How to Deal with Depression When Mourning the Death of a Loved One

By Lou LaGrand

Are you filled with despair and emptiness? Has life lost its meaning for you, and no one could possibly understand your feelings? Do you believe there is no future without your loved one? It is likely, if you are feeling this way that you are suffering from what is often called normal reactive depression. You are down and reacting because something or someone you cherish is gone.

We are not talking here about clinical or biochemical depression, although reactive depression can evolve into the clinical type. Depression from the loss of a loved one usually does not require medication, although in some instances it is prescribed, and is useful on a temporary basis. Here is what you need to know.

1. Not everyone gets depressed after the death of a loved one. It is perfectly normal not to suffer depression as it is to have to deal with it. However, after the death of a loved one, thoughts and attitudes often trigger loneliness and resulting depression, which occurs early in grieving. It features confusion, little motivation, altered self-esteem, lack of meaning, reduced functioning in one's social circle, insomnia, and low energy.

2. If you are depressed, acknowledge it. Describe it in detail, where it hurts, and what it feels like. "What is the message or messages this emotion is delivering to me?" is an important question to address. What do I need to accept? To let go of? The refusal to accept the loss is often a root cause of depression. Depending on what you believe about your depression will lead to choices that either help you manage it, or prolong it.

3. Talk to your best friend. Remember, the more you isolate yourself--and this is what depression tends to do--the more you will increase emotional and physical stress. Saying how you really feel (especially what you fear and how angry you may be) to someone you are confident of being with, is an excellent antidote for your grief and to deal with depression. And, forgiving yourself and others, will also release depressed feelings.

4. Use a universal treatment for depression: exercise. Physical activity will have an affect on brain chemistry and help in the management of depression. Take 10-15 minute walks, preferably with someone. This will activate your endorphins and affect mood.

5. Find a symbol of comfort and guidance. Create a symbol that will bring back loving memories of the person who died and/or of your Higher Power who is with you at all times, and will help you through your great loss. Keep the symbol in a place where you will see it often and use it as a cue to think of loving memories--and to accept the new conditions of life.

6. Are deep seated negative beliefs (I can't go on alone, I'm being punished, I'm never going to feel better, I'm worthless, etc.) adding to your depression? Regain your power. Take it back from those beliefs that say you are less and not more. Believe you can get well. Create opposing affirmations and keep repeating them throughout the day.

7. Start learning to tolerate uncertainty. This can be accomplished by turning toward your spiritual and symbolic beliefs. You will increase your options by letting your spiritual beliefs guide you and strengthen your faith that you will get through this hurtful loss. Know what you can and cannot control. You can control how you deal with major changes; you cannot control what others say and do or what has already happened.

8. Let possibility educate you out of depression. Here is where your imagination can help in a very positive way. Are you open to exploring the numerous choices there are for dealing with loss? Begin to learn about them from others, support groups, readings, and the experts. By creating options for dealing with fear, anger, guilt, and negative thoughts, you can change your view of what lies ahead.

9. Check your eating habits and whether you have an insufficiency of amino acids. Protein consumption at all three meals can affect neurotransmitters and your energy levels. Reduce carbohydrate (not complex carbs), sugar, alcohol, and fast food consumption, and increase

fruits and vegetables. The way you feel physically will add to or detract from depression.

Whenever you feel depression creeping back in, immediately ask yourself this key question, "What are my choices here?" If you are burying your feelings and not facing them, depression is a common result.

Refuse to withdraw from life; make connections and express your feelings to a support group or to your best friend. If your depressive symptoms go on for more than a couple of months, be sure to consult a professional counselor. You can get through this darkness and into the light by taking action early (don't wait for it to worsen) to deal with this pervasive emotion.

Dr. LaGrand is a grief counselor and the author of eight books, the most recent, the popular Love Lives On: Learning from the Extraordinary Encounters of the Bereaved. He is known world-wide for his research on the Extraordinary Experiences of the bereaved (after-death communication phenomena) and is one of the founders of Hospice of the St. Lawrence Valley, Inc. His free monthly ezine website is http://www.extraordinarygriefexperiences.com.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lou_LaGrand
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/564443
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Awesome Urn Will Turn You into a Tree After You Die

