ates from college or until a wedding takes place. The anger, rage, and postponing eventually are displaced by a sense of loss at something that is inevitable. This is known as stage four, depression. Depression can be reactive or preparatory. Reactive depression includes such aspects as loss of self-esteem and guilt. Preparatory depression encompasses acceptance of the impending loss of life but the individual finds encouragement empty or lacking in meaning at this point. Silence is often the state of individuals experiencing preparatory depression. Finally, the individual progresses to stage five, acceptance. During acceptance the individual comes to terms with the loss of life and takes stock of the good aspects they have known. They eventually get to a place where they are pretty much void of feelings. The individual at this point finds peace and acceptance. Individuals often exhibit differences when moving through this process. For example, some may readily accept death while others fight it and maintain hope until the end.
Kubler-Ross, E. (1997). On Death and Dying. New York, NY: Scribner.
In Dying Well, Dr. Ira Byock (1998) criticizes the perceptions and attitudes or even the lack of attitude maintained toward death in U.S. culture, ôI believe that the root cause underlying the mistreatment and needless misery of the dying is that America, as a culture, has no positive vision and no sense of direction with regard to lifeÆs endö (244). There are social, cognitive, affective, familial, and spiritual aspects of dying with dignity. Cognitively, we all recognize that death is universal and inevitable for human beings. Nevertheless, our psyche is often unable to deal with the reality of death with dignity. Often we become angry, isolated and withdrawn, or even violent when confronted with our own mortality. Physical and emotional suffering accompanies the dying process. Without some purpose or meaning to e...