Treatment: Types of Spiritual Emergency
NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE
Description
NDE as Non-pathological
Clinical Problems Associated with NDEs
Importance of the NDE
Resources
Description
The near-death experience (NDE) has been the focus of considerable scientific research over the past two decades. Findings indicate that the NDE is a clearly identifiable psychological phenomenon of clinical significance that is not attributable to a mental disorder. It is defined as a profound subjective event experienced by persons who come close to death (or who are believed dead and unexpectedly recover) as a result of serious injury or illness, or who confront a potentially fatal situation and escape uninjured. Phenomenologically, NDE includes: 1) a characteristic temporal sequence of stages (i.e., peace and contentment; detachment from physical body; entering a transitional region of darkness; seeing a brilliant light; and passing through the light into another realm of existence); as well as 2) a cluster of subjective components (i.e., strong positive affect; dissociation from the physical body; and transcendental or mystical elements). A reliable, valid, and clinically useful NDE scale (Greyson, 1983) has been developed, which measures the various subjective elements of an individual's experience. Both medical research (Ring, 1990; Sabom, 1982) and a nationwide poll (Gallup, 1987) indicate that about one-third of all individuals having a close encounter with death experience NDE. And in 1981-82, Gallup estimated that approximately 8 million American adults have experienced NDE, making it a clinically significant and pervasive phenomena.
NDE as Non-pathological
The strongest case for the non-pathological nature of the NDE can be made from the growing literature documenting its aftereffects — in particular, the positive attitude and value changes, the personality transformation, and the spiritual development that often follow such an experience (Bauer, 1985; Flynn, 1982; Greyson, 1981; Greyson, 1983; Noyes 1982-83; Ring, 1984). People who have had a NDE consistently report: 1) an increased appreciation for life, self acceptance, concern for others, and sense of purpose; 2) a decreased concern for personal status and material possessions; and 3) an overall shift towards universal spiritual values regardless of previous religious affiliations or lack thereof (Ring, 1984). Moreover, these changes are maximal within 5 years and are stable over time (Ring, 1984).
Clinical Problems Associated with NDEs
Despite these generally positive outcomes, significant intrapsychic and interpersonal difficulties frequently arise in the wake of a NDE. As summarized by Greyson and Harris (1987), specific intrapsychic problems include: 1) ongoing anger or depression related to losing the near-death state; 2) difficulty reconciling the NDE with previous religious beliefs, values or lifestyle; 3) becoming overly identified with the experience; and 4) the fear that the NDE might indicate mental instability. Interpersonal problems brought about by the NDE include: 1) difficulty reconciling attitudinal changes with the expectations of family and friends; 2) a sense of isolation from those who have not had a similar experience; 3) a fear of ridicule or rejection from others; 4) difficulty communicating the meaning and impact of the NDE; 5) difficulty maintaining previous life roles that no longer carry the same significance; and 6) difficulty reconciling limited human relationships with the unconditional relationships experienced during the NDE.
In the immediate aftermath of a NDE, many individuals struggle with a fear of mental instability and/or a fear of rejection and ridicule by family and friends. One person reported, "I've lived with this thing [NDE] for three years and I haven't told anyone because I don't want them to put the straight jacket on me" (Sabom and Kreutziger, 1978, p 2). Another found that, "After this happened to me [a NDE], and I tried to tell people, they just automatically labeled me as crazy" (Moody, 1975, p 86). In their study, Greyson and Harris (1987) reported that many individuals doubted their mental stability, but did not discuss the NDE with friends or professionals for fear of being rejected, ridiculed, or regarded as psychotic or hysterical.
In addition, there are reports of individuals who have shared their experiences with professionals and received negative reactions. One woman stated, "I tried to tell my minister, but he told me I had been hallucinating, so I shut up" (Moody, 1975, p 86). A hospitalized patient recounted that, "I tried to tell my nurses what had happened when I woke up, but they told me not to talk about it, that I was just imagining things" (Moody, 1975, p 87). With regard to problems arising from longer-term adjustment to a near-death experience, Greyson reported a 24 year-old graduate student in geology who had a near-death experience during a near-drowning when he was 17. In the intervening 7 years, he experienced some unusual psychological phenomena that eventually prompted him to seek treatment. His NDE included a life review involving many events from his childhood along with several scenes that he could not recognize. After a few of these scenes came to pass exactly as they had appeared in his life review, he became concerned about some very painful scenes that had not yet happened and which he felt were destined to happen someday. He sought counseling for his anxiety about these seemingly inevitable events and his despair at losing control over his fate. In this case, the student's psychological conflicts were not attributable to a mental disorder, but were rather a longer-term manifestation of the psychological upheaval surrounding his earlier NDE, thus warranting a Religious or Spiritual Problem diagnosis.
Importance of the NDE
Charles Tart (1991), in his article, "Altered States of Consciousness and the Possibility of Survival of Death," describes the larger importance of the NDE:
The direct experience of existing and experiencing in some form that seems partially or fully independent of the physical body is relatively common in various altered states of consciousness, and this kind of experience constitutes the most direct knowledge of survival an individual may have (p. 37).
Resources
Near-Death and the Afterlife
This is the most comprehensive resource on NDEs. Covers scientific findings as well as personal experiences. The best place to start.
International Assoc. for Near Death Studies
This home page includes information on "If You Have Had a Near-Death or Similar Experience" and also summaries of scientific findings on the aftereffects of theNDE, and personal accounts.
Religious Interpretations of Near-Death Experiences
This well-referenced article by David San Filippo provides an overview of human consciousness of life after death, religious beliefs concerning death and afterlife,and interpretations of NDE's by different religious groups. |
