"Our bodies are naturally built to die. And ultimately, as weird as this sounds, it's beautiful." – Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden
In this episode of The Skeptic Metaphysicians, hosts Will and Karen talk to hospice nurse Julie McFadden about overcoming the fear of death. As a former ICU nurse, Julie has seen a lot of death and has specialized in assuring families during the time leading up to death. Julie shares her insights on why we shouldn't fear dying and how to process the topic of death. The hosts also reflect on their own fears of death and their journey of discovery into the metaphysical world.
Some topics we cover:
- Overcoming fear of death
- Trusting the universe
- The beauty of death
- Fear of the unknown in death
- Seeing people before death
- Visioning before death
- Seeing souls leaving bodies
- Witnessing someone actively dying.
- Atheists and Death
- Actively dying process
- Dying is a natural process
- Misconceptions about dying
- Death and afterlife beliefs
For a lot more information about this episode, visit our website for the full show notes and summaries: https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/fear-of-death
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Is There Life After Death
https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/is-there-life-after-death
Proof of the Afterlife?
https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/proof-of-the-afterlife
What Happens When We Die? A Near Death Experience Story https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/what-happens-when-we-die-a-near-death-experience-story
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Julie McFadden, BSN, RN has been a nurse for 15 years. Julie is an experienced ICU, and now Hospice/Palliative Nurse. Julie has been featured in Newsweek, USA today, The Atlantic, The Business Insider, Medscape, People, Buzz feed, and several other articles worldwide.
Julie has been passionate about normalizing death through education to the masses using social media.
Her tiktok has 1.2 M followers, and you can find her on all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube) at Hospice Nurse Julie.
Guest Info:
Website: https://www.hospicenursejulie.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospicenursejulie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077937666311&mibextid=LQQJ4d
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hospicenursejulie
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hospicenursejulie
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Death can be beautiful.
Death is a topic that many people fear and avoid talking about. The thought of dying can bring up feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about what happens after we pass away. However, hospice nurse Julie McFadden believes that death can be beautiful. In an interview with The Skeptic Metaphysicians podcast, she explains how her experience working in hospice care has changed her perspective on death.
McFadden was previously an ICU nurse and witnessed a lot of death in that role. However, she found the experience traumatic and began to question whether there was a better way for people to die. This led her to transition into hospice nursing, where she saw the power of the body to die naturally and peacefully. Over time, she began to see death as a beautiful process.
As a hospice nurse, McFadden has seen how the body naturally dies and how most people's bodies do the same thing. She explains that we have built-in mechanisms to help us die naturally and mostly peacefully. While some diseases may cause pain and other symptoms, she believes that our bodies are naturally built to die. McFadden says that watching someone take their last breath can be like watching a baby being born, as both experiences are filled with a sense of awe and wonder.
McFadden's perspective on death challenges the common fear and avoidance of the topic. She believes that by accepting death as a natural part of life, we can learn to appreciate the beauty in the process. While death may still be difficult and painful for those left behind, McFadden's approach offers a sense of comfort and acceptance.
In conclusion, death can be beautiful. While it may seem like a paradoxical statement, hospice nurse Julie McFadden's experience has shown that there is a natural and peaceful process to dying. By accepting death as a part of life, we can learn to appreciate the beauty in the process. While it may still be difficult and painful, McFadden's perspective offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Education eases fear of death.
Education plays a crucial role in easing the fear of death. As hospice nurse Julie McFadden shares in a podcast, many people approach her with questions about what to expect during the dying process. By providing them with accurate information and normalizing what is happening to them, she is able to alleviate some of their fears and put them at ease. McFadden emphasizes the importance of educating people about death and specific diseases, as it can help to reduce the fear of the unknown.
One of the things that McFadden highlights is the natural biological and metaphysical phenomena that happen to almost everybody at the end of life. For example, many people start seeing people who have already died about a month before they pass away. These people come to them physically or in dreams and reassure them that they do not have to worry about anything. While this may seem like a scary experience, McFadden emphasizes that it is normal and can be explained to families so that they are not scared when their loved ones start experiencing it.
Education also helps people to understand what happens to the body during the dying process. McFadden explains that many people stop eating and drinking and do not need as many calories as they approach death. While this may seem like a scary process, knowing what to expect can help people to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally.
McFadden's experience as a hospice nurse shows that education can ease the fear of death. By providing accurate information and normalizing what is happening, she is able to alleviate some of the fear and anxiety that people feel. While death may still be difficult and painful, McFadden's perspective offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Visioning brings comfort before death.
One aspect of McFadden's work that stands out is her observation of "visioning" in patients who are close to death. This phenomenon involves patients seeing deceased loved ones or experiencing other spiritual or supernatural events before they pass away. McFadden notes that this often occurs about a month before death and provides comfort to patients who may be struggling with the idea of dying.
Interestingly, McFadden notes that many patients may not bring up these experiences unless prompted by medical professionals. Patients may feel that they are "crazy" or that their experiences are not normal. By opening up the conversation and normalizing these experiences, McFadden is able to provide comfort and reassurance to patients.
One of the most striking aspects of McFadden's observations is the fact that visioning seems to bring comfort to patients. Even though it may signal that death is near, patients often report feeling a sense of peace and readiness after experiencing these visions. McFadden notes that this may be due to the fact that patients feel reassured that they will be reunited with loved ones after death.
It is also interesting to note that visioning seems to be a common experience among patients who are close to death. While McFadden primarily works with hospice patients, she notes that she has seen this phenomenon in other medical settings as well. This suggests that visioning may be a natural part of the dying process, rather than a rare or unusual occurrence.
