Uva Research Sheds Light On The Effective Ways To Help People Cope With Near-death Experiences

Near-death experiences tin person lasting, life-changing effects, and caller University of Virginia School of Medicine investigation sheds ray connected nan types of counseling and support that tin champion thief group cope.

The research, from UVA's Division of Perceptual Studies, is believed to beryllium nan first to research nan astir communal and effective ways to assistance group grappling pinch perchance profound changes to their world view. For most, near-death experiences, aliases NDEs, person a affirmative effect; nan brushwood pinch decease tin springiness experiencers renewed intent successful life, a desire to service others and an appreciation for being portion of a greater whole. But moreover past immoderate group whitethorn struggle to make consciousness of nan experience, particularly if their NDE conflicts pinch their belief aliases existential beliefs, individual values aliases technological views. Additionally, individuals who person had an NDE whitethorn struggle pinch incorporating changes successful priorities, relationships and values into their lives.

In dealing pinch nan aftermath of a near-death experience, group tin use from nan correct type of support, says interrogator Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, of UVA Health's Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences.

We cognize a batch astir these experiences from decades of research, including their emblematic manifestations, incidence, aesculapian circumstances, their effect connected individuals and moreover nan physiological conditions of patients who person them. However, nan investigation connected really to support these patients and their circumstantial needs is still limited. We dream to statesman addressing this spread and to animate different researchers, particularly clinicians, to give clip and attraction successful pursuing these questions."

Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, UVA Health's Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences

Effects of near-death experiences

Pehlivanova and her colleagues looked astatine nan types of master help, therapy and different forms of support sought by 167 group aft their near-death experiences and nan factors that foretell who will request support aft nan experience. The researchers besides asked nan experiencers really adjuvant they recovered nan different forms of support.

More than half of nan experiencers – 64% – had reached retired for help, and 78% of those recovered nan support helpful. The greater nan strength of nan NDE, nan much apt nan experiencers were to activity help, nan researchers found. People pinch a history of psychological difficulties were besides importantly much apt to activity support.

One cardinal to successful support was acceptance and validation. Many group hesitate to activity thief for fearfulness they will beryllium branded "crazy," nan researchers note. Strikingly, group who received a affirmative aliases accepting first guidance erstwhile they disclosed their experiences were overmuch much apt to picture nan wide support they received arsenic beneficial. 

People were besides apt to picture nan support arsenic adjuvant if they were older, if they described their childhoods arsenic happy – hinting astatine greater resilience – and if they received support from groups aliases online sources that are "friendly" to and knowledgeable astir nan arena of near-death experiences, nan researchers study successful a caller technological insubstantial outlining their findings.

Further, group who described their intelligence wellness arsenic bully were little apt to study seeking support aft their NDE and much apt to study that support was helpful, if they sought it. This whitethorn because they person greater mental-health resiliency allowing them to process nan NDE without nan request for outer support, aliases their existent intelligence wellness whitethorn person been nan consequence aliases receiving validating support, nan researchers say.

Notably, support received from mental-health professionals was associated pinch little perceived helpfulness. This whitethorn bespeak a request for much counselors, therapists and wellness master specifically trained successful helping group header pinch near-death experiences, nan researchers conclude.

"We are hoping that this activity brings ray to nan support needs of individuals who person had a near-death acquisition and are trying to make consciousness of it and its impact," Pehlivanova said. "In a caller era of holistic diligent attraction and extended investigation connected these experiences, including successful aesculapian journals, it is important to item nan request for acquisition of healthcare providers to reside nan spread of attraction for these patients."