Saqib Majid
It may seem paradoxical to become at ease with the concept of death, particularly in a culture where it is frequently taboo or seen as a frightening thing. However, everyone might benefit from accepting death as a normal part of life. One TikTok video producer is adamant about spreading this message, and she’s doing it in a novel way: on social media.
Everyone experiences death. Every one of us will ultimately experience it, whether it is at the end of our lives or when a loved one passes away. Even though death is inevitable, a lot of people have a severe fear of it. It’s a subject cloaked in mistrust, silence, and terror. The majority of us never receive instruction on how to deal with it, grieve, or help others who are grieving. People frequently feel alone and overwhelmed when dealing with loss because there are no clear guidelines or directions for doing so.
Funerals are typically the main way for bereaved individuals to get closure. They let people say their last goodbyes and provide a controlled environment for grieving. But a lot of the emotional journey has already started by the time the funeral takes place. Loved ones begin to struggle with the upcoming loss at the critical time leading up to the funeral. But if we let it be, it may also be a period of introspection, acceptance, and connection.
Hospice care is crucial in this situation. Hospice care includes emotional, psychological, and spiritual support for the patient and their family in addition to managing medical symptoms near the end of life. It can be a very effective tool for assisting people in accepting death. Like death itself, hospice care is regrettably still frequently misinterpreted and even dreaded.
Here comes Hospice Nurse Julie, a nurse from Los Angeles who is shedding light on the dying process through her TikTok platform. Her purpose is to educate people about the realities of what happens to people at the end of their lives with honesty and compassion. Julie helps dispel the stigma and fear associated with dying by sharing enlightening and reassuring ideas in her films.
Julie’s direct and sympathetic style has garnered a lot of attention for her TikTok account. She answers concerns that many people are too scared to ask and talks candidly about the emotional and physical changes that come with approaching death. Her objective is to mainstream these discussions, whether they are about how to help a loved one in their last days or the phases of dying.
Although she doesn’t sugarcoat death, she also doesn’t make it seem like something to be afraid of. Rather, she highlights the dignity and tranquility that can come with a well-supported dying process.
Julie’s treatment of the emotional implications of dying, for both the dying individual and their loved ones, is among her most powerful works. When a loved one is dying, many people are not sure what to say or how to behave. They fear that they will make a mistake or worsen the issue. Julie’s direction allays their anxieties by providing both emotional support and useful instruction.
For instance, she clarifies that it’s quite acceptable for dying people to become more reclusive or sleep more often. She assists people in realizing that these changes are a natural occurrence and not something to resist. Families may find solace in this knowledge, which enables them to be less worried and more present during the last moments of a loved one.
Julie’s work is a part of a larger movement to reintroduce death into the public conversation. People saw death firsthand for centuries—at home, in communities, as a common aspect of life. However, death has grown more clinical and concealed due to advancements in modern medicine and technology. Nowadays, a lot of people grow up without ever witnessing a death or even having an open conversation about it. The uncertainty and anxiety surrounding it are only heightened by this lack of exposure.
Although social media may not seem like the best venue for these conversations, it’s turning out to be a surprisingly useful tool. Specifically, TikTok provides brief, easily assimilated videos that have the potential to swiftly reach millions of people. In order to demystify death, lessen anxiety, and create a feeling of solidarity among those who are mourning or getting ready to lose a loved one, Julie is employing this style.
Julie is contributing to a change in the cultural narrative by urging people to consider death before they are confronted with it directly. According to her, we can better appreciate life when we have more candid conversations about dying. We develop stronger bonds, learn to cherish our time, and help one another through one of the most trying times in life.
Hospice Nurse Julie’s profession is ultimately about connection, education, and compassion. She is assisting folks in getting ready for something that doesn’t have to be frightening even though it is inevitable. She is demonstrating to the world via her open and sincere writing that death is not the end of the discussion but rather the start of a more profound comprehension of what it means to live and love.
We might all be a little less scared and much more prepared if more people adopted this kind of transparency. Voices like Julie’s provide a much-needed reminder that dying is a part of life and that handling it with grace and awareness can make all the difference in a world where death is frequently tucked away.