OBE: Out of Body Experiences

What is an OBE?
OBE = Out of Body Experience
characterized by a feeling of departing from one’s physical body and observing both one’s self and the world from outside one’s body. The experience is quite common in dreams, daydreams, and memories, where we quite often take the external perspective. You may have hear of Near Death Experiences and associated symptoms similar to that of an OBE. Truth is, an NDE is a particular kind of OBE. Sadly, there is little known for sure about OBE's. Some of those who experience OBEs claimed to have done so willingly, while others report having found themselves being pulled from their bodies. In some other accounts, the feeling of being outside the body was suddenly realized after the fact, and the experiencers saw their own bodies almost by accident. OBEs often occur during the borderline stage between REM sleep and arousal when sleep paralysis may persist and dream imagery may mingle with sensory input.

Types of OBE's?
There are several kinds of circumstances surrounding OBE's, and so many have been classified as such.
-During or after sleep: Usually associated with Lucid Dreaming. Pretty self-explanatory.
-Self-Induced: Several researchers and individuals have developed theories of ways to induse an OBE. Naturally, some are said to be more effective than others. Everything from Electroids to illegal pharmaceuticals.
-Near-Death-Experiences(NDE): OBE's associated with extreme trauma or near-death experiences.

How can I experience an OBE?
Out of Body Experiences a far more common occurrence then most assume. Surveys suggest somewhere between 10-20% of the world's population have experienced an OBe at some point in their lives. Most people have experienced such phenomena and just flush it off, probably not knowing the symptoms of the event or it's relevance. Some people who experience them, but can not directly recollect the event. This is most common with folks who have trouble remembering dreams and those who experience narcoleptic tendencies. Some OBEs coincide with lucid dreaming. Some people experience an OBE while under the influence of an anesthetic or while semi-conscious due to trauma. Some people have an OBE while under the influence of certain drugs. OBEs have been induced by electrically stimulating the right angular gyrus (located at the juncture of the temporal and parietal lobes)(1, 2) Also, don't forget NDE's.

Explanations for OBE?
Explantions vary widely, as with most paranormal phenomena. Some neurologists have suspected that the event is triggered by a mismatch between visual and tactile signals. Astral Projection, Bilocation, Duelism, and remote viewing are all similar terms as explanations for OBE phenomena. Astral Projection is the most often referenced paranormal explanation and suggests that a consciousness is a separate entity from the body and can exist without the body and the body without it. The disembodied consciousness can experience with the same senses as usual. Some speculate that 'mind,' 'spirit,' or 'consciousness' can operate over vast distances and perceive objects by some mysterious power not yet discovered. Others think that they are due to brain states triggered by disease or stress. Interesting question: If people regularly detach themselves from their physical bodies, how do they find their ways back and how do they keep from getting lost or reentering the wrong one? That's a good one.

We chose to do this blog because we received an email from a reader about an experience similarly described as an OBE. If you have a problem, question, or personal experience you would like to share with ParanormalUnknown, you can contact us by email. (click "contact us")
Keep in mind that this is just some basics, not all-inclusive. If you want to look further into it, I would suggest Google.

Sources:
1. http://www.skepdic.com/obe.html
2. OBE triggered by electrictrodes
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-body_experience
4. OBERF