Death and grief are never easy to experience, but a sudden death or
loss usual means that the bereaved may encounter additional
difficulties and traumas than those experienced after an expected
death. As well, the types of loss, such as: heart attack, stroke,
suicide, accident, homicide, or other such traumatic death can effect
and complicate the grief process that follows. This complicated
mourning often benefits from and even requires additional support, some
of it even professional.
Such death without forewarning means that the grief is not only more
pronounced but also that the accompanying shock and disruption to the
bereaved's normal life pattern is profoundly intensified. The stages of
grief that follow and the spin-offs from such tragedies are compounded
and multiplied. The feelings of helplessness and powerlessness,
distorted, chronic or frozen mourning rituals, the inability to 'make
sense' of the tragedy let alone effectively cope, are all examples of
such accentuated and magnified reactions to sudden loss.
Such intensity is primarily due to the lack of opportunity
beforehand to say farewell, resolve unfinished issues, or prepare in
any way for the death. The grieving are also left with feelings of
vulnerability, especially if the death were accidental or due to
homicide. Likewise, the army of police, media, and the curious that
descend upon the survivors is part of the immediate aftermath. Other
resulting court cases or challenges, the lack of recovering a body, or
a particularly brutal, horrific or disfiguring death also compound the
grief.
Being aware of the various components of a sudden death can help
foster some understanding. Such insight can in turn lead to a healthier
coping with the loss.
There are two types of loss due to natural disaster: catastrophic
weather and bodily disease. An act of nature, (inappropriately often
called an act of God), such as: a tornado, hurricane, snow storm, or
flood, would be examples of the former. A fatal physical disorder, such
as: a stroke, heart attack, or blood clot, would be examples of the
latter. With both these types of calamities there is no one to blame or
hold responsible. Often God might incur the wrath of the survivors for
being the 'author' of such misfortune or in the case of some ailments
the victim for not having taken better care of their health.
Another type of sudden loss does provide an outside human agent to
direct one's anger at. In the case of a vehicular homicide there is the
person(s) who killed the deceased. Mitigating somewhat their
culpability may be the degree to which they intended to kill someone;
that is pre-mediated or not, purely accidental or due to reckless or
drunk driving. Most deaths from car accidents are not pre-meditated and
is seen differently that if the driver was under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or was deliberately driving in an abandoned and
dangerous manner. Even in these instances culpability and intention are
due to a variety of other factors. The same can be applied to health
problem deaths. A sudden heart attack in an otherwise seemingly
healthy, non-smoking, exercising person may be viewed differently than
one in an obese, or physically stagnant, smoking individual. The result
is that blame may be ascribed and guilt may be directed in a higher
ratio when intentionally and 'preventability' are factored in.
The circumstances involved in the way people die can be extra
traumatic to the survivors. When disfigurement, suffering, rape,
torture, murder or sadism are involved, the grief and trauma are
accentuated. Likewise, in horrific multiple deaths resulting from a
war, plane crash, murder, or conflagration, the same heightened shock
and stress apply. In large number losses there is some additional
support from realising that others are sharing the same pain you are.
However, that pain is still more pronounced.
All suffering and grief is difficult. No two people grieve the same
even over the same loss. Each stage of the grief process still must be
experienced but the anger and guilt for example, over a death by
suicide, will be more emphatic that over an aged parent who lived a
long and productive life. Sometimes advocacy programs such as M.A.D.D.
(Mothers Against Drunk Driving) or teen counselling programs about
suicide introduced into schools can result. In this way anger, grief
and victimisation may turn into a pro-active involvement and feeling of
empowerment. Skilled counsellors and professionals are often the best
assistance that can be offered as well as ongoing group support.
Appropriate intervention with the survivors at the time of the
traumatic deaths must be followed up with skilled post traumatic grief
counselling and support. All too often the first may be done and even
done well but the follow-up may be poor or negligible.
In sudden deaths where a survivor is actually involved, i.e. a car
crash in which the survivor who is the driver lives, while his loved
one dies, there can be even greater psychological stress and
complication. The bereaved may blame themselves for the accident
(whether objectively true or not). The "if only I had .... " statements
run rampant here and guilt and blame can become self-directed and hence
impede the natural grief process. Likewise, in an airline crash or
multiple murder, one family member survives while all others perish,
the same type of scenario exists and the questions usually start with
"why me" or "why them".
In the case of mutilation, drowning, disfigurement, rape, or fire
there are the additional traumas associated with finding such a body or
viewing the deceased for purposes of identification. Such sensory
images of sudden death become imprinted on the bereaved's mind and
heighten the traumatic effect. Likewise, they can produce flashbacks or
reoccurring nightmares, thus, again adding to the level of stress and
complication in the grief process.
It is most important as well, to realise that the objective reality
surrounding the circumstances of a sudden death, are not as important
as the survivor's own perception. It is this perception from which the
grief work begins and prudence must be exercised by care givers in
introducing other objective focal points. Some will deal with the
issues quite well but others may have great difficulty. It is also
important to accept that all questions may not be answered and indeed,
accepting the unknown may be a requisite of our healing.
The bottom line is that the survivors of sudden loss need
professional and long term help. The earlier the intervention and more
skilled the care-giver, the better will be the survivor's personal
grief therapy journey. As well, the ongoing supportive counselling and
group support are invaluable. Indeed, a poorly deliver care-giving or
the lack of adequate follow-up can adversely impact on the mourner and
even append additional issues to confront. The element of trust and
confidentiality must be a given in the relationship between care-giver
and survivor. Likewise, care-givers need to be aware of the impact of
supporting the bereaved of sudden loss can have on them. There are even
special debriefing programs and support groups for them available.
Within the support and assistance you receive, remember to include your
faith resources. No matter what belief you hold, prayer, meditation,
and the support of one's belief community and clergy can be invaluable.
Perhaps, one's best solace might even be found within these realms.
Community Resources
Depending on your locale, some support sources may not be present. A
family doctor, mental health centre, hospital, social worker,
counsellor, clergy or your funeral director can assist you with an
appropriate referral in these cases.
ARK - Counsels children and teenagers who have experienced the loss of a parent through death or divorce
COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS - Supports parents who have lost a child
HOSPICE - Supports the dying person and their family, before, during and after a death.
M.A.D.D. - MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING - A support group for those
who have lost someone through the trauma of a vehicular accident in
which alcohol was involved.
SUICIDE SUPPORT GROUPS - Check the phone book or your mental health centre for these.
Suggested Reading
There are many books available on a variety of topics dealing with death and grief. The following are a few of my favourites.
Doka, Kenneth J., Living With Grief After Sudden Loss, Hospice Foundation of America, 1996.
Kushner, Harold. When Bad Things Happen to Good People. New York: Schocken, 1981.
