Death and dying

Coming to terms with the prospect of imminent death, and preparing for this eventuality, is an emotional process, for the dying person and their family. When a person is told that they are dying from their disease, an initial phase of denial is common. This can be followed by feelings of confusion, anger, distress, and sadness.

Reactions to grief run the spectrum of human emotion and affect a person in profound and wide-ranging ways.

While there's no absolute prescription for a perfect grieving process, there are some ways to make it a more cathartic and enriching experience.

Everyone reacts differently when they have a life-threatening illness. Their reaction will depend on many factors that include personality, relationship styles, spirituality and religious beliefs, and how they have coped with difficult situations in the past. You, as their friend or loved one, wish to help by words and actions.

What do you do if your grief gets out of control? Recognize these 4 hallmarks of unhealthy grieving.