Out-of-Body Experiences: Coping Mechanisms for Trauma?

New research suggests that out-of-body experiences (OBEs) may serve as coping mechanisms triggered by trauma, rather than symptoms of mental illness. Based on data from over 500 individuals, those who had OBEs reported higher rates of mental health conditions, but also described lasting benefits from their experiences.

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs), where experiencers feel like their mind and/or spirit is detached from their body, may be symptoms of traumatic experiences or high stress situations, new research has shown. The new findings point to traumatic events, which often occur during childhood, as a likely cause of OBEs as opposed to poor mental wellness, as past research has suggested.

The Role of Out-of-Body Experiences in Coping with Trauma

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are associated with higher rates of mental health diagnoses and childhood trauma, but evidence indicates they may function as dissociative coping mechanisms. For years, psychiatry has largely treated OBEs as red flags for mental illness. People who report leaving their physical form and observing themselves from outside often face skepticism or pathological diagnoses. But new research challenges this assumption.

New Findings from the University of Virginia School of Medicine

New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that OBEs may be a coping mechanism for dealing with extreme stress and trauma. Professor Marina Weiler, a neuroscientist at the Division of Perceptual Studies, highlights the idea that OBEs could be triggered by overwhelming stress rather than being solely symptoms of mental illness.

Implications of the Study

This study challenges the common view that out-of-body experiences are solely signs of mental illness. Instead, it suggests that OBEs may function as coping strategies triggered by trauma or overwhelming stress, providing new insight into the potential benefits of these unique experiences.