By Teodora Zareva
 

You don't find many designers working in the funeral business thinking about more creative ways for you to leave this world (and maybe they should be). However, the product designer Gerard Moline has combined the romantic notion of life after death with an eco solution to the dirty business of the actual, you know, transition.  His Bios Urn is a biodegradable urn made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose and inside it contains the seed of a tree. Once your remains have been placed into the urn, it can be planted and then the seed germinates and begins to grow. You even have the choice to pick the type of plant you would like to become, depending on what kind of planting space you prefer.  I, personally, would much rather leave behind a tree than a tombstone.  Editor's Note: The Bios Urn is a patented design of Estudimoline, the design company of Gerard Moline, a Catalan artist and product designer who designed Bio Urn for animals in 1999. http://patentados.com/invento/urna-biodegradable.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Home Hospice Care: How It Helps

By Sarah E Reilly

Hospice services may offer help in the form of medical care, assistance and safety, and often spiritual and emotional support for both the patient and the caregiver. This may also include the participation of other members of the family. Hospice care is offered by a lot of organizations, including hospitals and private practices. It provides the necessary help to manage the details and challenges of caring for a sick friend or member of the family.  Some of the most common hospice services may include:  - Medical care focusing on managing pain - Bringing medicines and equipment when needed - Counselling and Guidance on difficult issues like closure - Voluntary assistance for making meals or running errands - Counselling and support prior to death; and after death (for the family)  One reason to choose in home hospice care is that many patients would like to spend their final days at home. With this service, family members can stay close and take care of their loved one. A hospice team member will come by several times a week and see what is needed. These teams usually consist of a physician, nurses, a social worker, specialists in palliative medicine, a priest or spiritual advisor, nurse assistants and volunteers. The extended group would also include the pharmacist, psychiatric specialists and other therapists. They are available on call 24/7.  Hospice Services are available to almost anyone in need. To become eligible, however, a patient may fall under a certain medical condition category, such as an incurable or terminal illness, and diagnosed by a medical professional to have six months or less to live. A signed form from the primary physician and doctor on the hospice team is needed to start care. Of course, it is difficult to estimate life span - some people live longer than expected and continue receiving care. If people get better, they can stop getting this assistance. Hospice care is available to everyone regardless of religion, gender, diagnosis, sexual orientation, or even the ability to pay. These services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid programs. Quite a few private insurance companies also pay for these services - make sure to check if it will be covered and what services are included. Hospice programs will also be able to provide information on coverage.  The aim of in home hospice care is to bring palliative care to terminally ill people. It is a way to help those approaching death have confidence, dignity, and peace. Hospice care brings humane charity and compassion to those in need. Proper care usually helps people live longer and experience fewer side effects from chemotherapy and other medications. Other helpful activities like physiotherapy, art, music, and massage therapy, are offered to patients to keep them engaged. The attending physician or nurse will be able to help with finding in home care or a facility close by. You may also search online to find a reputable provider of hospice care.  Sarah Reilly provides in Home Hospice care and Hospice Services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_E_Reilly Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7234832
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

How to Explain To Your Children The Facts About Dying

By Amy Twain
One of the best things you could do to prepare your children for the prospect of death is to discuss about it with them ahead of time. It is important that you teach your kids that dying is merely an aspect of one's life and at one point or another you and your children would be faced with death.

So it is essential to help them be comfortable with the issue. Some cultures in fact welcome and embrace the subject of dying and can see it as an opportunity for new life and re-birth. Your approach to the subject may differ a little depending on your spiritual beliefs. It is very significant that you really consider your emotional and spiritual beliefs about dying and death and come to entirely embrace them before even opening the topic with your kids.

This would assist you facilitate a more clear-cut and impacting discussion when the time comes to converse about death and dying.

Here are some tips for introducing the topic with your children.

1.) Acknowledge your own emotions and feelings. In order for your kids to accept dying, you must first come to terms with it. Take some time to evaluate and examine your own emotions and be more comfortable with the topic before introducing it with your children. Children are very sensitive and they may likely to pick up on your emotional cues about death, hence, if you are not comfortable with the subject, they are likely to be, too.

2.) Try talking with your children about the Cycle of Life. Bear in mind to keep the conversation light and easy initially, offering your children adequate opportunities to ask questions. Consider talking about dying and death with them at a time that you could naturally mix and blend it into part of your conversation. Consider an instance when the leaves change colors in the fall, and then die off only to grow back during spring time.

