This natural preference to avoid thoughts of death is, in part, a coping mechanism. It would be very distressing if we were constantly aware of our own mortality.
Death is inevitable. It is a personal journey that each individual approaches in their own unique way. Our ideas about death may be shaped by cultural, social and religious factors as well as by previous experiences of the death of others. In life, we may encounter the loss of someone close to us and this can have some bearing on how we come to view our own eventual death.
Life expectancy in Europe has been steadily rising for many years. In the UK, it is now believed that one in five people alive today will live to be 100. A person born in the UK in 2011 can expect to live to 80 years of age, almost double the UK life expectancy in 1901.
As the population grows older some people struggle with issues relating to the ageing process. Ageing can be frightening and frustrating, especially in a culture that celebrates youthfulness. In therapy people often describe complex feelings associated with ageing. Sometimes the later years of our lives are marked by loss and grief as people we’ve known for many years, both friends and family, die.
While death is unpredictable, some people know they have begun the process of dying. Through illness, for example, we may be informed that life is ending. Facing the end of life is a personal experience that may evoke feelings of anxiety, sadness, regret, hopelessness, helplessness and powerlessness. Common processes that those facing the end of their life experience include denial, anger, fear and acceptance.
For some people an awareness of impending death evokes existential concerns about the meaning and purpose of life. For some, dying brings questions and anxiety about what happens after death.
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Death anxiety is common in people of all ages even when death is not imminent. Healthy people can become hyper-aware of their own mortality and thoughts of mortality may lead to a persistent and irrational fear of death. Anxiety about death or dying can be very distressing and may impede one’s ability to engage with life.
Some people struggle with the process of ageing and find growing older psychologically challenging. Counselling can help people make sense of the ageing process and come to terms with the physical changes that occur when growing older.
Equally, therapy can be useful in exploring difficult emotions around death and dying. Speaking with an experienced therapist can help explore the many complex issues related to the end of life.
Reaching the end of a long life has rewards but it also brings challenges for many people on physical, emotional and psychological levels. Support is available for anyone facing the ageing process, growing older and mortality.
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