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Jul 2, 2022 · According to O'Hara, the most-common regret she hears from people nearing the end of their life boils down to a single, overarching regret: "We always think we have more time," she says. In other ...
- They wish they had been more loving to the people who matter the most. Many people expressed sorrow for not having been more understanding, caring, and present for the people who were important to them.
- They wish they had been a better spouse, parent, or child. The people I worked with often regretted taking their families for granted. After all, once they got terminally ill, it was their families who stuck by them to hold their hand, provide love and companionship, and care for them around the clock.
- They wish they had not spent so much time working. Many had worked long, hard hours, and they regretted missing the important moments in their kids' lives.
- They wish they had taken more risks. Many felt that a fear of failure caused them to play it too safe. They knew that they could have had richer, more fulfilling lives had they taken some risks and disturbed the status quo.
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Bronnie says, “This was the most common regret of all when people realized that their life is almost over […].
- I wish I didn’t work so hard. I grew up in Singapore where work is equated with the individual — there is little to no concept of self. Conversations usually start this way, “What do you do?
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. Bronnie says, “Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. This regret is interesting because with the patients Bronnie cared for, they grew up in an era when there were no mobile phones or social media, and it was difficult to stay in touch.
- Angela Morrow, RN
- Pain. Pain is a common symptom experienced near the end of life, although it can vary from person to person. Pain is not only determined by medical conditions that cause pain, like cancer or lung disease, but also by factors like emotional distress, interpersonal conflicts, and the non-acceptance of one’s own death.
- Shortness of Breath. Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is one of the most common end-of-life symptoms. Even if a person doesn't have lung disease, dyspnea can occur because the organ systems of the body are interconnected.
- Anxiety. Anxiety is normal at the end of life as a person contemplates their own death or struggles through the stages of dying. This is commonly expressed as agitation, worrying, sweating, stomach upset, nausea, sleeping problems, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
- Decreased Appetite and Thirst. As a body starts to shut down, it no longer needs as many calories and nutrition to function at such lowered levels. Although it is normal for people to refuse food and drink near the end of life—either because they have no desire for it or find the effort of eating or drinking to be too much—it can still be upsetting for families.
Oct 3, 2022 · Key points. Living well is the way to die without regrets. By being aware of limited time, we will not waste time. Illness is our great teacher of how to live well. By moving toward death we learn ...
Mar 22, 2021 · A. Pawlowski. A. Pawlowski is a TODAY health reporter focusing on health news and features. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN. These are the 3 biggest regrets people have at ...
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Jul 10, 2020 · When we’re on our deathbed, the left brain begins to dissipate. We shift out of all the accumulation and the external world because it’s no longer valuable. What is valuable is who we are as ...
