Navigating Health

Archive for May 7th, 2010

Coming to terms with the death of someone close to you is a difficult and traumatic issue, and it can be particularly difficult if you have been taking care of someone during a prolonged illness. The situation is emotionally exhausting and life changing and most people find that they seriously reconsider their own lives as a result. Grief manifests itself in many different ways and the grieving process is unique to each individual. It may however, be both possible and identify certain stages during the grieving process.

Anticipating grief may be helpful before an inevitable loss. Where a loved one is dying from a terminal illness, this can at least give relatives and friends the opportunity to take stock of the situation and to start dealing with the loss before it actually happens. This may result in a greater feeling of strength and acceptance when death actually occurs. The chance to say goodbye to a loved one can help enormously. Feelings of numberless and detachment are common after death has occurred, and the emotions one may anticipated may not arrive for sometime.

There is usually shock and an overwhelming sense of loss, along with feelings of emptiness, despair and helplessness. Your pattern of life will probably be disrupted for sometime, and you may experience a lack of appetite and difficulty in sleeping. Initial numberless will at some point give way to a range of emotions that tends to include depression and sadness. There may be a feeling of isolation and incredible loneliness. There may also be frustration and anger. Anger might be directed at other people or at yourself. There may be terrible guilt and self approach for not having more available, or for failing to say enough before it was too late.