This fatigue can have medical causes, but it also reflects a deeper process: a gradual decline in vital energy. Supporting them involves respecting their new rhythms, reducing demands, and prioritizing calm.
3. Gradual Withdrawal from Social Life.
Social withdrawal is often mistaken for depression, but at this stage, it frequently represents a natural process of introspection. The person begins to cancel plans, avoids long conversations, and prefers silence or solitude.
This is not a lack of love or disinterest. It is a way to conserve emotional energy and focus on what is essential. Accompanying someone means being available without being intrusive, offering a presence without imposing your company.
4. Changes in Sleep and Increased
Nighttime Restlessness: Sleep patterns are disrupted. There may be more daytime sleepiness and nighttime awakenings, or short, interrupted periods of rest. In some cases, intense dreams, vivid memories, or the sensation of seeing or perceiving deceased people may occur.
These experiences are often comforting for the person having them. Correcting or rejecting them can lead to more distress. Listening, validating, and providing a calm environment helps navigate these moments with greater serenity.
5. Difficulty walking without
apparent cause. Even without visible injuries, walking becomes unsteady. Steps are shorter and slower, and the fear of falling increases, even in familiar places.
Beyond the physical aspect, this change can symbolize a gradual disconnection from the material world. Adapting the environment and reducing the pressure to remain active is a form of care and respect.
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