The fear of death is one of the oldest fears of the human race, and stems in large part from the fact that no one is quite sure what is on the "other side". In some cases, the fear of death is exacerbated when a person is terminally ill and inevitably realizes that their time is almost up. This feeling, sometimes called "death anxiety", is usually accompanied by bouts of depression, and they experience some problems related to interpersonal relationships. This “death anxiety” can sometimes be a problem for the people around the deceased, although some psychological side effects have also been observed.
Often, this problem is largely ignored in order to prolong the life of the patient or to make his last days as comfortable and painless as possible. For most medical professionals, the physical aspect of death is much simpler than dealing with the emotional and psychological aspects. However, quite recently, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to the problems posed by "death anxiety" and measures that can be taken to help reduce the emotional pain of those involved. This inevitably includes both the dying patient himself and the people around him, who will have to deal with emotional reckoning even after the patient dies.
Dealing with the depression that a person may feel due to "death anxiety" is no easier than normal depression. In fact, it is quite possible that the problem is actually worse than usual, as the inevitability of death is looming on the horizon. This applies to both the sick and their loved ones, who will have to deal with the terrible reality that a loved one will die. Taken in context, depression can easily be seen as something beyond death, so much so that a problem that only seriously affects the patient "infects" the people the patient leaves behind.
Recent findings show that support groups are often good at helping people emotionally prepare for death. This is for patients and their families alike who may need a little more help coping with the coming of death. Others find it helpful to be exposed to others who are experiencing or have experienced the same problems. Most psychologists believe that exposure to others who feel the same pressures and problems can be effective in helping someone cope with both the loss of a loved one and the potential psychological damage a terminal illness can do.
Standard support materials such as magazines, brochures, and the like have been circulating among terminally ill patients for several years. Most mental health professionals note that these have an observable positive effect on a person's overall mood during periods of "death anxiety," but often not enough to prevent someone from falling into depression. These can be helpful and are usually readily available in the offices of doctors and specialists who regularly deal with such problems.
Anxiety is a natural human response. And contrary to popular opinion, anxiety can be beneficial because it alerts people to potential dangers and releases an adrenaline rush that can help them complete a task in record time.
But like many things, anxiety can have disastrous results when taken to the extreme. These feelings can lead to panic attacks and chronic anxiety that can gradually affect the way a person deals with other people and normal life situations.
Syed Hassan
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