Let’s Dive Into What People Say It’s Like To Be Dead… then Not!

My wife actually died twice within three months, and both times they had to work like mad for nearly 40 minutes to get her back. When I asked if she remembered anything, she said nope - just blackness, no lights, no welcome party. Thankfully, no pain either. She passed away 18 months ago, and I hope her final moments were peaceful and painless.

At age 15, I almost passed out during a tilt table test. When blackout hit, I heard my dad cussing the doctor who “killed” me. I had vivid, colorful shapes dancing in the dark and felt pure peace - no panic or pain. Then bam! I woke up furious, ripping off whatever I could reach, yelling to get off the table. Talk about a mood swing!

I coded after surgery and could see and hear everything but felt zero sensation. It was super creepy, like I was watching my own life on mute.

A buddy once told me she was technically dead twice. Her description? Floating while wrapped in some warm, gel-like goo. She said the feeling was so nice, she never wanted to leave it. Sounds cozy, right?

Another friend described it as super relaxing, feeling herself drift away and almost ‘leave’. But just as she was ready, bam, brought back. After that, death wasn’t scary anymore because she knew it felt amazing.

I got zapped by 13,800 volts - yup, that’s nuts. First shock stopped my heart; second one brought me back. Floating through a totally dark, silent void for about 30 seconds was trippy! Then BOOM, I realized the harsh reality: I was in serious danger back in my body. The aftermath? Lost most toes, burned limbs, and more surgeries than I can count. Not for the faint of heart.

Dead for six minutes, I felt calm and warm as everything turned black. No pain, no noise, just bliss while thinking about my daughter. Then I was yanked back and faced painful noises, the worst stench ever (think: every dead animal mashed together), and vomiting. Dying? Awesome. Coming back? Not so much.

Not me, but the head of my program was dead for a few minutes after a car accident. She described it as a wonderfully comfy blank blackness with a feeling of peace beyond words. She got mad when resuscitated because she wanted to stay there. She’s not religious but fully believes that place is real and peaceful - and can’t wait for her turn.

I was pronounced dead twice at 16 after a car crash. My great grandma pulled me out and we strolled through a peaceful flower field. She’d died years ago and never talked or walked for me, so this was wild. When I woke up weeks later, she was sitting by my bed telling me everything was going to be okay. Beautiful, right?

My dad passed a few years ago, and his near-death experiences were... not all rainbows. One even felt like hell. But before he left for good, he said he was sure there’s an afterlife. Not like fire and brimstone but a place where souls are born, colored, and try to get to ‘white’. His message? Do everything you can, don’t stress consequences, and just be good. I miss him but love his wise last words.

I know three people who came back from being clinically dead, and their stories are different from the usual light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel stuff. They say it felt like slowly passing out, like an out-of-body tingling that’s oddly pleasant, sort of like OD’ing on nitrous oxide (whippits). One even started dreaming of mom’s warm hugs when she came back. Weird, huh?

My daughter got pneumonia and kept stopping breathing in her sleep. While her grandma was in the hospital, declared brain dead, my daughter woke up, told us she dreamed of grandma saying “It’s not your time yet, I’ll go for you.” Next day, daughter suddenly turned the corner and was almost 100% better. Wild coincidence or something else?

My old frat brother OD’d on Xanax and was dead for about 40 seconds. He saw himself floating over the hospital, checking out doctors and family. He floated toward a light and felt the most peaceful feeling ever. Even saw dead relatives who told him it wasn’t his time. And after that? No more drugs for him.

While it was all a bit hazy, I swore I saw a man at my bedside who wasn’t hospital staff. He wore a tropical shirt and newsboy cap and told me to calm down and breathe. My mom showed me a photo later - it was my grandpa, who died before I was born! Talk about timing.

People who study near-death experiences (NDEs) say they usually fall into six types: 1) Hellish flames or darkness; 2) Out-of-body hospital looks; 3) Warm, happy blackness; 4) A warm, inviting light; 5) Love and compassion beyond words, sometimes with guides and life reviews; 6) Cosmic oneness and knowing everything instantaneously. Most are pretty awesome and often change how people see life and death.

