Q&A - Coping with spiritual and emotional pain

MarkWilkin 9 years ago

3 replies

Edited by MarkWilkin 9 years ago

Lots of people tell us they feel emotional pain, or spiritual pain, whether they’re religious or not. This is because living with a terminal illness makes them question their beliefs and personality, leaving them feeling unsure about who they are or what they want from the time they have left. So if you have any questions about topics like how to cope with feelings like anger or despair, a sense of abandonment, why this is happening to you or your family member please ask them here. We can also answer questions about how we support people, whatever their faith might be, in our hospices.

Our host Revd Charlie Radburn will be answering your questions today, Wednesday and Thursday (7th,8th and 9th of March) between 3-4pm each day. You can start posting them now and we'll start answering them later today. Just scroll down to read the answers.

"It is well understood that towards the end of life many people ask important questions and try to find some kind of meaning in what is happening to them. It is part of the role of the chaplain and chaplain volunteers to sit alongside and allow such things to surface."

Charlie is the full time chaplain at the Marie Curie Hospice in the West Midlands, responsible for the spiritual care of patients, their families, staff and volunteers.

Thanks

carolinep 9 years ago

Hi I don't suppose you could recommend any books and prayers to help a friend of mine who's Christian and a cancer patient come to terms with her terminal diagnosis. She has small children too who she is very sad she won't see grow up. She has a strong faith and isn't afraid of death but she's quite a meditative soul so would like some Christian readings on dying. Thanks.

Charlie 9 years ago

Edited by admin 9 years ago

Question from Carolinep: Hi I don't suppose you could recommend any books and prayers to help a friend of mine who's Christian and a cancer patient come to terms with her terminal diagnosis. She has small children too who she is very sad she won't see grow up. She has a strong faith and isn't afraid of death but she's quite a meditative soul so would like some Christian readings on dying. Thanks.

Hi! I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but glad that she has you to help support her.

You mentioned that you would like to know of any reflective books, prayers etc. that might be of help at this time. There is one book that has it all this in one little volume. I like to give to our patients. This is called ‘What Cancer Cannot Do’, and is available at the moment from a bookshop or online. I recommend you get more than one copy. It’s a gem!

Charlie

MarkWilkin 9 years ago

Thanks Charlie for your answers and to everyone who wrote in with questions, 

We'll be doing another Q&A in two weeks (21st -23rd of June) on "Benefits and Terminal Illness". We'll be posting up reminders on our Facebook page and Twitter account closer to the time.

If you've got any further questions about this topic please start a new thread here on the forum or read our new help pages on Emotional and Spiritual Pain.

Thanks