{"id":211760,"date":"2024-09-30T16:25:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/?p=211760"},"modified":"2024-09-30T16:25:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:25:15","slug":"uderzajace-podobienstwa-miedzy-podrozami-psychodelicznymi-a-doswiadczeniami-bliskimi-smierci","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wholecelium.com\/pl\/blog\/the-striking-similarities-between-psychedelic-trips-near-death-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"Uderzaj\u0105ce podobie\u0144stwa mi\u0119dzy psychodelicznymi podr\u00f3\u017cami a do\u015bwiadczeniami bliskiej \u015bmierci"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Psychedelic trips and near-death experiences; <\/em>despite their obvious differences, they are often both cited as life-changing events \u2014 altering perspectives, changing priorities, awakening spirituality. But how can we truly compare and contrast these experiences? Find people who\u2019ve had both, and ask them, that\u2019s how!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep, researchers for the study<\/a>, published August 30th in Neuroscience of Consciousness, <\/em>went on a mission to find people who have had both profound psychedelic trips and <\/em>near death experiences. Not the easiest job \u2014 though maybe not quite as rare as we initially thought\u2026 Did you know that apparently 5-10% of the general population have had near-death experiences (NDEs)?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Near-Death Experience?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you\u2019re probably aware, in many near-death experiences a person will be briefly, clinically, dead. For example, after a cardiac arrest the brain and body may shut down for a brief period before resuscitation. In a significant number of cardiac arrests (approximately 20% according to some studies) <\/em>individuals report having a striking series of experiences, despite their brains showing no signs of activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, people report leaving their body, and looking down on the scene from above. Sometimes they can even describe medical procedures that were done to them in detail. They might see a compilation of their whole lives flashing by in just a few seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
via Creative Commons<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite the fact that NDEs only last a maximum of a few minutes, they almost always seem to have a transformational effect. People often undergo a major shift in values and perspective. They can feel more connected to nature, with more love and compassion for other people. They care less about material items, and become more altruistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some have tried to rationalize NDEs as a hallucination caused by unusual brain activity, these strong changes experienced by individuals suggest there is more to it than this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing Trips and NDEs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On the surface, psychedelic trips and near death experiences may not seem to have so much in common. Frequently, those who experience a NDE describe traveling through darkness to a light at the end of a tunnel, reaching a border or end point, seeing their life in review, or encountering a deceased relative. These are not necessarily features of a psychedelic trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it then, that they can have such similar effects?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
via Creative Commons<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
How the Study Worked<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This is what the study aimed to find out. The researchers collected first-hand accounts from 31 adults (mainly men from the UK and US) <\/em>who had tried psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, ayahuasca<\/a>, DMT, or mescaline and had near death experiences. They asked them to compare and contrast these events. The results revealed fascinating similarities as well as notable differences. Significantly, psychedelics seemed to engage the visual system<\/a> more intensely, while NDEs more intensely disrupted bodily sensations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants for the study were recruited via social media, local news, and academic publications. The researchers asked them questions through online surveys, such as;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u201cAt the time of the experience, did you consider that this experience was \u2018real\u2019 (ie. different from a dream or hallucination)?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

or<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u201cAccording to you, was this experience supernatural?\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the participants were experienced trippers (21% of them had tried psychedelics more than 100 times), <\/em>and the most frequently used substances were magic mushrooms and LSD.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Similarities and Differences Between Psychedelic Trips and NDEs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The main similarities<\/strong> between psychedelic trips and NDEs were:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n