3.) Be honest and open about feelings. It is very helpful that you let your children know and understand that death could be sad, and let them know that you're also sad if that happens.
Several parents have a natural instinct to guard and shield their children from the grief and sorrow related with dying, but this could actually be harmful. It is essential that kids learn how to express themselves honestly and openly and let them learn how to release their feelings and emotions if necessary.

Instead of focusing on the emotional or spiritual aspects of dying and death, they might want to know more about the technicalities, such as how a person is buried and where you will go. Just remember when teaching children about dying and death, their initial reactions or responses might be very different or far from what you expect.

Consider that this is perfectly normal and natural. Address and answer every question as honestly as you can and your kids would come to have a healthy understanding of the dying process and death.

The author of this article, Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Amy recently published a home study course on how to have an improved self esteem. Alternatively click here for Amazon's Kindle Edition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Twain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Death and Dying and the Therapeutic Relationship

By Ashley Sybil Davis

Our society has developed the belief that death and illness should be avoided and feared. The denial that death is real and can happen has caused people to regard illness and death as something that is happening to them, rather than a natural process that can be embraced without anxiety and suffering. Our thoughts and perspective on death and illness are based in fear rather than viewed as a possible opening to an experience that can offer new learning, challenges, growth and positive insight into our existence and ourselves. The denial that death is real and can happen has caused people to regard illness and death as something that is happening to them, rather than a natural process that can be embraced without anxiety and suffering.

Upon awareness of a terminal illness, Kubler-Ross outlines different stages that a patient goes through in response to this new knowledge. Often these defense and/or coping mechanisms help a patient manage with the stresses of facing his or her own mortality. These phases include the first stage, denial and isolation; the second stage, anger; the third stage, bargaining; the fourth stage, depression; and the fifth stage, acceptance (1969). The stages are defined as being consecutive, in which hope is usually present in one form or another. In the final stage of acceptance, there is no more hope in finding a cure and the patient may not want any more visitors. A person will have finished their unfinished business and there is a sense that the patient has reached a feeling of peace (Kubler-Ross, 1969). Another indicator of the final stage is the role of hope. Once hope disappears, often the patient is close to death.

Stephen Levine, who has also worked extensively with dying people, went a step further with the stages outlined by Kubler-Ross, making a point that these stages are really more about changes in the mind. "These stages, instead of being swallowed whole as an absolute reality, can rather be used as a means of focusing, a way of encouraging recognition of the impermanence of all things so that one may go beyond seeing others as what they are becoming and instead experience them as they are. To touch in the living truth of their being, to share in the reality that goes beyond death" (Levine, 1982, p. 234). Many individuals have outlined the different stages that humans' experience when faced with their ultimate fate of death. In facing death, Levine (1982) defines the mind as a rollercoaster, changing thoughts in one given day. During the evaluation process, stages are revisited more than one time.

Levine adds a spiritual dynamic to his view of the stages of dying that Kubler-Ross outlined. He refers to her stages as psychologically based, connected to thoughts, feelings and emotions. He adds: "The difference between the psychological and the spiritual is that the spiritual relates not only to the contents but to the space in which these contents are unfolding. The five stages deal with death as though it were outside of ourselves. Perhaps real acceptance is the first time we take death within. Where death is not the enemy but instead becomes the great teacher that directs us toward our fear and encourages us to relate to it instead of from it. Death's teaching is to relate to your life as a whole rather than some fractured reality from which you wish to escape." (Levine, 1982, p. 242) Spirituality is often interwoven in the dying process regardless of previous spiritual development.

As I have seen in my office, a person can feel stable in a particular belief system and with a diagnosis or when an opportunity to examine death arises, many beliefs are immediately re-evaluated. I have had the opportunity to work as a Chaplain in a Community Hospital, and I have worked extensively with people who have been recently diagnosed with a life threatening illness and/or know someone close to them who are going through the process. I believe that everyone has a different response to his or her particular life circumstances. The therapeutic process can be very helpful, supportive and beneficial to feel and move through emotions as they arise. Therapy can also be a place to process what may remain unfinished.

As a therapist, it is my job to hold space for another's process rather than to fix, heal and/or deny ones experience. Through all feelings of grief, anger, shock, denial and acceptance, I hold the space for choice in the midst of challenging circumstances. Sitting with another human being in this process is humbling, powerful and reminds me how the role of choice occurs up until our last breath.

