Why avoiding end of life conversations creates more stress - not less stress

National Advanced Care Planning Week - March 16 -22, 2026

Your Story, Your Choice.

Many families avoid talking about end-of- life wishes because they don't want to upset each other.

But silence often creates more distress later.

When wishes aren't known:

·       families guess

·       guilt creeps in

·       conflict can arise

·       decisions feel heavier

When wishes are clear:

·       families feel confident

·       decisions feel aligned

·       grief is still present but doubt is reduced.

Talking about dying doesn't make it happen. It gives your family clarity, it gives you peace of mind and it's one of the most practical expressions of care we can offer the people we love.

Consider talking to your family about your wishes if something should happen to you and you can’t advocate for yourself. This is the power of having an advanced healthcare directive.

Accidents and unexpected health incidents happen every day to people just like you and me. So if you have spoken to someone in your family about what treatment you would like to receive following a life changing diagnosis, or even what you would NOT want done if you lose the capacity to make decisions, I encourage you to record this in a legally binding document known as an Advance Health Directive (AHD) in Queensland, so that decisions about your end of life care stay in your hands (and the hands of your advocates), rather than leaving this to chance with a stranger who does not know anything about you personally, your values, or how you lived your life.

Ground Zero Counselling provides a safe space for you to discuss your end of life wishes. This includes discussing any concerns or questions, exploring treatment options in a worse case scenario and help completing your Advance Health Directive. As a provider of family and couples therapy, Ground Zero Counselling can also help you discuss your wishes with family members whose values may differ to your own.