How Do You Feel Before Death? Here’s What We Know About It …

Death is one of those puzzles for which it is impossible to formulate a definitive answer. Accepting and assimilating the idea of ​​an absolute end is not easy. This is why it is a concept that generates fear, apprehension or curiosity, in any case. And although little is known about it, it is an experience we will all go through, inevitably, one day or another.

Religion gave the first answers about death. Perhaps death (the point at which no one has given testimony) is precisely one of those reasons why religions are born and endure over time. In the context of most of them, we accept the existence of a spirit or a beyond which transcends biological life and which will give a parallel world, which is invisible, imperceptible, but which is there and which awaits us all (or in any case, those who deserve it).

Science has also tried to decipher this riddle. Even though there are many scientists who hold religious beliefs, science considers Man to be a distinctly biological being, whose mere existence does not extend beyond the last beat of his heart. Quantum physics has explored other perspectives, such as that of parallel universes, but for now, all of this remains in the hypothesis stage.

In contrast, advances have been made by science in understanding all of the physical and psychic processes surrounding death. Precisely to amplify the understanding of these aspects, in the United States, a team of researchers conducted a study on this subject, and the results are very interesting.

Many of us have already wondered, what does it feel like before dying? How do you experience this moment of detachment from life? Is it painful? Are we overwhelmed by the fear of taking the final step into the unknown? Can we really see our whole life passing in front of our eyes in a single instant?

To answer these questions, a group of researchers from the University of North Carolina, led by Professor Kurt Gray, conducted a study. For this, they started from two groups who were living near death experiences. The first of these groups was made up of terminally ill patients. The second, him, of people who were in prison, and condemned to death.

Members of the first group were asked to open a blog and share their feelings there for a minimum of three months. The publication had to contain at least 10 entries. At the same time, something similar was asked of a subgroup of volunteers; they were asked to imagine being diagnosed with cancer and to write about it. In the second group, made up of prisoners on “death row”, we heard their last words.

In both cases, what we were trying to assess were the feelings and emotions that arise in the face of imminent death. We also wanted to identify if all of this internal world was showing any changes as the last hour approached.

A team of psychologists set to work to analyze the speeches of the first group as well as of the parallel subgroup. These psychologists drew conclusions based on the words of members of these groups, which described or evoked their emotions. From there they were able to come up with some interesting results, the first of which was that the terminally ill expressed more positive emotions than the group of volunteers. So the closer the time of death, the more positive their messages.

With the prisoners on the verge of death, something similar happened. Their final speeches did not center on suffering, regret or hatred towards the authorities who had imposed the death penalty. Rather, their words were full of love, understanding and emotional meaning. In both groups there were references to religion and family.

Professor Kurt Gray, leader of the study, concluded that “the process of dying is less sad and terrifying, and happier than you think . ” Even if death as such is a concept that generates anguish and fear because of the uncertainty that surrounds it (beyond everyone’s faith), when it comes time to consciously face it, people tend to evolve, so much so that they come to see their own death as something constructive and meaningful.

It would seem that the adaptability of the human being is gigantic and that it is expressed in all its fullness in borderline moments, such as death. Psychologically and physiologically, people develop mechanisms that allow them to face the reality of the end with wisdom. This is why Gray asserts, with full conviction, that “Death is inevitable, but suffering is not”.