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Crying: A force to balance emotions among cancer patients in palliative home care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2007

KERSTIN RYDÉ ,
MARIA FRIEDRICHSEN  and
PETER STRANG
KERSTIN RYDÉ
Affiliation:
Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden
MARIA FRIEDRICHSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden Palliative Education and Research Center Unit of Palliative Care, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
PETER STRANG
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet, FoUU, Stockholms Sjukhem, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract

Objective: Crying is a common but seldom studied phenomenon in palliative care. The aim of this study was to explore the significance of patients crying in a palliative care context.

Methods: Tape-recorded interviews with 14 cancer patients in palliative home care were carried out. To gain deeper understanding, a hermeneutic analysis and interpretation was used.

Results: Crying was described in different dimensions: (1) intense and despondent crying as a way of ventilating urgent needs, (2) gentle, sorrowful crying as a conscious release of emotions, and (3) quiet, tearless crying as a protection strategy. Crying seems to be an expression for an inner emotional force, provoked by different factors, which cause changes in the present balance. To cry openly but also to cry on the inside meant being able to achieve or maintain balance. Crying may be something useful, which could create release and help reduce tension, but it may also have a negative impact as it consumes energy and creates feelings of shame.

Significance of results: Professionals need to understand the different levels of crying. In such situations sometimes comforting the patient may not be the best solution, as some may need privacy.

Keywords

CryingPalliative careCancerEmotionsHermeneutic
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 51 - 59
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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