First you make the adamant statement that she IS afraid of dying.
Then you say she coughs a lot at night.;
What, pray tell, has coughing a lot at night have to do with fear of dying, and why would this come into your head? I would consider that it is perhaps YOU who are afraid, if she has not expressed such a fear.
Now onto the coughing a lot. Can you ascertain any reasons for this yourself? Have you any ideas? Sometimes when a senior has trouble laying flat without a cough or without some shortness of breath it indicates that there may be some Congestive Heart Failure going on. Or there may be some underlying lung problems such as COPD.
I would have your mother see a doctor and report her symptoms. I think fear of dying has little to nothing to do with this unless you are not telling us something crucial to this question.
I'd venture to guess that 95% of human beings are afraid to die. What does coughing at night have to do with fear of dying, I don't get it? Get her to the doctor to see what medical condition is causing her coughing at night, and then pick up a few books about near death experiences to calm moms fears a bit about dying. Proof of Life by Dr Eben Alexander is a very good one, available on Amazon.
In the meanwhile, prop her head up with extra pillows and see if that helps.
Then you say she coughs a lot at night.;
What, pray tell, has coughing a lot at night have to do with fear of dying, and why would this come into your head?
I would consider that it is perhaps YOU who are afraid, if she has not expressed such a fear.
Now onto the coughing a lot.
Can you ascertain any reasons for this yourself?
Have you any ideas?
Sometimes when a senior has trouble laying flat without a cough or without some shortness of breath it indicates that there may be some Congestive Heart Failure going on. Or there may be some underlying lung problems such as COPD.
I would have your mother see a doctor and report her symptoms.
I think fear of dying has little to nothing to do with this unless you are not telling us something crucial to this question.
I wish you and mom the very best.
In the meanwhile, prop her head up with extra pillows and see if that helps.
Good luck.