The phenomenon of being mentally alert, and terrified, while supposedly under full general anesthesia: When a patient is paralyzed, unable to speak, and totally helpless to communicate due to his/her anesthesia awareness, the actual cutting pain may or may not be present, however the patient is often unable to communicate with the surgical team when this takes place.

It is said that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs in approximately 50% of anesthesia awareness victims, and of that 50%, it is believed that 80% may never get over the trauma of such an experience.