Understanding End Of Life Stages

Knowing that a loved one is at the end of their life and could die at any time is too overwhelming. How does one handle a tragic loss? There are no precise methods for coping with grief, but there are procedures that can help us in moving forward to happier days. 

Grief manifests itself in different ways for different people at different times, but adapting stages make up for it. We go through different phases to cope up with loss – and it’s normal! Healing takes courage, and we all have it.

We must learn to adjust to the changes of life. Each person’s adapting technique is unique. Become more familiar with end-of-life phases so you can prepare yourself with similar unexpected situations. 

Denial

The moment you start denying the news and thinking life makes no sense indicates you’re in the stage of denial. Being diagnosed with a terminal illness or getting word of a loved one’s death leaves you in a state of shock because your life as you know it, changes in an instant. In the denial stage, you cling to false hope and make up your own image of what it would be like to live in your “preferable” reality rather than the real world. It’s common in this phase to wonder how things will unfold soon. 

Anger

In this stage, you might start thinking that life isn’t fair. You will wonder why, you have been chosen to be in such a critical situation. Allowing your anger to build up inside of you is unhealthy; instead, let it out and encourage it. The more deeply you experience your anger, the faster it will dissipate. Allowing yourself space to express some of your anger prevents it from bubbling up and accumulating inside. Staying connected to reality is an important aspect of the healing process.

Bargaining

This stage is primarily described as consisting of false hopes. Have you ever caught yourself thinking constantly about “what ifs”? This is the stage where you try to bargain and convince yourself that you can avoid grief. You are desperate to reclaim the life you once knew.

Bargaining is the stage where guilt takes place. You might catch yourself saying “God please let my partner live longer, I will do everything – and you’ll never hear me complain again. Just please give her more time” This is bargaining. You’re willing to go above and beyond to influence the outcome of what’s about to happen in your favor.

Depression

Most people consider depression as a common part of grieving. Depression reflects our emptiness – feeling numb and wanting to withdraw from life. Usually in this stage, you will frequently ask yourself what’s the point of going on with life living in reality that the person is gone. You just wanted to be by yourself because you may feel as though the world is too much for you to handle. This is the stage where one becomes and feels ‘hopeless and helpless’.

Acceptance

Acceptance is the final stage. You’re coming back to your senses at this point, and you’re beginning to realize that everything has an end. Adjusting to get used to life without someone. In this phase, you return to reality and accept that things have changed and that the life you once had will never return. The number of positive days tends to outnumber the amount of negative days. You’re healing, growing, and progressing towards the brighter days.

In a Nutshell

It may be difficult to learn to live with the one we’ve lost, but it’s a process that should not be rushed. Everyone goes through the phases of grief differently; not everyone goes through them all at the same time or in the same order. As long as we let out and encourage our feelings, healing from a life loss will be progressive.

Receiving assistance during difficult times relieves and lightens a person’s burden. Choose a support with extraordinary care. Choose Advanced Health Care for the expected, unexpected and everything in between.