Dr Nelia Drenth helps us navigate the hard path of anticipatory grief. The diagnosis of a life-limiting illness is enough to make most of us shiver with fear and anxiety due to the unknown that is awaiting us. As the illness progresses, we may experience times of hopefulness and hopelessness.  Anticipatory grief can be experienced by both the person at the end of life and his or her loved ones. I believe that the grief we experience in the terminal phase of life, also known as anticipatory grief, helps us to prepare for the end of life psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Defining anticipatory grief Anticipatory grief…

Ilana Kilian, a social worker, explains that preparing children and teenagers for a death of a parent is a process of honesty where everyone is actively involved. Though we know it’s an inevitable part of life, talking about death is something most of us aren’t really good at because the subject is so painful. It’s even harder for us to discuss and deal with this topic when there are children or teenagers involved.  Part of the journey is finding ways to express what’s happening to make sense of what’s happened, and finally, to accept what has happened. Children and teenagers need to be fully…