Emotional Responses to Illness

Preparing for the death of someone close to you can seem insurmountable, and full of conflicting feelings. How you feel about this will be influenced many factors, not the least of which are; the length, type and progression of the illness and the patient’s and family’s attitude to illness and death. You may find yourself wishing for death and the relief it may bring for the patient, while simultaneously fearing death and your own loss.

Sometimes a serious illness is acknowledged, but there is anticipation of recovery. When it is finally understood that an illness is terminal, one must mentally prepare for death, but doesn’t know where to start. Although unable to immediately sort out emotions, given time, a person will likely begin to start grieving what the loss will mean to them – lost dreams, lost family, and loss of a cherished friend.