“The scientific literature rarely discusses total unconsciousness, but this valuable book recounts 100 hospital patients' "lived experiences of being unconscious"....Lawrence does a commendable job of summarizing explanatory mechanisms from studies in sensory deprivation, personality theory, pharmacology, biophysiology, and parapsychology....[T]here is much welcome information here.”–
“"Well written and well referenced, both descriptively and scientifically, and presents a good blend of qualitative experiential data that is scientifically framed with existing paradigms. The author provides valuable insights of tremendous importance for clinicians and researchers and poses a number of research questions to be answered."”–
“This well-written book actively engages the reader. Over 100 references that exemplify cutting-edge information about unconscious phenomena are provided at the end of the text. This book is essential reading for clinicians and students caring for unconscious patients and for researchers studying consciousness or "paranormal" phenomena. Lawrence raises serious questions for considering paradigmatic shifts in the epistemology and ontology of the essence of humanness that nurses most certainly must contemplate.”–
Product Description
Up until now, we have had little knowledge of what the state of unconsciousness was like from the patient's point of view. Surprisingly, in a state considered void of human experiences, Lawrence found that the events subjects reported were extraordinary. Her research in hospital units and in the literature reveals that more than 70% of the individuals who regain consciousness remember events during their unconscious period. They heard and understood conversations, had inner dialogues, recognized their emotions, and went out of their bodies. As would be expected, some of the patients' experiences are the now-recognized classic NDEs (near-death experiences).
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