Life After Death PART X (Depressed till Doomsday)

People commonly experience denial when told that they will likely die of their illness. They might also feel confused, distraught, angry, or sad, and they may withdraw. And as these reactions abate, they begin to prepare for death, which often means finishing a life's work, setting things right with family and friends, then making peace with the inevitable.
Spiritual and religious issues are important to some patients and their families. Members of the clergy are part of the care team in some hospice and hospital facilities, and professional caregivers can help patients and their families find appropriate spiritual assistance if they don't have a relationship with a rabbi, priest, minister, or other spiritual leader.

Preparing for death is hard work, with many emotional ups and downs. However, for most people, it's a time of new understanding and growth. By dealing with past hurts and mending relationships, a dying person and the family can achieve a profound sense of peace.Feeling sad when contemplating the end of life is a very natural response, but this sadness is not depression. A person who is depressed may lack interest in what's going on, see only the bleak side of life, or feel no emotions. A dying person and his family should talk to the doctor about such feelings so that the depression can be diagnosed and treated. Treatment, which usually combines drugs and counseling, is often effective, even in the last weeks of life, improving the quality of the time left.
Anxiety is more than normal worry: Anxiety is feeling so worried and fearful that it interferes with daily activities. Feeling uninformed or overwhelmed can cause anxiety, which may be relieved by asking caregivers for more information or help. A person who typically feels anxiety during periods of stress may be more likely to feel anxiety when dying. Some strategies that have helped the person in the past, including reassurance, drugs, and channeling worry into productive endeavors, will probably help him when dying. A dying person troubled by anxiety should get help from counselors and may need anti-anxiety drugs.