When I was 9, I fainted and floated near the ceiling, watching my mom call 911 and my dad doing CPR. I saw a bright light and heard a voice say, 'It’s not your time.' Then I woke to my dad yelling. Years later, when my brother died, I dreamed of him walking into a tunnel of light before he actually passed. He hung on until we were okay. Powerful and beautiful stuff.

Awesome, right? Nearly everyone who’s been there says death felt euphoric and peaceful. That’s comforting, right? Thanks for all the stories!

I overdosed and flatlined. Didn’t see a single thing. When they hit me with Narcan, I woke up furious, ripping out my IVs and cursing the amazing staff who saved me. Not fun! Happened 6 years ago and I’m done with the crazy stuff now.

I saw my grandpa during a hospital stay. We talked, and he gave me the choice to come back or go with him. I looked down at myself in bed and saw my brother holding my hand. That cold touch and the tears I’d never seen before convinced me to come back. Recovery wasn’t easy, but I’m happy now.

When I was 6 or 7, I was rushed to the hospital after loud, heavy breathing. I flatlined, but then I saw everything from above: me getting revived, my mom crying, my dad comforting her. I even saw a white version of me landing back into my body. Doctors said I was dreaming but I know what I saw!

I attempted suicide and coded. Instead of darkness, I saw my son grow up healthy, free of his illnesses I’d worried about. I lost consciousness before code but woke up with a jolt after the shock. Afterward, I changed my life: left my unsupportive wife, came out as trans, and found someone who loves me. Life is short; love is all that matters.

I had a terrible reaction after a C-section and died briefly without ever holding my son. I heard calm but firm voices and beepings, then peaceful blackness. They said 'time to be a mommy,' and I drifted back. It’s weird but it was my son that kept me alive.

Just this past Monday-Tuesday, after a suicide attempt, I was basically dead. I saw nothing - no light, no sound, just blackness. Then I woke up in the ambulance, stuff all mangled and purple. Suicide sucks. Don’t try it. People love you.

I had this during a bad accident. A calm, androgynous voice said, 'Time to go to sleep,' and I closed my eyes. Total darkness, no body sense, but pure peace. Felt two wise, kind beings beside me, just sitting peacefully. Before waking, the voice said, 'Time to wake up.' I opened my eyes surrounded by broken glass and disoriented. No sense I was ever in danger.

I died twice after MRSA infected my heart post-surgery. I vaguely remember seeing a light. The whole year dealing with it was awful.

Dead for about a minute, it’s not like sleep. There’s a white noise you never noticed until after, and that quieting down was pure nothingness - no stress, no nightmares, no pain. Just beautiful emptiness. Part of me wishes I could stay there. No fear. That’s how I feel about death now.

My grandma was clinically dead after giving birth to my uncle. She said she floated up to a corner of the room watching her bed and the doctor. Then she willed herself back to her body. I used to think she was crazy, but sounds like she might have been spot on!

I was very sick and suddenly passed out feeling every cell in my body weigh a ton. Then a wave of lightness lifted me up above myself. I knew I could leave anytime but wasn’t ready. When I woke up, I felt refreshed and no longer sick. Strange but true!

My girlfriend overdosed on methadone, and while clinically dead, she saw doctors and family from above. Then she found herself in a meadow chatting with her first boyfriend like nothing happened. Abruptly she was pulled back, waking with eyes wide open. Surreal!

Black void, then waking up surrounded by ER chaos. I was freezing but really just room temp. It was peaceful, like being swaddled in a giant warm blanket.

After losing 2.3 liters of blood post-birth, I had the highest classification of blood loss. I started panicking but by the time I was taken to surgery, I was euphoric and calm with tunnel vision and muffled sounds. Death by blood loss wasn’t bad at all - but the recovery was brutal, and PTSD hit hard.

I overdosed on caffeine and my weak heartbeat couldn’t handle it. I started hallucinating and couldn’t see clearly before everything went black - felt like deep sleep. Woke up wanting to stay in that state forever.

After a massive stroke at 27, my mom saw a long corridor with arch doorways, one open. She refused to go in. Spooky and mysterious.

Loads of people tell the tale of floating above themselves in hospital rooms, watching doctors work. It’s becoming a classic move in the near-death experience playbook.