3 ms·

I find it very interesting. I don't doubt these experiences take place. I wonder (and suspect) if they influenced by the cultural upbringing and beliefs of the

by dusted 4y ago

I find it very interesting. I don't doubt these experiences take place. I wonder (and suspect) if they influenced by the cultural upbringing and beliefs of the dying subjects. What I find even more interesting is causation: * Do these experiences arise from the brain somehow "determining/observing/knowing that the body can no longer be sustained and is indeed about to die ? What seems to talk against that, is that patients sometimes seem to get better" right before. * Have the brain "determined" that it's time to let to of living? That is, have the dying subject come to term with their fate on such a deep level, that they are able to die ? I think this is sometimes the case.. When the body seemed physically to be able to go on for a little bit longer, and yet people die when they do. (This idea is generally frowned upon, I suspect because of unjust stigma against the willful death, we're supposed to keep fighting forever, no matter how much sense it makes.. but at some point, some of the dying probably accept their lot and let go in a peaceful way) I don't think every death is the same in this sense, sometimes, the brains seem to WANT to continue living but are physical prevented by something like thrombus somewhere vital. Those people probably don't have the forewarning dream days before..

joveian 4y ago
Since they are so common I would guess that it is more a physiological response. Many medications cause vivid dreams so it wouldn't be surprising that something that commonly happens near death has a similar effect. It could be that even the people who don't report it happening are often just not able to remember it happening. I agree there is a difference in how willing different people greet death and that it has some effects but I would guess it more likely relates to how likely someone is to get into the situation where the dreaming happens. I think there is more acceptence of older people accepting death; personally I would say there is danger in overemphasising either willing death or extreme avoidance of death. One thing that has interested me is the practice of some Buddhist monks of predicting (potentially even to some extent causing) their own death. Long term meditation can increase voluntary control of the autonomic system and I'm guessing something similar happens in willing vs. unwilling death; willingness to die may signal to the autonomic system not to make some types of corrections that could potentially be made.

by dusted 4y ago

joveian 4y ago

Since they are so common I would guess that it is more a physiological response. Many medications cause vivid dreams so it wouldn't be surprising that something that commonly happens near death has a similar effect. It could be that even the people who don't report it happening are often just not able to remember it happening. I agree there is a difference in how willing different people greet death and that it has some effects but I would guess it more likely relates to how likely someone is to get into the situation where the dreaming happens. I think there is more acceptence of older people accepting death; personally I would say there is danger in overemphasising either willing death or extreme avoidance of death. One thing that has interested me is the practice of some Buddhist monks of predicting (potentially even to some extent causing) their own death. Long term meditation can increase voluntary control of the autonomic system and I'm guessing something similar happens in willing vs. unwilling death; willingness to die may signal to the autonomic system not to make some types of corrections that could potentially be made.