Stages of Death

Like life itself, death is a process, rather than a simple event. In order to truly understand what happens, it is important to view the different stages of death and see what the body undergoes as it transitions from being a living being into its ultimate state of rest, the body in death, or what we call a corpse.

For someone suffering from a terminal disease who is able to see their death on the horizon, there is a mental shift that takes place before the body itself begins to give up. One of the first stages of death is often an attitude change toward what is expected, or a new orientation toward the spiritual and away from the material. The acceptance of moving on to the next world, and a sense of disconnection from this one, is a strong sign that death is beginning.

Eating and Activity

Soon, the appetite will pull back. As death approaches, the need to take in food fades away, so the sense of hunger stops sending those impulses. Nearing the end, a person is likely to have a very weak appetite, or even no need for food at all.

At the same time, since no energy is coming in, the person will lose the energy to do very much. As the person advances through the stages of death, he or she loses the drive to be active and involved, and instead recedes into a state of relaxation. This may fluctuate to some degree, and in some cases there will be a final burst of energy right before the end, but lower energy is to be expected.

Sleeping and Dreaming

As the person loses energy, it is likely that they will spend more time sleeping. This sleep may be ordinary sleep, but it may also be a kind of waking sleep that includes visions or seems like a sort of altered consciousness. This state is not actually separate from the world, and undoubtedly familiar sounds will bring the person’s attention back to what is happening in front of them. In general, it is agreed that the best advice is to speak to and share love with those who are dying even if they do not seem to respond directly. The senses of sound and touch should remain until the very end.

Bodily Changes

As the body dies, changes in various parts or systems will take place. There are a number of different aspects to look out for as the person passes through different stages of death.

Eyes

As someone dies, they may not be focused on looking at things in this world. Some people may close their eyes while others have their eyes open but look out without a focus, which results in what some people call a “glassy” stare.

Skin

The state of the skin can vary, becoming flushed or blotchy as the person goes through the stages of death. The skin may also change in temperature as other systems go through changes.

Digestion

The digestive system slows down, since the its use as a system to process and provide energy is no longer needed. This means that the elimination system is also compromised, which may result in some less than dignified events. This is normal.

Circulation

The circulatory system is often the way we determine whether a person is alive. When the heartbeat ends, we draw the final conclusion that death is complete. However, before this actually occurs, there can be many changes in the timing of the pulse. If these changes are particularly extreme it can cause emotional reactions, but these should not be taken personally.

Breathing

The breath is traditionally the way we understand death to have finally occurred. Ancient words for soul and spirit are often related to the word for breath because it is as the breath leaves that we imagine the spirit to leave. However, despite such metaphors, the final moments of death do not usually involve a simple last breath. Rather, the process of breathing changes and becomes more slow. It can also become heavier or more labored. This kind of breathing can go on for some time before altering again. Often the last sets of breath are very quiet and slow, with longer and longer periods between. Eventually the last breath is taken, and we understand the person to have passed on.

Dying is a process that we will all experience, and while it is a mystery, it is not something to fear. Recognizing that we pass through multiple stages of death can clarify that it is ultimately part of life.