In such cases, I look to my own gut feeling as the only indicator I can really go on... (LH)

"Gut feelings" can be useful personal "indicators". That depends on the person's ability to accurately (and honestly) interpret exactly what it is their "gut" is "indicating".      

... since there is no viable means of seeking what is termed "empirical evidence" about it.

My own recent experiences suggest that while these "viable means" of seeking evidence are very uncommon, they do occasionally present themselves.

I did forget another reason that can lead to OBEs: hypoxia (Wolfgang)

Yes. That's why there's so many reports of "near-death experiences". As physical energy and awareness decrease due to the lack of oxygen, non-physical (by that I mean emotional, mental, intuitive and spiritual) energy and consciousness (awareness) increases.

There's more than one interpretation to your very real experiences. (But that requires a bit of open-mindedness.)

Hypoxia is certainly the "trigger" a lot of people report, that most - but certainly not all - people even seem to require to have an OBE.

"Triggers" and "interpretations" are quite different things, however.