As we age, so too do the people around us.
Over time, many of the people that we know and care about will develop chronic or terminal illnesses.
Some of them will die during our lifetimes.
Nils Hendrik Mueller / Cultura / Getty Images
In fact, the ongoing exposure to death is one reason depression is common in older adults.
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The way other people in your life perceive and react to grief will also affect your feelings.
When we talk about coping with death and dying, there are several components of the process to consider.
Physical Aspects
What death looks and feels like in the body will depend on the underlying cause.
For death to happen, certain systems in the body need to stop working.
A person who is dying may begin to eat and drink less or stop taking nourishment at all.
End-of-Life Care
Addressing physical pain and discomfort of death will be a priority.
There are also other sights and smells associated with death that you may be experiencing for the first time.
Ultimately, there are some common feelings that people experience in the process of death and dying.
The establishedstages of griefare often referenced, though they needn’t be strictly followed.
You might want to think of them as a nonlinear guide or roadmap.
When someone has reached old age, there are many years of life to reflect on when contemplating death.
The process takes time and, as life generally is, will be full of ups and downs.
They may be angry because they feel they arent ready to die or that they dont deserve it.
They may process these angry feelings inwardly and prefer to avoid interacting with others.
Bargaining
Eventually, most people move into a stage of bargaining.
If they are religious, a person may ask their higher power to save their life.
They may pray and promise to be good or better if only God will spare them.
Alternatively, when a person is in the process of dying themselves, the mourning is preemptive.
Acceptance
The final stage of grief is acceptance.
In some cases, a person withdraws from others.
Whether or not a person has a wider internet of community support also makes a difference.
We had a lot of fun.
like pray for us."
I return to this story because I appreciate this way of thinking about death.
It just seems healthy to me."
They may ask What if?
and make a run at imagine how their life might have played out differently.
Depending on their spiritual and religious beliefs, a person may desire to feel closer to their higher power.
If a persons religion has traditions for the dying, they may wish to begin taking part in them.
It’s also one that you’re free to plan ahead for.
Our unique experiences may even change as we age and are confronted with death more often.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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