What Dying Feels Like. This Is What We Know

It’s not many people’s favorite topic, but what dying feels like is worth knowing. We leave death out of view, making it a scary, lonely experience all of us must go through. But here is what we know so far.

Edited by David Stone

Based on the information obtained from various sources, the common explanations of what death might feel like often involve gradual loss of senses and consciousness. Here are some key points:

Here’s the Latest Insight on Dying: The Symptoms

Loss of Appetite and Thirst: As per The Atlantic, one of the first signs is a loss of hunger and thirst. The body starts to shut down its normal functions which may result in a decreased need for food and drink.
Gradual Loss of Senses: Speech and vision are usually the next to go, followed by hearing and touch. This sense loss is progressive and typically follows a specific order.
Terminal lucidity or Paradoxical Lucidity. It’s a phenomenon where individuals with severe psychiatric or neurological disorders (including those in comas or non-responsive states) or those nearing the end of their lives unexpectedly regain mental clarity, memory, or consciousness shortly before death.
Increased Fatigue: According to Healthdirect Australia, most people who are dying feel increasingly tired. They may want to sleep more often, or for longer periods.
Physical Discomfort: Some people may experience physical discomfort or pain. However, palliative care and modern medicine can help manage these symptoms to make the person as comfortable as possible.
Near-Death Experiences (NDEs): Some individuals have reported unique experiences when they were clinically dead but resuscitated later. As per Scientific American, these can be either positive or negative experiences, with the former receiving more attention. Positive experiences often relate to feelings of overwhelming peace, love, or a sense of being in the presence of a divine entity.

It’s crucial to remember that these descriptions are based on common patterns observed in terminally ill patients or accounts of near-death experiences. Everyone’s experience with death will be individual and unique.