Grieving the loss of a pet
Losing a beloved pet can be one of the most devasting times in our lives
When we bring that precious bundle home and immediately fall in love, we may choose not to think that more than likely we will outlive them.
What we do find is that they bring us so much joy for the time that we are blessed to have them. They love us unconditionally, always greet us with excitement when we arrive home and provide us with endless comfort without judgement whenever we need it.
For some people, a pet is their only constant companion and the strongest of bonds are formed.
The thought of ever losing them is overwhelming to say the least.
Grieving the loss of a pet can be just as intense as losing anyone or anything we have formed a loving attachment to.
The way in which we lose them can also affect the way we will grieve the loss.
Some may say the best-case scenario is when we are fortunate enough to have our pet live until a ripe old age and pass away peacefully. Even so let’s face it there is something about our elderly animal companions that touches our hearts in a way nothing else can, making it so hard to think about our final goodbye. We may have to watch them aging and declining in health as we do our best to comfort and support them as we know they would do for us if they could.
Those of us who have to make the choice to euthanise our pet may have feelings of immense guilt even when we have been reassured by the experts that it was for the best.
Some people struggle to afford the vet bills or don’t have enough spare funds to pay for a possible treatment that could have prolonged their life and because of this suffer tremendous guilt.
Sometimes the death is an accident where someone may have inadvertently left a gate or door open and our pet has wandered onto the road or simply disappeared.
We may feel an ongoing sense of “If only “or” what if” when we lose a pet in any of these circumstances.
Grief has no time frame , the pain we feel is real and is an indication of the depth of the love that was felt for our beloved pet.
Just as we humans find comfort in compiling photos and videos and producing a DVD presentation with suitable background music for a deceased family member, we can also do the same for a beloved pet.
This can be a wonderful way to help with the grieving process as well as celebrating the life, love and precious moments shared your cherished pet.
If you feel that you have been grieving for an extended period of time and your sadness has begun to affect your day to day responsibilities or is impacting on your sleep or eating patterns then it may be time to seek professional help, especially if you may be sensing that friends and family are thinking you should be over your loss in a shorter period of time than what you are capable of.
I can help you process your feelings and make sense of your loss as you move through your grief in your own time to a place where you can look back and smile when you think of your beloved companion.
Let me help you.
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