Sources:

Levine, S. (1997). A year to live: how to live this year as if it were your last. New York: Bell Tower.
Levine, S. (1982). Who dies: an investigation of conscious living and conscious dying. New York: Anchor Books.
Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying: what the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy and their own families. London: The Macmillan Company.
Kubler-Ross, E. (1974). Questions & answers on death and dying. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Ashley is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado and has a private practice in Boulder & Denver working with adolescents, adults and families. She is a Certified Gestalt Psychotherapist and is trained in EMDR and trauma resolution. Ashley also has extensive training and experience doing spiritual counseling with clients. She combines her training in psychotherapy and spirituality to bring a unique style to her psychotherapy and intutitive sessions. For more information, please go to Boulder Integrative Therapies at http://www.boulderintegrativetherapies.com or call us at 303-919-4149.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Sybil_Davis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eco-Friendly Funerals: Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust

by Lee Power

People are choosing to live an eco-friendly or green life, so it comes as no surprise that they choose to have an eco-friendly or green funeral. An eco friendly funeral may be the deceased's choice or the bereaved family may take their own initiative. a green funeral ensures that the body decomposes naturally and completely and it becomes one with nature. This adheres to the adage "ashes to ashes and dust to dust". Some people may think of it as a new age fad, but in fact, it is returning to age-old practices that our ancestors practiced.

If you would like to plan an eco-friendly or green funeral, you will need to locate a funeral home that offers green funerals as part of their services. They may be specialists or a green funeral may be among the different services they offer. There are a number of green funeral homes in the country. They offer complete services as well as a burial in the woodlands. This would mean that no separate place is marked out as a cemetery. Instead, the body is buried in natural environment, with local trees and green vegetation around it.

An eco-friendly or green funeral turns out much less inexpensive when compared to the now traditional funerals. One of the first aspects of a green funeral is that the body is not embalmed. This ensures that no toxic chemicals used during the embalming process are let into the sewers. The next step is to choose an only wood or cardboard casket that will decompose completely with time. The eco-friendly caskets do not have any metal parts. Some families may also decide to bury the body without the casket, with only a shroud to cover the body. The next step would be to avoid a vault so that the casket and its contents decompose naturally with time.

A woodland burial is a complete eco-friendly or green funeral. In most incidents, a sapling is planted to mark the hand-dug grave that is slowly taken over by the natural vegetation around. You may opt for a simple headstone if you wish to.

If you're searching for a more eco-friendly method to arrange for the management of your remains after passing away, think about the following five alternatives:

•Bios Urn: While using the remains of cremation and thus not actually eco-friendly, Bios Urns enable ashes to be combined with the pre-packed earth of a ready-to-plant tree or shrub seedling.
•Alkaline hydrolysis: This procedure may seem a bit industrialized and consequently environmentally damaging, however, it is in reality probably the most environmentally-friendly answer to dealing with human remains to be developed. Quite simply a person's remains are immersed in a tank of chemical substances which break down tissue very quickly and change bone tissue into a floury compound.
•Corpse-eating mushrooms: Fungus grows on rotting organic substance, making it a perfect solution as a way to naturally eliminate human is still.
•Green burials: The conventional burial isn't necessarily harmful to the natural environment, it's only the additions we have created like complex embalming procedures and "secured" burial containers. By choosing a more naturally degradable casket and requiring that morticians stay away from embalming in favor of other possibilities, you may still have a "traditional" burial with out it becoming bad for the environment.
•Donate to science: No matter if for use by a school of medicine or even for observation at a human body farm, giving one's body to scientific research isn't just environmentally friendly.

Living an eco-friendly life implies needing to take into account the environmental effects of how we deal with dying. If you are seriously interested in learning to be an eco-friendly person, then you should think about environmentally safer options to conventional methods of dealing with human remains by visiting Funeral Blues - a store dedicated to helping you choose! http://funeralblues.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Power

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Medical Ethics: A Brief Overview of Euthanasia Practices

By Rima Hammoudi

People who work in a healthcare setting are often confronted with ethical questions pertaining to medical practices. It is true that most healthcare professionals are not required to adopt a particular moral stance on every single ethical issue. But still, it is important for them, and everyone else for that matter, to think about these situations, and to contemplate their own moral positioning from an objective standpoint.

One such issue is that of euthanasia. Readers must note that this article does not claim to provide any answers or suggest any definitive ethical standpoints regarding the issue of euthanasia, but rather; this article aims to provide a brief overview of said issue.

