Death and Dying

Dealing with Death

Death is an unavoidable part of life that affects everyone in some way at some point in their live, whether we experience death from the passing of a loved one, a close friend, or simply someone we worked with.  The grieving process is what we all go through just after the death of someone close.  Bereavement is the state or condition caused by loss through death.  Grief is the sorrow, hurt, anger, guilt, confusion, and other feelings that arise after suffering a loss.  The way in which we express our grief is called to mourning.  (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2010).  There are four main aspects of grief that people must go through to accomplish the process of coping with a loss: the reality of the loss, the emotional turmoil, adjusting to the environment, and loosening the ties with the deceased.  It is much easier to go through the grieving process when the death is expected, when the death is unexpected it becomes much more difficult to handle.  (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2010).  One to two years is a normal amount of time for someone to grieve after the death of someone; however this time period may vary with the person, depending on specific factors like age and closeness to the deceased.  People deal with death in different ways.  In United States, we hold events that are meant to celebrate the passing of the person, such as funerals, wakes, and memorials.  After these events people tend to remember the individual in a number of different ways.  For example, some individuals carry an object around as a reminder of who they have lost.  The best way to deal with the loss of a loved one is to surround yourself with other loved ones and friends.  (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2010).  Surrounding yourself with loved ones and close friends helps with the grieving process by knowing there are still people involved in their lives and to help them remember the good times that were shared with those who have passed rather than sitting around wishing they were still alive.  Often when an individual passes away there are many different kinds of resources to aid in the processes of death and grieving.  At Maple Crest there are pamphlets on how to deal with death and what they are experiencing and how to accept it and move on, such as, As death Approaches and When Death is Near.  There are also experienced people to talk to, to aid in the process and help get them through the tough times being experienced. 

 

References

Cavanaugh, J. C. & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2010). Adult development and aging. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2011)