Kinds of death and causes of death – how to deal with the loss of a loved one? [WE EXPLAIN]

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Death is a process that has always accompanied mankind. This phenomenon may be sudden or spread over time. Disturbed functioning of the circulatory system or loss of breathing triggers a number of processes in the body that lead to death. On the other hand, the experience of loss after the death of a loved one is a situation in which grief is combined with despair and suffering. It doesn’t matter if we’ve lost our parents, daughter, son or close friend. We always feel the same pain. What are the types of death? How to deal with the death of a person who until now was an integral part of our life? How to go through the various stages of mourning?

Biological death

Death is a condition characterized by the absence of vital signs and is caused by an imbalance in the body’s functional balance. Loss of breathing and cardiac arrest are the first stage of death, also known as interetal. Death is nothing more than the gradual dying off of organs and cells in the human body. This process leads to biological death, which is accompanied by autolysis (cell death) and rotting.

There are two states during the interletal stage. The first stage is the intermediate life, when there is still hope of getting the right responses from specific tissues and organs. The second state is biological death, then all life processes are stopped. Referring to the interletal stage in medicine, the so-called interletal reactions, i.e. the body’s reactions to various stimuli, depending on the time that has elapsed since death.

Biological death, also called natural death, occurs as a result of senile decline, i.e. physiological aging of the organism. The symptoms of aging include weight loss; deterioration of vision and hearing; weakened structure and defense functions of the skin; decrease in immunity and disorders of metabolism.

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Clinical death

Another type of death is clinical death. It is characterized by the disappearance of visible signs of life, i.e. blood circulation, heartbeat and respiratory action. It differs from biological death in that during clinical death there is continuous brain activity, which can be determined by EEG. There are times when a person in a state of clinical death is restored to vital functions.

During clinical death due to respiratory and circulatory arrest, oxygen does not reach the nervous system, which is most sensitive to its lack. After about 5 minutes, the process of cell death of the cerebral cortex begins. Resuscitation of a clinically dead patient is possible in the first 4 minutes. Exposing the cells of the nervous system to a longer break in the supply of oxygen usually results in the complete or partial loss of the functions of the cerebral cortex.

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Brain death

The brain is one of the most important organs in the human body. It is responsible for coordination and controls motor skills, emotions, eyesight and memory. Brain death is defined as the disappearance of the previously mentioned functions. If it is diagnosed, doctors will stop the treatment process. If the patient has signed the relevant declaration before his death, organs are collected from him for transplantation purposes.

In Poland, the definition of brain death was introduced on July 1, 1984 as part of the Communication of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This definition was slightly modified in 1994 and 1996. Currently, there is an announcement issued by the Ministry of Health on July 17, 2007.

We can divide clinical death into two stages. In the first stage, we state:

1. that the patient is in a coma and is artificially ventilated;
2. we recognize the causes of coma; 
3. we confirm the occurrence of primary or secondary brain damage;
4. conclude that the brain damage is irreversible and treatment options have been exhausted;

and we exclude that:

1. the sick person is under the influence of drugs, including drugs, sleeping pills or sleeping pills;
2. the patient is hypothermic,
3. the patient has endocrine or metabolic disorders.

If the doctor goes through all of the above-mentioned statements and exclusions, he may proceed with further steps. While stage two the doctor confirms the absence of the so-called trunk reflexes. These include the absence of: the corneal reflex and spontaneous eye movement; pupil reaction to light; coughing and vomiting reflexes; response to pain stimuli of the cranial and facial nerves; oculocerebral reflex. By carrying out the activities related to clinical death in the second stage, the doctor also confirms the permanent apnea.

Violent death

This type of term is typically used in forensic medicine to refer to death resulting from an injury. This fairly broad term may refer to death as a result of an accident, crime or suicide. It is the opposite of biological (natural) death as a result of aging or the long-term treatment of a severe disease. Rapid death due to the speed of death is classified as sudden death.

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Death of a loved one – time of mourning

Experiencing mourning after the death of a loved one is an individual matter. Everyone experiences this period a bit differently. When a loved one dies, the world stops in one place, we feel an unimaginable void, the emotional state changes quite quickly. After the death of a loved one, they are full of anger, fear and sadness. Very often there is a feeling of guilt and brooding over unfinished matters.

Mourning is a difficult and painful time, but you have to go through it to get your life organized anew. This period usually lasts from several months, in some cases even several years. There is a division into stages during the mourning period which has been established by observation. Each of these stages has certain “tasks” to be performed that will help restore balance in life after the death of a loved one. Below are all 4 stages of grief, taking into account the disorders that may arise in each of them.

Initial phase – these are the first reaction to the message after the death of a loved one. Then we are accompanied by emotions, i.e. numbness, distance, shock and disbelief. Even if the death was a result of a long and serious illness, and the condition of a loved one was severe, it was still a big blow. In the first stage of grief, the person who has suffered the loss expects the deceased to come back, and the whole situation is a bad dream.