Euthanasia is a form of terminating a life with the intent of relieving that life from pain or suffering. Also referred to as "mercy killing," euthanasia is in large part considered illegal in all parts of the world, with the exception of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Although these countries have officially legalized euthanasia, there are many stipulations and conditions that must be adhered to, and the legality of such a practice is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The differing legal status of euthanasia across countries speaks to the inconclusiveness of its moral ranking. Students aspiring for a career in healthcare will likely come across health courses that touch on ethical issues such as this one. Coming to a conclusion is rarely the goal of such courses, and instead the focus is to have students explore varying perspectives on ethical quandaries.

Voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia are the two main forms of euthanasia that are most commonly subject to debate. Voluntary euthanasia occurs when a person assists someone in ending their life painlessly because continuing to live would involve prolonged suffering. This form of euthanasia is voluntary because consent was given by the person whose life would end, and that person has actively communicated their wish to die rather than to live.

Non-voluntary euthanasia occurs someone practices mercy killing on an individual who has not given overt consent to do so because they are physically unable to. For example, terminally ill infants or people in permanent vegetative states are unable to give their consent to having their lives terminated, thus consent is made on their behalf (typically by family members and physicians). The notion is that if in fact these individuals had the ability to give their consent, they would prefer to end their life rather than suffer a life of constant pain.

The ethical debate concerning euthanasia is a complicated and long-lived one. Regardless of whether or not you work in a healthcare setting or have had healthcare training, coming to some sort of definitive ethical position is no easy task, and more often than not people are left hovering somewhere between the pro side and the con side.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on health and technology.

Rima Hammoudi is a Copywriter at Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rima_Hammoudi
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Find Peace of Mind With Living Will Forms

By River C.

Preparation of a living will guarantees that your family and loved ones will respect your wishes in the event of catastrophic injury or illness. You cannot be too young or too fit to prepare a living will, and the easiest, most economical way to prepare the document is to use a living will form.

Also known as an "advanced medical directive," a living will specifies your wishes respecting medical procedures in case you become incapacitated and cannot speak for yourself. A living will instructs your family what to do if a physician or surgeon recommends risky procedures or use of life-support systems. In your living will, you may appoint a loved one to act on your behalf, but you also simply may declare your wishes, stipulating that you wish no proxy or surrogate. Most importantly, your living will must be as detailed and specific as possible, because any treatment not included in the document becomes a matter for your next-of-kin to decide. Living will forms assure your thoroughness.

You should discuss your wishes and prepare your living will long before you require any kind of medical treatment. You may enlist an attorney's, a clergyman's, or a patient advocate's assistance as you complete living will forms. Most hospitals either have staff who specialize in advanced medical directives or can refer you to professionals well-qualified to help.

Living will forms help you remember the three essentials.

As you prepare your instructions, make certain of three essentials: First, emphasize the importance of your family's compliance with your directions; your living will is binding on them, and you should reconcile all disagreements as you negotiate its provisions. Second, make certain your document complies with the laws in your state; loving will forms generally follow or refer you to applicable laws. Third, make certain you date and sign the document in the presence of two trustworthy witnesses. You do not want implementation of your wishes delayed because you missed a minor technicality.

Living will forms cover the most difficult decisions.

Remember that your living will instructs your family, loved ones, and physicians about what to do if you suffer serious injury or illness; it guarantees they will hear and obey your voice. Using living will forms, you assure that you cover issues about tissue and organ donation: are you willing to donate your vital organs to transplant patients or to science? The forms also cover blood transfusions and the use of medications: will you accept a donor's blood, and will you allow the use of medications with severe side effects or experimental drugs? What kinds of surgery will you allow the doctors to perform; do you absolutely forbid your doctors to perform particular surgeries?

The most difficult decisions involve the use of life support: do you wish to be kept alive on a respirator; and, if so, do you wish to continue receiving food and fluids while machines support your respiration? Under what circumstances would you want doctors or family to "pull the plug"? Although these discussions may cause you and your family great pain and anguish, you more properly can reconcile these issues in the peace and privacy of your own home than you would in the confusion of the intensive care unit. Using a living will form, you gain assurance that doctors will follow your decisions.

Hence, the preparation of a living will ensure that you are respected and well cared for, in the event of an untoward event. Living will forms give you the ease and simplicity of getting a living will done within a matter of minutes, literally. To check out the templates and get more information on wills, visit our website NOW!!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=River_C.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Green Burials - Natural Transitions

By Carrie T Roberts

When America was young, formal funerals were inside the home and the dead were either wrapped in a shroud or placed in a pine box and buried in the local church cemetery.

