How to Cope with the Loss of Your Pet

You Have a Right to Your Feelings of Loss Anyone who has had a beloved companion animal understands the profound feelings of loss when a pet dies or disappears. It is hard enough to cope with this loss, yet grieving individuals often have to face the insensitivity of those who do not understand the profound connection between people and their pets, making hurt feelings go even deeper. Sometimes, even when people are offering sympathy and condolences, they say things that shame us, especially when our emotions and expressed strongly. Emotions are yours to own, and whether or not someone else understands your feelings of loss, your feelings are valid. You had a wonderful connection with a pet that offered you unconditional love, and you have a right to feel that loss deeply as you would with the loss of a human friend or family member. Sorrow, anger, depression, confusion, and even physical pain, guilt, and bittersweet love are all normal in grieving over the loss of your pet. Feeling those emotions after the loss of a deep spiritual and emotional connection to your pet honors that relationship. There is no set timetable for making your way through grief, but there are some things you can do to facilitate the healing process. How to Cope with the Pain of Loss First, you need to honor feelings. Yes, there are people who will try to deny your grief, and tell you it was only an animal. Just breath deeply and realize that grieving is a sign of your strength to feel deeply. After all, you loved and were loved deeply by your animal companion. It makes sense that your pain would be equal to that immense love. Allow your feelings to flow more freely through you. You can even try releasing some of those feelings by writing a letter to your pet or through journaling. You may also need to distance yourself a bit from the naysayers while drawing closer to people who care and understand what you are feeling. Open yourself up to the help and advice these people have to offer. Another way to help heal from the loss of your pet is to join a pet loss support group where you are surrounded by others who understand your emotions. Sometimes it is just helpful to know you are not alone in your feelings of grief. You also need to be kind to yourself during your mourning period. Take on activities that move your mind, body, and spirit. One way to work through your emotions and start healing is to take regular walks and enjoy the nature around you. Nature in itself is healing, as it allows us to connect with the natural life process around us. Stay healthy and fit during this time. Grief can sometimes cause you to forget about yourself, so you need to remember that your pet would want you to remain healthy. Give Meaning and Purpose to Your Loss and Your Life A memorial service, tree-planting, community service, or doing something in honor of your pet to help someone else can also help give your loss meaning and facilitate the important healing process. Also, plan ahead for those difficult days you will face like birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. Rainbow Bridge Memorials Some people have posted memorials online, either using the Rainbow Bridge image, or others that allow them to share memories and photographs of their beloved pets. If you're not familiar with the Rainbow Bridge, it comes from a poem that describes a place where you will meet your beloved pets at the die that you die. The Rainbow Bridge is an image that has given comfort to many people grieving their pets. How you think about yourself and your emotions can also affect your healing process. Set an intention to heal and become a better and more compassionate person through your grief. If you are facing negative or self-defeating thoughts about yourself, try to replace them with positive ones. Sometimes people blame themselves for the loss of a pet; it's important to remind yourself of all the good things you did with your pet. Write them down, put pictures with them, making a scrapbook of healthy memories. However, if you find yourself going beyond the normal degree of depression or having suicidal thoughts, call your local crisis center and seek help working through your grief. As people who connect to our pets and other people, loss is a natural part of life. Understand that you are not alone in feeling profound grief over the loss of your pet, as we have all felt that grief in our minds, body, and heart. Grief is natural and loss is a rite of passage. As we move through our sadness over the loss, we have the choice to connect more deeply to ourselves and become more loving, compassionate and purposeful in our lives. Remember, your pet was your best teacher of how to love. Carry on those lessons into the rest of your life!