There is shocking statistic that cannot be avoided, and that is this: 100% of all fatalities are caused by death. To put it another way, none of us are immortal and we will all eventually pass away. Some of us will, sadly, die as the result of an accident or a fast-acting illness. However, many of us will eventually die of old age, and that raises the question of how the body prepares for the onset of dying.
Now, at this point some people will ask why in the world anybody would want to know the “symptoms” of their impending death. While that may not be the best way to word, the reasons for wanting to know will vary from person to person. There is a strong human need for knowing the unknown, and understanding a big mystery like death can be comforting in its own way. Others like to have an idea of when death will be arriving so they can get things in order before they pass away.
It could be argued that the body prepares for the onset of dying from the moment it’s born. That makes sense to some extent, but that would be more accurately referred to as aging. What we are talking about is the final stage of life when death is much closer. When this happens there are two major dynamics at play: the physical, and the emotional. Let’s take a look at each one in turn.
As we get older we start noticing that we slow down as we move, our bodies don’t respond the way we used to, and aches and pains make themselves a part of our lives. That’s not to say the quality of life is bad, but rather that our bodies are starting to show the signs of age. This often happens on a curve, where the body ages at an almost unnoticeable rate for most of your life (sometimes into your 70s or 80s), and then it takes a sharp turn where it ages more quickly.
There is also the emotional dynamic of how the body prepares for the onset of dying. It is true that some people get depressed as they get older, and professional help should be sought if this is the case, but most people develop a better perspective on death as they get older. Lessons learned during life can help to deal with death. People of faith may be looking forward to the afterlife, which can bring a great deal of comfort.
If you have a loved one that is nearing the end of their days, then understanding the physical and emotional dynamics of death will make it easier for you to help your loved one make that transition, and it will also help you to deal with losing them.
How the body prepares for the onset of dying is an important question, but it’s also important to think about how you will deal with it, whether it’s you or a loved one that is getting close to dying. Death is inevitable, but it is not a bad thing.