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Loading...The Effects of Compassionate Presence on People in Comas
- Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
- October 21, 2012
- 10:00 am
- 46 comments
Have you ever wondered if someone in a near death state could hear your words or feel your presence?
Clues to the mystery of transition from earthly life are offered in accounts by individuals who have survived coma and unconscious states and from the experiences of people who care for the dying. Numerous reports from both practitioners and patients suggest that the presence of others who are loving and caring is helpful and meaningful for those who lapse into unconscious or non-communicative states near death. There has been little research, however, on the non-communicative dying to determine whether there is in fact any communication or exchange with those in their presence.
Motivated to understand more about the process of dying and ways to help people going through this process, Jeanne Denney of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, Calif. initiated a study. Her investigation explored the effects of “compassionate presence” on the mental, emotional and physical states of people near death in comatose or non-communicative states, as well as the effects on their caregivers and others who were with them.
Drawing on the Institute of HeartMath’s research on the heart’s role in “energetic communication,” Denney postulated that in these non-communicative states much of the nonverbal exchange between patients and caregivers or loved ones —such as feelings of love and compassion—could be communicated on some level via the heart’s energetic field. To provide a physical measurement of this communication, Denney used HeartMath’s emWave (formerly called Freeze-Framer®) heart rhythm monitor to record the heart rhythm patterns of hospice patients and volunteers–“sitters”–who were holding a state of loving compassion in their presence.
Up Next – More on Denney’s Research
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Read more: General Health, Health, Life, Men's Health, Mental Wellness, Nourishing the Heart, Spirit, Women's Health, awareness, comatose, consciousness, health, heart coherence, HeartMath, Inspiration, Institute of HeartMath, near death, spirit
Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
Sara Childre is President and CEO of the non-profit Institute of HeartMath. Since 1991, Sara has helped oversee and develop HeartMath trainings, educational products and scientific programs. She was appointed vice president and CFO of the institute in 1992, then president and CEO in 1998.
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46 comments
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No one explained to me when my grandmother was in a coma in 1960 that we should talk to them and spend time..they just put her in this cold hospital room and left her...I am so angry now I hope no one at the hospital is living that was alive then.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks
People who ridicule the effects the compassion and love are jerks!! I'm not saying people in comas or low states of conciousness are like animals, but its kinda like talking to your pet. Does it get everything you are saying? Does it always interact with you or have the "right" reaction? No, but you still talk to them because it makes them feel loved and helps them connect to you.
Christmas night, 1984 the doctor called to say that my Mother was passing away and I was the only one there with her that night and told her that I loved her. Early the next day the nurse asked me to leave the room and five minutes later my entire body began to shake. The nurse walked in seconds later to say that Mom had passed on.
September 14 this year I was to meet Dad at a hospital for day surgery but he was not there when I arrived. The nursing home told me on the phone that he had taken ill suddenly while getting ready to go to the clinic and that I must rush to be with him at the nursing home as the CAT scan showed his cancer (melanoma on the neck) has spread to his brain. He also was not conscious when I arrived to hold his hand and tell him that I loved him. At times he squeezed my hand and he must have heard what I said to him, that he would be joining Mom soon and a son killed in 2009 in a car accident. His sister and brother. who had passed years before would be there for him. I was grateful to be there so he could be with family. The sunset on the way home was vibrant and I like to think it was for him.
My Father, 83 year olds, took a turn for the worst in November of 2010...he was in a coma for a little over 3 months...during this time I would talk to him and sing Amazing Grace everyday...the horrible day came...the Doctors told us it was time to take him off life-support and to be prepared for him to die shortly after he was disconnected...to our surprise he didn't die...when he was finally able to talk again he asked me to sing Amazing Grace to him...he didn't know why, but that song made him feel safe...he lost the ability to walk and he also lost the use of his left hand, but with the grace of GOD my Daddy was back.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
thank you
Thank you
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