Out of Body, Loss of Self: Spiritual or Scary?

An out-of-body experience (OBE) is an intense form of bodily self loss where the self seems located outside the body. Among 171 respondents who reported having had an OBE, anxiety was not related to self loss with a relational component, such as mystical or positive spiritual experiences. However, significantly more anxiety occurred in those who experienced ego loss or deconstruction, had difficulty turning attention to internal bodily states (low mindfulness), or lacked self-concept clarity. Respondents who failed to make sense of their OBE reported more anxiety, more ego loss, lower mindfulness, and higher self-unclarity. The article also examines how respondents explain their OBE using medical, spiritual, or psychological explanations and why some succeed or fail in making sense of the experience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The main aim of the present study is to investigate when “loss of self” results in scaredness or anxiety during or after an out-of body-experience (OBE). An OBE is an intense form of (bodily) self loss in which people have the impression that their self is located outside their body. In a sample of respondents reporting to have had an OBE (n = 171), anxiety and different conceptualizations of “self loss” were assessed. In addition, questions were asked about meaning making processes after the OBE. Results show that there was no relationship between anxiety and self loss with a relational component (i.e., mystical experiences, positive spiritual experiences). However, there was significantly more anxiety in respondents who (1) (have) experience(d) ego loss/deconstruction, (2) have difficulties to (re)turn their attention to an internal bodily state (low mindfulness) and/or (3) experience a lack of self-concept clarity. Respondents who did not succeed in making sense of their OBE experience more anxiety, more ego loss/deconstruction, lower mindfulness and higher self-unclarity. Finally, the article examines how respondents explain their OBE (by using, for instance, medical, spiritual or psychological explanations) and how and why respondents do (not) succeed in making sense of the OBE.