När det otänkbara inträffar : personers erfarenheter av plötslig förlust av familjemedlem

Sammanfattning: The sudden and unforeseen death of a family member is a major adjustment and traumatic crisis, characterized by loss of control, chaos and grief. Complications to a prolonged grief process include PTSD as well as other mental and somatic illness. This study aimed to describe the experience of people who have been suddenly and unexpectedly bereaved of a family member. A general literature review was conducted based on ten qualitative original articles. Thematic analysis was used to identify reoccurring elements in the results of the studies. This generated four themes; An unbearable time following the death; life forever changed – grief over time; memory preservation and social aspects. Directly following the death was a chaotic time marked by almost unbearable sorrow and pain. As time passed, the grief became more manageable for most study participants, although life would remain forever changed, and the grief became an integrated part of their new life. The occurrence of ritual-like behaviour to preserve the memory and relationship to the deceased was common both in the short and long term. Furthermore, the social aspects of bereavement experienced by the participants included both positive and negative reactions and behaviours from the surrounding network with varying effects on the participants experience of grief. The results of this study indicated that the process of grief after sudden and unforeseen loss of a family member is much like the phases of a crisis described in Cullberg’s crisis theory. The time following the death of a family member was described throughout the articles as a period of major grief and emotional turmoil. Participants learned to accept the loss with time, and although grief constantly remained present, it became increasingly manageable. Dealing with persons amidst the terrible grief of losing a family member unexpectedly is a great challenge for all health care professionals. This is evidence of a need to develop routines and guidelines on how to deliver the news of this nature.