We are all born, and we will all die. People are usually excited and good with the born part, but the death part is a totally different story. Oftentimes people find reasons for not dealing with discussions around death. Discussing death is an uncomfortable conversation, but not nearly as stressful as life can be after the death of a loved one.
When dealing with death we can either have time to prepare our minds or completely be caught off guard and in complete shock and disbelief. People tend to handle a death they were forewarned of better; this would include old age, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or other natural causes of death. But when it is a total shock such as a car accident, a freak accident, a murder, a child or young person; this is where people tend to struggle even more.
A person’s mental health may be compromised when dealing with death. Not only do people have to deal with the sadness and grief of losing a loved one, they are sometimes faced with other obstacles and valid questions such as:
- What do I do?
- What were my loved ones wishes?
- Who will preach the funeral?
- Where will the burial be?
- How much will a funeral cost?
- Who is in charge?
- Who gets what?
- Was there a will?
- Was there an insurance policy?
As if grieving wasn’t enough, if you want to change the mood of a grieving person, ask them about getting something materialistic from the deceased person. This will cause most people to blow a gasket. When someone dies a multitude of emotions surface and people struggle with a place to put all of their feelings. Without a strategy or a good support system, this can become stressful and overwhelming.
Here are a few things that every adult should be in place at all times:
- The contact information of a licensed professional therapist
- An official will signed by a lawyer and notarized
- Copies of the will either given to the beneficiary or instructions given on where to locate the will
- A power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and an advanced directive in place
- Clear wishes of where the person wants to be funeralized, what type of service they want, whether they want to be buried or cremated or both.
Although death is one of the greatest fears people have, we must still make preparations for ourselves and those we will leave behind. It’s never too early to plan for your death, but it can be too late. Make strong efforts to plan for your death while you are still well. Many people experience symptoms of stress and depression in dealing with death. Consider the stress and grief loved ones will experience and try to make preparations so this is a smooth process for those left behind.