Conflicting Emotions as Death Nears

Family members and friends often experience conflicting emotions when death nears. Death may be seen as bringing relief to the patient, so friends and family may hope that it comes soon. On the other hand, one may feel unprepared emotionally for the person to die and hope that death will be postponed until you feel ready. Family and friends are also trying to prepare for a future without the patient’s presence and may feel a need to withdraw from the patient emotionally. At the same time, one may want to feel a closeness at the time of death that will bring peace later in mourning. This push-pull effect of letting go while simultaneously reaching out and trying to hang onto the person who is dying is a difficult challenge for most people. No one is ever fully prepared for the death of a loved one, but the emotional work that happens before death can make working through emotions during the grieving process a little bit easier.