At this stage, emotions are too strong to accept death, and there are hallucinations related to the presence of the deceased person. Stopping at this stage of mourning makes it impossible to deny the loss and not be able to experience the pain associated with it. To move on to the next stage of mourning, you have to come to terms with the loss and give yourself time.

Intermediate phase – is a time when experiencing the death of a loved one is very intense, both intellectually and emotionally. During this period, you should allow yourself to fully experience the loss. This approach allows you to work through mourning and free yourself from suffering. Mourning is a period in which we are socially withdrawn, we do not find ourselves in company. Then the support of the environment is very important and helps to survive this difficult time.

The intermediate phase, also known as the “acute phase”, can also manifest itself in the form of intense anxiety and mental disorders. During this period, normal daily chores can be incredibly difficult. You may also experience suicidal thoughts and a loss of will to live. Then, you should immediately report to a psychologist.

The time of mourning after the loss can manifest itself in the form of aggression and rebellion. There are also doubts about the values ​​previously held, especially in religious matters. We often blame God for taking a loved one from us that we loved and making life plans with him. The intermediate phase is also remembering unfinished conversations or spoken words that we would like to take back.

During the intermediate phase, we should give ourselves time to experience pain, fear, anger and sadness because blocking these feelings will prevent us from moving on to the next stage of mourning. Only confronting your emotions can allow you to move on.

Adaptation phase – it’s time to get used to the death of a loved one and adapt to the current situation. This stage of mourning is associated with the gradual recovery of strength and return to the so-called new reality. After the death of a loved one, the mourner’s task is to organize and organize his life anew. In the adaptation phase, sadness and regret are still present, but various activities in life, such as work or housekeeping, allow you to forget about loss. At this stage, the support of loved ones is crucial and helps to find yourself again.

The phase of finding a new place for the deceased person in our lives – this is the last phase of mourning which, depending on the approach, may be the most difficult. The mourner should find a new place for the deceased in his life, which until now was the center and focused all his energy on it. The mourner is not required to completely forget the person. Feelings, memories and longings related to the deceased should be cherished. However, it is important to go on and enjoy life again.

The final stage of mourning may be accompanied by the fear that the next relationship you establish will end up with the loss of a loved one. It also happens that mourners decide not to get involved in a new relationship and live in solitude. If we successfully pass the final phase, the mourning process can be considered complete.

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What is a complicated grief after the death of a loved one manifested?

Complicated grief is an effect that results from failure in the transition from the intermediate to the adaptive phase. It affects about 10% of people struggling with the loss of a loved one. Complicated grief can also be defined as an extension of the onset phase. Then suffering after loss is associated with recurring waves of violent emotions, i.e. bitterness or longing. People who experience complicated grief cannot come to terms with the loss. This state may persist for up to 6 months.

Complicated grief can manifest as an obsession with the person who has died. During this period, the mourner is preoccupied with the figure of the deceased – he may dream, sit at the grave every day or organize his belongings several times a day. People who struggle with complicated grief are often diagnosed with sleep disorders, high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease. Such persons are also prone to abuse of psychoactive substances and suicidal thoughts. Complicated grief can be persistent and chronic, so you should contact the appropriate specialist as soon as possible.

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Where to look for support after the death of a loved one?

If we come to the conclusion that we are not able to cope with the death of a loved one on our own, it is worth using psychological consultations or the services of a psychotherapist. During such meetings, you can work through the primary pain with a specialist, especially in the case when the death of the deceased occurred suddenly or we did not have time to reconcile with it. The therapy helps to return to normal life, relieves pain and restores life balance.

The longing resulting from the death of a loved one is a natural reaction related to the lifestyle of which the deceased was a part. Joint vacations or conversations are rituals that are hard to get rid of. If we decide to get help from a psychotherapist, the whole process of experiencing grief will be easier and will speed up the return to the old life.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist and psychotherapist? Read: Psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist?

Depression and the death of a loved one

People who have lost a loved one as a result of death are more prone to depression. The period of experiencing mourning and the emotions associated with it are very similar to depressive symptoms, they do not provide unambiguous confirmation of depression by themselves. Unfortunately, in about 7-10% of people, the disorders meet the criteria of the so-called depressive syndromes.

The course of depression and mourning is similar to a certain stage. There is a depressed mood, withdrawal from social life, sadness or fear. With mourning, there are both “negative” and “positive” experiences. Over time, there are fewer of the former than the latter. However, in the case of depression, “positive” emotions are almost non-existent. They are often overwhelmed by guilt, suicidal thoughts or lack of vitality. It is only possible to distinguish between grief and depression through detailed psychiatric research.

Read more: Psychotherapy for depression – which form of help should you choose?

Treatment of depression after the death of a loved one

The process of treating a depressive state in post-loss patients is similar to the treatment of other forms of clinical depression. If the mourner has not experienced depression before, it is usually mild, and the treatment time is about two months. Even after treatment is completed, observation and consistent therapy are important. Mild depression can be treated through the aforementioned psychotherapy or psychoeducation. If the depressive state worsens and persists, pharmacological treatment should be initiated or the help of a psychiatrist should be sought.

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