With the Civil War, this process changed due to the fact that more people were dying far away from home and embalming became a quickly accepted practice.

What is Embalming?

It is the process that involves removing all the bodies' fluids and replacing them with up to 6 gallons of formalin (a combination of chemicals that are used for preservation). Embalming does not preserve the body indefinitely. Formalin has been proven to be a health risk in the funeral homes.

Other negative ways that conventional burials impact our environment:

1.Cemeteries, in general, use large quantities of water, weed killers and pesticides to keep the landscape attractive.
2.Vaults are usually required to keep the ground level and sturdy; 1.6 tons of concrete is used for one vault.
3.Although less resource are used overall, Cremation definitely burns fossil fuels and the process can also emit into the atmosphere: sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxide, mercury, nitrogen oxides and other heavy metals.
4.In the United States; over 2 million caskets are made each and every year. Almost 2/3 of these are made from metal.
5.Manufacturers of caskets are on the Environmental Protective Agencies (top 50) list of producers of hazardous waste material.

Ten acres of conventional cemetery will not only hold your loved ones remains, but also: wood from caskets to build 40 for more houses; over 900 tons of steel that caskets also use; 20,000 tons of concrete and enough formalin to fill an above ground pool.

This all that being said and everyones high concern about the environmental and economic issues, are you aware that you have holistic, natural end of life options?

Here is where "green burials" give you the choice to forgo the enormous financial costs of a traditional funeral and burial (which can cost you close to $10,000); but also to follow nature and allow the body to return to the earth as it was originally intended.

Boulder, Colorado has become the leader in embracing, supporting and encouraging this movement of "green burials" (also known as "eco-friendly"). There is no embalming (which means no harmful chemicals are used) and a loved ones body can rest peacefully in a shroud or casket that is biodegradable. Viewing the body is once again performed in the home; where the atmosphere is familiar and more comfortable.

Some resources that you might find helpful in your decision making process:

•Natural Transitions is a not for profit center, founded in 2003, that provides valuable resources, information and educates one on the green and holistic way to approach the end of life on earth.

The main two ways to educate the public is by their quarterly magazine "Natural Transitions" (which is available in print and also available via an e-file that is easily downloadable).They also provide the community with information through presentations, training and support for grieving families.Training sessions are attended by lay men and professional caregivers alike.

1.Nature's Casket makes caskets that are simple, elegant, affordable and most important - 100% biodegradable (including the nails, oil and glue used). Nature's Casket works very closely with the Colorado Carbon Fund and also donates $10 to this fund for each casket sold.

2.The Green Burial Council can be reached at www.greenburialcouncil.org and will provide you with more information about having a green burial.

3.In addition, www.greenburials.org provides you with valuable information, current news and links you with other companies and websites that you might find useful.

Below is a list of some current green cemeteries in the United States:

GreenSprings Natural Cemetery in New York
Stellmantown Cemetery in New Jersey
Ohio has 43 acres at Foxfield Preserve
Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve in Florida has 350 acres.
Florida also offers Eternal Rest Memories Park
South Carolina's Ramsey Creek Preserve has 32 acres
Cedarbrook Burial Ground in Maine
Honey Creek Woodlands in Georgia
And Colorado is constructing the Prairie Wilderness Cemetery

Remember, your hands are not tied. Although there might not be a green burial ground near you; start an open and honest dialogue with your local cemetery and explain your wishes. Go over with them your choices and, do not allow the majority (at this time) of what people are opting for influence your decision as to whether to have a natural, earth friendly or traditional funeral and burial for yourself or your loved ones.

Special Limited Time Offer! For a 50% discount off of our exclusive product Checklists for Life, a collection of over 195 checklists geared towards helping people navigate the challenges of aging, enter discount code checklists50 at checkout.

http://www.universalseniorliving.com/product/checklists-life

At http://www.UniversalSeniorLiving.com you have access to the very best senior living articles, aging related videos, expert senior living advice, the top rated products for senior living, senior care providers in a wide variety of fields, and senior living support forums, all in one easy to navigate site. Senior living doesn't have to be a challenge... we hope to lessen your burden and allow you to enjoy this stage of life more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_T_Roberts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~