Freud's death instinct theory and the modern death awareness movement in counseling

¶ … friend of mine overcome the desire to kill himself. He was suicidal and made several attempts on his life. Gradually he found the help he needed and today is still alive and healthy and no long suicidal.

I think my culture would find this story inspiring because today despair is everywhere and we see people succumb to it all to often, so when someone overcomes despair, which can be life threatening, is a great blessing to see. I think this would be true for every culture because despair is a universal phenomenon.

Freud felt that there was a death instinct and a life instinct, with the sex drive characterizing the life instinct and self-destructive behavior characterizing the death instinct (Life and Death Instincts, 2016). Thus Thanatos can be defined as the unconscious desire to die -- death being the end goal of life, according to Freud. He felt that this instinct became pronounced after an individual experienced a traumatic event and would then go about reenacting that event through reckless behavior -- this was Thanatos. Its application to scientific phenomena, such as an act of suicide, is apparent: it is the expression of Thanatos. This, however, is just Freud's view -- and other cultures may view it completely differently, as I do: I do not view death as the goal of life because I have a religious viewpoint that believes in life after death -- so there is a different goal. Here is an example of how "science" and "religion" can contend.

UNIT 3 DISCUSSION

1. The death awareness movement consists of various groups of scholars and counselors and organizations that focus on the phenomenon of death, dying and bereavement through hosting symposia, talks, publishing books, and being frank about the experience rather than avoiding it as can be the case in some circles (Doka, 2003). Some accomplishments of this group are that now over 3000 hospices serve communities around the U.S. helping people deal with death issues. Numerous publications and projects have also happened to help (Doka, 2003).

2. Professionals from scholars, academics and therapists, nurse practitioners and psychologists have played a part in advancing this movement. I think their role is legitimate as death is a real thing and needs to be discussed, not avoided just because it is unpleasant.

UNIT 4 DISCUSSION

The role of hospitals has changed over the years with respect to the dying process by advancing the aim of sensitivity and by educating persons as to what they can expect from this process as they deal with it themselves or with loved ones. Lou Gehrig, for example, was not told that his illness was fatal though his wife was -- and this is not something that would happen today because it is viewed as being unfair to the patient (Eig, 2005).

UNIT 5 DISCUSSION

Kubler-Ross's book On Death and Dying and Florence Wald's Connecticut Hospice in 1974 were key moments and figures in the founding of hospice. Three principles that dictate the nature of palliative care in the West are justice, beneficence and understanding -- the duty to treat fairly, the duty to do good, and the duty to understand and accept. These principles are used in practice by not discriminating against anyone, by attempting to appreciate them, and by being helpful no matter the circumstance.

UNIT 7 DISCUSSION

1. 3 important social factors that contribute to violent death in U.S. are hatred, lack of justice in courts (vengeance is thus taken on streets), and lack of wisdom (schools do not teach people how to be better only how to be robots and repeat information at will) (Gatto, n.d.).

2. In developing nations, violent death is often supported by Western regimes who want to influence the nation; thus there is Boko Harem in Nigeria, ISIS in Middle East -- all of whom are backed by the West (Escobar, 2015).

UNIT8 DISCUSSION

Suicide rates have changed: up since 1988 for males aged 40-49; up since 1999 for women aged 40-59; and up for those unmarried, no college degree since 1999 (Phillips, Robin, Nugent, Idler (2010). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2925004/

Clearly there is problem -- no one has reason to live in 21st century. Why? Economy, culture, society -- all are depressed. So long as culture stays this way, rates will climb for all groups.

UNIT 9 DISCUSSION

Legal concerns are whether or not assisted suicide is legal and this concern is justified because the doctor's career is on the line. He should be aware of what his role as doctor is to terminally ill patient and what his laws say about that.