Subscribe to our newsletter. Get your site now Depression Phase of Grief After going through the bargaining stage, the dying individual or family members usually enters a depression. This is the beginning of realization that death will occur. If the person is going through an extended illness, the realization comes after symptoms worsen and a sense of great loss occurs. Patients in this stage are usually weaker and unable to perform even the simplest of tasks.
Preparatory depression is related to the impeding loss, the death of the individual.
Not only is the person depressed because of the impeding death but often they question their significance in life. It is common for a dying person to think that their life has been all in vain. Despite encouragement from family, friends, and caregivers, Ms. Gray refused any personal care for four days. Her sister became very frustrated and confronted Ms. Gray about giving up. Ms. Gray just turned over in bed and refused to talk.