The Realities Of Death

Death is something that some of us try to avoid dealing with or talking about and unfortunately planning for as well. The result is that we meet death head on without a clue as to how to handle it. Most of us fear what happens to us after we die, or what happens to our bodies. Those of us with faith in God may not fear death as much as those without faith; but we too must deal with it when it comes to those we love. Parents assume that our kids will die after we do and the sad truth is that in this world sometimes children die before their parents.

Science, philosophy and various religions all debate the death issue and no one knows for sure all of the answers to the questions posed by those who seek understanding of what happens after death.

The medical community would have us believe that we can recognize the final stages of death and prepare for how the body shuts down. So many questions have been answered about the physical aspects of death and not enough about the mental, emotional and spiritual compositions of death.

Hospitals and Hospices have many resources available regarding the grieving process, the symptoms of grief and how to cope with death.

Physical symptoms of grief:

* Alternating periods of fatique and high energy

* Hearing loss or vision loss which is temporary as experienced due to dissociation

* Sleeplessness or sleeping too much

* a loss of appetite or overeating

* Muscular tremors

* Sweating or chills

* Respiratory difficulties that may involve rapid respirations

* Elevated blood pressure or an increase in heart rate

* Stomach pain or intestinal upset

* Dizziness, feeling nausea or lightheaded

Everyone handles death and grieving in their own way and no two individuals will go through the grieving process in quite the same way or in the same amount of time.

Death is not just about the emotion. There are legal and financial matters that must be decided upon the death of a loved one. There are matters regarding the disposal of the body, cremation or burial, organ donation or not, the process of planning the wake and the funeral. Trying to wrestle with decisions regarding legal, financial and funeral matters while grieving is more difficult than planning for them in advance. Many of us fail to preplan because we dislike thinking about death.

Death can come suddenly such as from a heart attack or stroke or from a fatal car crash, or as a victim of a crime; in which case loved ones do not have the chance to say good-bye or to prepare for the death. Death can also come after a long bout of illness in which there is plenty of time to prepare not only emotionally but legally and financially too. Of the two ways, most would probably prefer to know in advance that death is approaching so that there is time to get affairs in order and to "tie up loose ends", repair relationships, or to say goodbye. With the advance in medical science many of people in today's society are experiencing more of the long-term notice instead of the sudden variety of death.

Discussing with a partner or spouse issues such as death can help to spare the surviving spouse some of the pain of planning things while going through the grieving process.

Recommended Reading

1. The Financial Responsibilities Involved When A Loved One Dies
2. Spousal Death, Grief And Decisions
3. Why You Should Arrange Your Own Funeral In Advance
4. Death Of A Child
5. Addressing The Legal Aspects Of Death