Grief And Dying Essay

THE ROLE OF LEGACY IN LOSS, GRIEF AND THE DYING PROCESS.
With the mention of death, three words come to mind, e.g., grief, mourning, and bereavement. Although, Touhy and Jett (2016) cited that these three words are used interchangeably, the authors differentiated the three, e.g., bereavement indicates the occurrence of a loss; grief referred to the emotional response to the loss, and mourning as the “outward expression of loss” (p. 482). It should be noted, that all three implied a loss. In addition, they are applied not only in times of death, but also in all kinds of loss. A loss brings along with it a trail of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. One such thought is the consideration of what it would be when one is gone forever. As discussed

However as cited by Hedtke (2002) “Death does not have to be a solitary act of futility without benefit to those around us. As they face their own deaths or their loved ones’ deaths, many people…find these ideas uplifting and encouraging” (P. 292). Grief and dying can be a growth process and complete “when the bereaved persons are able to recall the loss of the loved one without the painful agony that they may have experienced in the early stages of their grief” (Farrell, 1898, p. 40). As for the person who died, it is the knowledge “that they will not be forgotten is a source of peace for the dying as well as for the living. The significance of a person’s life continues even if the person is not around to remind people. Questioning people whenever possible about how they wish to be remember” (Hedtke, 2002, p.

As cited by Riely (2003) “No one, neither adult nor child, grieves in the same manner” (p. 213). Parents usually do not tell the whole story of a death to children. “Children are “are not allowed to talk about who, what, when, where, and why a death has occurred” (Riely, 2003, p. 213). Not sure about what is going on, children try to piece together the bits of information they get and sense. Eventually, children “regard the death as a frightening, mysterious, traumatic experience with untrustworthy parent or adult caregivers who offer them no way to cope” (Riely, 2003, p. 213). Death often “elicits shock, denial, great anxiety, and distress” (Riely, 2003, p. 213). Thus, as children are not given permission to be sad and to grieve, “they fantasize and idealize the relationship with the dead. Children try to act grown-up in an attempt to master the pain of their loss and will deny helplessness. They tend to exhibit fearful, phobic behaviors and hypochondrias” (Riely, 2003, p.