Of Death and Dying essays

Of Death and Dying essays Although for the religious person death can be viewed as a joyful passing from this natural life to an eternal spiritual existence, the subject of death is still not easy to address. Our lives hold so many hopes, dreams, and plans, and when death comes, it means a sure end to all that we had hoped to accomplish, and all that we have done. Relationships will no longer enrich us, and the loved one, although believing to pass on into eternal bliss, often passes through a gateway of pain or disease When we experience a major loss, grief is the normal and natural way our mind and body react. Although everyone grieves differently, a common pattern has been identified of 5 specific stages of the grieving process. Someone experiencing grief moves through this series of emotional stages which include shock, numbness, guilt, anger and denial. Physical responses can accompany these steps in the grieving process. They can include: sleeplessness, inability to eat or concentrate, lack of energy, and lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed. Finally, time always plays an important role in the grieving process. As the days, weeks and months go by, the person who is experiencing loss moves through emotional and physical reactions that normally lead back toward acceptance, healing and getting on with life as fully as possible. Sometimes a person can become emotionally overwhelmed in the grieving process, and stay locked on one of the staged for a prolonged period of time. There is no set time table for this process, and one often completes one step, and after time passes, cycles through the same step when different memories surface regarding the deceased. Serious losses are never easy to deal with, but someone who is having trouble beginning to actively re-engage in life after a few months should consider getting professional help. For example, if continual depression o...