Describe your personal reactions of feelings in this situation.?

Question

This is a situation in which a client, friend or family member has had to face a life-threatening illness and or impending death.

Answer 1

I would be of disbelief at first, then I would do all that I can to make that person,etc. happy for what time they have left.

Answer 2

The first reaction is denial, - Yes they know but they are going to deny its a serious as it is. They will try to act as if nothing has changed which will confuse people.
The second reaction in anger - Expect anger at the unjustness of it all, confusion as to why them when they have tried to do everything right, frustration at a lack of options.
Religion - Some people go through a deal with God phase a reversion to prayer and faith , for a miracle.
Grief and Fear The fear comes from the unknown future or the idea of death, the grief comes from regret of what never was and what will be lost
Acceptance. This is the point where the person accepts the loss and accepts fate, comes to peace with the fact. It may not happen for years in the case of a lost loved one.

All people go through these stages in some form or another, they can bounce back and forth between them as well. People can live their lives without ever coming to full acceptance of a loss. They can appear to accept it and suddenly seem to break down for no apparent reason.

Allow that every person deals with this in a different way. You are allowed to be scared, angry, fearful and you are allowed to grieve for as long as you want. This process can take a lifetime and thats OK too. The best thing you can do is allow them to feel and not encourage them to mask those feelings with substances. They need to know they are experiencing normal things.

My father died of a lengthy illness, it was not a surprise, but as much as I thought I knew, as much as I thought I was mentally prepared, it hit me harder than anything I have ever been through.

Answer 3

If this were a client I would remain professional and let them take the lead in the matter and support from their lead.

A friend I would respect their boundaries and support as per the relationship people experience things in different ways some may not want sympathy or a noticeable change in our interactions with each other again I would support and be there according to the friendship.

A family member I would totally immerse myself with according to their needs to insure that both of us receive what we need from the situation I will need as much time with them as they from me I think thay would need support and prayer and I would need to be close to them so in that it would be both of us in it together, until the end come what may we would go THRU it together.

Answer 4

I have experienced this one. My father died of Cancer.....anyway, I kind of went through stages. First I was shocked, I bawled my eyes out and then denial. I stayed there until he actually died. It didn't seem real. It still doesn't sometimes. He's been gone 5 1/2 years, but sometimes I still expect him to answer the phone or walk into the living room when I visit my step-mother. When he was alive I treated him the same as I did before we found out he was sick. But when he went into the hospital, I knew it was over for him and I was devastated, but I never wanted him to see me cry. I'm not sure why. I guess in my mind if I didn't cry around him then it was like it wasn't as bad as it really was. Honestly, I still think I'm in denial about the whole thing. I miss him. A lot.
Even he was shocked to be in the hospital. That was one thing he said a lot. "I can't believe I'm here." I think we all thought he would beat the disease and live................................it was alomst 6 months to the day he was diagnosed when he passed away, and to look at him, you would have never guessed he was sick.

Answer 5

Just last month a family friend died of cancer, it was so painful. I knew that her time would come soon, but I enjoyed the times she was here. It was very hard to deal with, knowing that one day she would no longer be around. Though, I know now that she is in a better place where there is no more pain or suffering. Just hold on to the memories forever!!!

Answer 6

My heart falls, I feel helpless, I shake my head no while asking myself why did this have to happen, was there something I could have done to stop it. What will i do now. Then i would reflect on the happy times we had together.
( I remember reading somewhere to not dwell on sad things longer then a few seconds so you do not get depressed over them)
Then i would have to go to word and write it all out so i could get it off my chest and out of my head.
Then i could start dealing with it.

Answer 7

I think listen, listen, listen is the correct action.
Feelings are all over the place...
from grateful it isn't me to guilty i feel that way to sad to abandoned etc. pulled between competing demands (having to be at work or lose my job or needing to be at the hopital or home with the sick person)...empathy is the best solution.

Answer 8

We all go through the 5 stages of mourning as described by Dr KublahRoss.
We deny it, get angry, try to bargain to get it to not be real,eventually we accept it.
It is a horrible thing to have to deal with. You have my sympathy.

Answer 9

I am religious, so I would turn to God for spiritual guidance. I would also turn to my church family and look for support groups in my community. I would spend as much time with the person as possible.

Answer 10

I really do not understand your question. If you are asking how to react to the above situation i would say be very supportive of them and there to help them.