Distressing Near-Death Experiences

Abstract

Most reported near-death experiences include profound feelings of peace, joy, and cosmic unity. Less familiar are the reports following close brushes with death of experiences that are partially or entirely unpleasant, frightening, or frankly hellish. While little is known about the antecedents or aftereffects of these distressing experiences, there appear to be three distinct types, involving (1) phenomenology similar to peaceful near-death experiences but interpreted as unpleasant, (2) a sense of nonexistence or eternal void, or (3) graphic hellish landscapes and entities. While the first type may eventually convert to a typical peaceful experience, the relationship of all three types to prototypical near-death experiences merits further study. The effect of the distressing experience in the lives of individuals deserves exploration, as the psychological impact may be profound and long-lasting.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Near-death experience ↕Mixed

  Describes three types of distressing NDEs: peaceful-type phenomenology interpreted as unpleasant, a sense of nonexistence or eternal void, and graphic hellish landscapes and entities.

  Synthesized October 19, 2026

Comparable studies

Other narrative reviews on near-death experience, most cited first.