PRESS RELEASE FOR MEDIA STORIES ABOUT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES

There is no longer any question about the validity of near-death states. The Dutch Study published 12-15-01 in Lancet Medical Journal by cardiologist Pim van Lommel (a prospective clinical study, 10 hospitals, 344 cardiac patients, 2 and 8 year follow-ups), lays that to rest along with most of the arguments that seek to toss off the phenomenon as nothing more than "oxygen deprivation," or the like. Defining it, though, is no simple task. We know now that the "classical model" of ßoating free of the body (as if a spirit), traveling through a tunnel, encountering a bright and loving light, being met by deceased loved ones, knowing or being told "It isn't your time, you must return," reviving back in the physical body - isn't really that classical. What people experience on "The Other Side" of death is far more wide-ranging than that; description given and how the episode is interpreted depend more on cultural traditions and language constraints than on what actually occurred.

In my own research base of 4,000 (plus) adult and 277 child experiencers, I found four distinctive patterns of near-death experiences, not one. They are: the initial experience (usually brief and simple) consists of things like the loving nothingness, the living dark, a friendly voice, brief out-of-body experience, a visitation; the unpleasant or hellish experience encounters with a threatening void or stark limbo, hellish purgatory, scenes of a startling and unexpected indifference, even "hauntings" from one's own past (life reviews are common); the pleasant or heavenly experience loving reunions with deceased relatives/friends, reassuring religious figures/angels/beings of light, validation that life counts, affirmative and inspiring dialogue (life reviews are common); and the transcendent experience exposure to otherworldly dimensions and scenes beyond the individual's frame of reference, revelations of greater truths about creation/history/humankind (seldom personal in content).

When asked what are the most common elements found in near-death experiences, I can say without hesitation: out-of-body episodes, and that incredibly bright, loving light. There aren't that many people who report "tunnels." Most of those in my research base found themselves in another dimension fairly soon after they left their bodies. "Greeters" are commonplace, someone who suddenly appears and then acts as a guide. In most accounts, spirit greeters are deceased loved ones, yet they can also be deceased pets. Yes, animals. Although visitations by angels, light beings, and religious figures are frequently reported, less typical but hardly rare are descriptions of unfriendly, critical greeters and demonic-type beings. With those I had sessions with, the occurrence of unpleasant or hellish experiences was 1 out of 7. Another researcher felt that 1 out of 5 was more accurate, and he may be right. I honestly feel that distressing near-death experiences are underreported because people are either afraid or ashamed to admit they had one. After the experience is over, it isn't over. There are aftereffects physical changes (unusual sensitivity to light and sound, electrical sensitivity, lower blood pressure, decreased tolerance of pharmaceuticals, to name a few), and personality changes (latent abilities surface, become more tolerant and emotionally expressive, smarter than before, enhanced creative/psychic abilities, more spiritual, and so forth).

What does this all mean? The vast majority consider the near-death phenomenon to be a spiritual experience, an opportunity to know for certain that God exists and that we each are co-creators with God in making this a better and more loving world. That's our job, and whatever we do to fulfill that job, large or small, is important. Yet the most oft-repeated phrase experiencers exclaim after their episode is "Always there is life." If that is true, then how can there be an afterlife, or, a before life? Or a single span of months or years? Maybe it's life we need to redefine, not death. By P.M.H.Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D. (Hon.)

For summary charts of the various aspects of my research findings, please refer to "The Eight Research Charts." Thank you, PMH

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CORRECTION IN REPORTINGS OF NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES

There is now a concerted effort with researchers of near-death states to "set the record straight" as to percentages of occurrence. Most surveys conducted by various magazines and organizations in the past were not scientific or even reliable. The problem is ambiguous questions which slant answers. The result: overestimates, that are based more on wishful thinking than anything close to verifiable facts.

The poll used today, giving an estimate of 15 million near-death experiencers in the United States (or 5% of the population), was conducted by U. S. News & World Report in 1997. However, the figure more in keeping with actual case reportings in the United States, Holland, and Germany is 4% (which makes 11 million in the U.S.). What is of keen interest to researchers is that the 4% figure for general populations is showing up in other countries worldwide. Because of this, researchers are down-scaling the percentages they quote. Some references: Random inquiry in Germany (Schmied, et al) conducted in 1999 and the original Gallup Poll done in 1982.

For those people who were near death, nearly died, or who did die but later revived or were resuscitated, the estimate of one-third that was previously used to indicate how many would have a near-death experience is also over-inflated. The number is closer to between 12 to 20 percent. The real problem here, though, is with children.

There has never been any survey of any kind that addresses child experiencers of near-death states. A given assumption in poll taking is that an individual's near-death experience occurred in adulthood. Preliminary work by Melvin Morse, M.D., a pediatrician in the State of Washington, suggests that with child experiencers the figure is closer to 70% - more than double that of adults. Since Morse's work has yet to be duplicated, especially in other countries, no conclusions can yet be drawn as to what this difference might mean.

It can be said that near-death cases are on the rise.

What cannot be said with any real degree of confidence is by how much.

. . . by P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., near-death researcher, http://www.pmhatwater.com

A Short Bio:

P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D. is one of the original researchers in the field of near-death studies, having begun her work in 1978. She has written nine books on her findings, and is now working on her tenth – the final wrapup of her theory about brain shift/spirit shift, straight talk about transformations of consciousness and the future of the human race. Some of her findings have been verified in clinical studies, among them the prospective study done in Holland and published in “Lancet” medical journal (12-15-01). Her “The Big Book of Near-Death Experiences” brings the entire field up-to-date, and was featured in an online version of “Newsweek Magazine.” In 2005, she was awarded the Outstanding Service Award from the International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists (NATH). Also a generational researcher, she wrote “Beyond the Indigo Children.” What some people do not realize is that she, too, is an experiencer, having died three times in three months in 1977, and each time experiencing the phenomenon. 

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