Overall, McFadden's observations about visioning highlight the importance of providing compassionate and holistic care to patients who are facing the end of their lives. By acknowledging and normalizing these experiences, medical professionals can help patients feel more at ease and prepared for what is to come. While death may always be difficult and painful, McFadden's work offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Death can feel magical sometimes.
One of the most fascinating aspects of death is the experience of visioning, which occurs when patients see deceased loved ones or other spiritual beings before passing away. Hospice nurse Julie McFadden has witnessed this phenomenon many times throughout her career, and she describes it as a beautiful and even magical experience.
According to McFadden, visioning can be a source of comfort and reassurance for patients as they approach the end of their lives. Many patients report seeing deceased loved ones who offer words of encouragement and support, telling them that everything will be okay and that they will be there to guide them through the transition to the afterlife.
While some might dismiss these experiences as mere hallucinations or delusions, McFadden believes that they are real and meaningful. She notes that visioning occurs across all different religious and cultural backgrounds, suggesting that it is a universal aspect of the dying process.
Interestingly, McFadden also notes that visioning is not limited to religious or spiritual individuals. Patients of all backgrounds and beliefs have reported seeing deceased loved ones or other spiritual beings before passing away, suggesting that this experience is not dependent on one's particular faith or worldview.
Overall, McFadden's observations about visioning highlight the importance of providing compassionate and holistic care to patients who are facing the end of their lives. By acknowledging and normalizing these experiences, medical professionals can help patients feel more at ease and prepared for what is to come. While death may always be difficult and painful, McFadden's work offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Hospice care and dying process.
Hospice care is a type of care that is provided to individuals who are nearing the end of their lives. Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients and their families during this difficult time. In this podcast, hospice nurse Julian McFadden discusses her experiences working with patients who are receiving hospice care and the process of dying.
According to McFadden, hospice care is typically provided to patients who have six months or less to live. However, the timeline for death can be unpredictable, and the process of dying is different for each individual. As patients get closer to the end of their lives, they often experience a decline in their functional ability, such as difficulty walking or needing assistance with toileting. They also tend to sleep more and eat and drink less.
One interesting observation that McFadden makes is that many patients begin to see dead relatives or loved ones as they approach the end of their lives. This experience, known as visioning, is not scary or delusional, but rather a comforting and normal part of the dying process. McFadden emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and normalizing these experiences to help patients feel more at ease and prepared for what is to come.
McFadden also notes that having some kind of faith or belief system can be helpful for patients during this time. Even patients who do not believe in an afterlife or a higher power may find comfort in the idea of the universe or other people. McFadden has observed that some patients who were previously atheists or non-believers may begin to question their beliefs as they approach the end of their lives.
Overall, McFadden's observations highlight the importance of providing compassionate and holistic care to patients who are facing the end of their lives. Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients and their families during this difficult time. By acknowledging and normalizing experiences like visioning, medical professionals can help patients feel more at ease and prepared for what is to come. While death may always be difficult and painful, McFadden's work offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Dying is a natural process.
Dying is a natural process that we will all face at some point in our lives. While it can be a difficult and painful experience, it is important to understand the physical and emotional changes that occur during this time. In a recent podcast, hospice nurse Sarah McFadden shared her insights on what happens when we die and how we can better support those who are facing the end of their lives.
According to McFadden, the dying process can be broken down into three stages: pre-active dying, actively dying, and post-death. During the pre-active dying stage, the body begins to shut down and the person may experience symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and confusion. While death itself may not cause pain, the disease or condition that is causing the person to die may cause discomfort or pain.
In the actively dying stage, the person is fully unconscious and may experience changes in breathing and skin color. McFadden notes that while these changes may seem scary or uncomfortable to those who are not used to seeing them, they are a natural part of the body's metabolic process. As the body prepares for death, it releases endorphins that can actually make the person feel better and dull their pain receptors.
McFadden emphasizes the importance of understanding and normalizing these changes in order to provide compassionate care to patients and their families. Many people may feel scared or traumatized by what they see during the dying process, but McFadden's work offers a sense of comfort and acceptance that can help us face this inevitability with grace and dignity.
Hospice care is one way to provide support and comfort to those who are facing the end of their lives. By focusing on providing holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families, hospice care can help ease the transition into death and provide a sense of peace and acceptance.
In conclusion, dying is a natural process that we will all face at some point in our lives. By understanding and normalizing the physical and emotional changes that occur during this time, we can provide compassionate care and support to those who are facing the end of their lives. Hospice care is one way to provide this support and can help ease the transition into death with grace and dignity.
Death is not painful.
One common misconception about death is that it is a painful process. However, according to Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse and advocate for end-of-life care, this is not the case. In fact, McFadden asserts that dying is a natural process that does not typically involve pain.
McFadden explains that as the body shuts down, it may exhibit physical changes such as slowed breathing, decreased appetite, and decreased consciousness. These changes can be alarming to family members and caregivers who may interpret them as signs of pain or discomfort. However, McFadden emphasizes that as long as the person's face is relaxed, these changes are expected and not indicative of pain.
It is important to educate people, including healthcare workers, about the natural process of dying in order to dispel the myth that death is painful. McFadden's advocacy work includes creating a YouTube channel where she discusses all things related to death and dying, with the goal of educating and bringing people together to support one another.
While death may still be a scary and unknown concept for many, McFadden's message offers comfort and reassurance that it is not something to be feared. In fact, she believes that there is life after death and that the more she is around death, the more she is convinced that there is something good waiting for us on the other side.
In conclusion, by understanding and accepting the natural process of dying, we can provide compassionate care and support to those who are facing the end of their lives. It is important to dispel the myth that death is painful and to educate ourselves and others about what to expect during this time. With the help of advocates like McFadden, we can approach death with grace and dignity, both for ourselves and for our loved ones.
