Hanging onto the past.

Many people get trapped in past events, and find it incredibly difficult to let go, and get on with life without the baggage harbouring in the subconscious mind. Your emotions are your internal guidance system, which is supposed to tell you when something is wrong, and also if you need to pay attention to something in your life.

If you wake up every morning with an unidentified feeling of fear that you have to shake off before you can get on with your day, your emotions may be trying to tell you there are unresolved issues in your life. You may constantly ignore the feelings of anxiety, but eventually your body will take over and present you with physical symptoms such as pain in the shoulders and tension in the back. Sometimes this type of anxiety takes a certain form, and when you take time to try and analyse it, you may realise that it originated with the loss of a loved one.

Facing terminal illness.

When you learn that a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, time seems to freeze at that very moment. However, you soon realise that life has to go on, regardless of whether you feel ready to cope with what may be required of you. If it is a family member you are close to, say for example, your sister, she will need emotional and physical support as she goes through the stages of her illness.

There are many losses to grieve before the end of a terminally person’s life actually comes. These losses may be experienced by family and friends, well before the loved one has actually passed away. For family and friends these feelings are often known as anticipatory grief, and can include experiencing some of the following:

·       Anxiety, sorrow.

·       Anger and depression.

·       Acceptance that the inevitable is going to happen.

·       Although painful in so many ways, a terminal illness does offer time to say goodbye, and make amends if necessary.

When death occurs suddenly, people often regret that they did not have the time to do these things.

The practical aspect.

If you are helping to care for a loved one who is dying, in additional to the emotional stress it brings you, there are many practical matters that have to be seen to. For example:

·       Arrange a hospice visit with the person’s permission. Hospice workers and hospital social workers have the skills to comfort and emphasise with terminal patients. They also have the skills to help you cope with your part in taking care of your loved one.

·       You can also ask the doctor to explain how the end of life will enfold, and how to give treatment needed for any pain. This is important when a cure is not possible, and the patient does not want any more aggressive treatment.

·       Encourage family and close friends to visit while it is still possible. The loved one will take heart in the fact that people still care.

Family and friends will also be willing to help with daily tasks like feeding, bathing, and simply being present at those times.

After death.

When the loved one has passed away, it may come as a sense of relief that there is no more suffering, but it will bring of whole new set of emotions for you. Unless these emotions are dealt with, they will remain in the subconscious mind and prevent you from having proper closure of all that has taken place.

At a later stage in life, the suppressed feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression, will return to haunt you in different ways, both mentally and physically.

Mental health experts agree that therapy, including hypnotherapy, is the key to restoring your mental and physical well-being. The therapist will be able to access the subconscious mind and help you to eliminate the negative thoughts which have held you captive.

Free of anxiety and stress about the death of a loved one, a new mindset will allow you to grieve properly, get closure, and restore your mental well-being.