involved is administering a slightly higher dose of the same chemicals used to knock you out to the point it causes the heart to stop. Essentially it's the same experience as anasthesia - just you don't wake up. Based on that I'd say there's pretty good reason to believe that when you go, you just go. Click. Game over and nothing. No afterlife, no heaven, no nothing. Just gone. For me that's comforting and motivating - my time here is precious and I don't want to waste it foolishly on meaningless pursuits or chasing false hopes. It's also why I don't like people who waste my time and why I tend to not suffer fools easily. Your time is the only commodity you ever really have no matter who you are - rich or poor, king or pauper, young or old, man or woman. IMHO nobody has the right to take it from anyone else. To do so is an unforgivable crime. Don't waste my time and I won't waste yours.

I am somewhat fascinated by this subject - I've read the intro to "Proof of Heaven" by Eben Alexander, MD (a neurologist who had a death experience which leads him to some interesting beliefs about there actually being a "hereafter"). He makes some interesting observations and has some good insights based on his knowledge of how the brain and human perception works - I'm curious to read the full book at some point; I don't know if I'll be convinced that there's a "heaven" or whatever but maybe... I suppose it's possible that there's more to reality than we see or presently comprehend but thus far I haven't seen any real evidence for it. Maybe he has some to offer. I just hope it doesn't turn into another preachy bunch of BS like "Heaven is for Real" which I'm convinced was written just to garner attention and rationalize a predetermined conclusion (and further the agenda of religious institutions trying to keep themselves relevant).

I guess we won't really know until we get there but I expect it'll be a "lights out then nothing" event. We wink into existence through no choice of fault of our own, with no say in the matter, then exist for a short time, then wink out. Based on what I've seen, witnesses and experienced I think that's closest to the truth - none of this stuff about angels, heaven, pearly gates, gods or what-not. Humanity would do better to focus on the here and now rather than what might happen after death anyway. This is one of many reasons I find religion (particularly "conventional", church-based, institutionalized religion) to be an enormous waste of time and energy - false hopes and expectations, devaluation of the human condition ("life goes on forever so what does right now really matter?"), self-promotional BS centered on control, acquisition of money, influence and power, etc. I have no use for any of it.

I'm open to being convinced otherwise but the bar is high. As Carl Sagan once said, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence".

All good stuff.

I appreciate the effort you made in this post but "you are more than the sum of your parts". We all are.
Our humanity can not be explained logically.

Do you believe you're nothing more than the consequence of an accident? (I can't answer this question in any satisfactory way)

[pavulon]

Most people equate dead with heart rate = nil.
Real dead is brain cellular metabolism and function = nil at body temp 98.6(ish).

Similar to Weber carburetor tuning, some are trying to understand the nuts and bolts.
https://www.med.upenn.edu/resuscitation/

good stuff:
http://www.ttbook.org/series/death

[scottmandue]

Not yet, but it is looking better all the time....