Loss is usually accompanied by a feeling of emptiness, grief, sadness, etc. People are quick to acknowledge the loss of a loved one like a father, spouse, mother, child, etc., give support and show empathy. This is not the same for the loss of a pet. Even though these pets are excellent companions who grow on humans, people often devalue the feeling of hurt that comes with their loss. This often makes it harder to handle the loss. The feeling that comes with being unable to mourn openly for the loss of your pet can be mentally draining and very challenging. Here, you will find tips to guide you on how to deal with the loss of a pet.
Coping With the Grief of a Pet
Coping with the grief of pet loss may be difficult because people who don’t own pets or who have never experienced the death of a pet to whom they were very attached often find it difficult to understand how tough it may actually be. Recently, a number of studies have indicated that pet loss can have significant emotional and psychological impacts on people. These are ways you can cope with the loss of your pet
Understand That Your Pain Is Valid
Because a lot of people may not understand the nature of pain the loss of a pet can amount to and may not share with you in your grief, you might begin to question yourself and your emotions. Sometimes, we may even try to deny our feelings to come off as tough and non-petty. In the long term, trying to suppress or ignore your pain will only make it worse. Face the pain and take steps to actively deal with it if you want to experience true healing. You are most likely going to recover faster if you express your grief rather than holding it in or “bottling it up.” You could write down your emotions and discuss them with people who understand your loss.
Seek Out People Who Have Experienced the Loss of Pets
The impact of support groups cannot be overemphasized. When you are going through the grieving period of a pet loss, you may feel very misunderstood and alone. Seeking out a support group of people who have been or are in your situation can help with emotional support. If your own friends and family are not understanding about losing a pet, you should look for people, perhaps online, who have also lost a cherished pet. Oftentimes, they have a better understanding of what you’re going through.
Create memorials
When our loved ones die, we create memorials. Why can’t we when we lose a pet? Creating memorials is a sign that you are letting yourself grieve. These memorials provide a meaningful outlet for grief and help us honour and remember the profound impact our furry friends have had on our lives.
Recognize the Depth of Grief
As a pet owner, you might have known other pet owners who have lost their pets in the past and may want to use their grieving experience as a yardstick for how you will grieve your furry friend. But it is essential to recognize that the depth of grief for everybody is different. There is no standard technique to deal with sadness, denial, or rage. Every person goes through the stages of grief at their own particular pace and in their own particular style.
Seek Professional Help
Grief can be dangerous because sometimes, it degenerates into depression. Inasmuch as you are allowed to grieve your loved ones and your furry friends, it is important to know when to seek professional help. Your doctor or a mental health expert can assess you for depression if your grieving is prolonged and limiting your ability to function.
How to Help Children Understand Pet Loss
Losing a cherished pet can be extremely sad for adults, but it may even be more difficult for kids. Children may find it difficult to express or understand the variety of complicated emotions they experience when a pet dies. It is therefore your duty as parents or caregivers to stand by and support them as they go through this grieving period, assisting them in healing and paying respect to their pet’s memories. Depending on the age of the child, the ability to process and cope with the news of a pet loss will be different. And therefore, as a caregiver or parent, you might be required to use different approaches. However, some general techniques you can employ include:
Be Honest
It’s understandable that as parents, we are naturally wired to protect our kids and may say anything for that purpose. However, in the case of a pet loss, it’s best to strive to be honest. Some children may not be able to process death at their age and may have many questions regarding it, do your best to answer these questions without lying or blaming anybody such as the vet. Children are wired differently and blaming anybody or anything for the cause of their grief or sadness may create a permanent negative impression.
Make Them Understand That You Are Sad Too
Grief is an overwhelming feeling and navigating the pain of loss at an early age can even be more overwhelming. Sometimes the natural instinct of parents and caregivers is to appear strong ‘for the sake of their kids’ but that can be detrimental. When your family is grieving the loss of a pet, make your children understand that you are sad too. This will help validate the child’s emotions and help them not feel alone.
Keep Memorials or Rituals
When a cherished pet in the family dies, you could gently suggest to your child about giving the pet a goodbye ritual because the pet will ‘be happy and would love them too’. You could equally suggest creating a memorial for remembrance. This is because children often blame themselves when a pet suddenly ‘leaves’ and does not come back. They may think it’s their fault and it’s not different in the case of a pet. These rituals and memorials help them understand that in spite of ‘leaving’ the pet loves them.
Use Books to Help Them Comprehend Death
To better help children comprehend the concept of death, use age-appropriate books.
How Do You Live Alone After Losing a Pet?
Losing a cherished companion can be an incredibly difficult and emotional experience. Adjusting to being alone after spending so much time with your pet can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to cope and navigate through this challenging period. Here are some suggestions to help you:
- Allow yourself the grieving period
- Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members who understand the bond you had with your pet. Share your feelings and memories with them, as talking about your pet can provide comfort and solace.
- Engage in self-care; take care of yourself during this difficult time. Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you heal, such as practising mindfulness or meditation, going for walks in nature, or pursuing hobbies that bring you a sense of peace and fulfilment.
- Consider a new companion; while it’s essential to give yourself time to heal, eventually you may find comfort and companionship in another pet. When you feel ready, consider whether bringing a new pet into your life would be a positive and enriching experience.
- Explore personal interests or hobbies that bring you joy and solace.
How long does it take to get over the loss of a pet?
The degree of loss you feel can vary by things including your age and personality, the age of your pet, and the circumstances surrounding their passing. In general, the greater the emotional grief you experience, the more important your pet was to you.
Following the loss of a pet, acute grief symptoms could persist for one to three months, and general grief symptoms can last, typically, for six months up to a year. Depending on the individual, this grieving period may last significantly longer or less.
Tips for Seniors Grieving the Loss of a Pet
If you are an older adult living alone, your pet was perhaps one of your closest companions, and caring for the animal gave you a feeling of duty and self-worth. In some cases, there may be cases of codependency. Losing a pet at this stage may be especially tough due to a number of circumstances and emotions. Here are some tips to help you navigate the loss of a pet as an older adult:
Stay Connected to Friends
The loneliness that comes with pet loss can be overwhelming and even more so, for older adults who might have fewer friends. But in the incident of a pet loss, you do not have to be alone. Stay connected with friends, at least one or two. This will aid you to ward off depression.
Exercise
This will help keep you active and energized and help increase your immune system. Following the death of your pet, it’s crucial to maintain your exercise routine. Before beginning an exercise regimen, consult your doctor, and then choose an enjoyable activity. You can develop relationships with other people by exercising in a group or participating in a sport like tennis or golf, attending an exercise class, or swimming.
Getting a New Pet After the Loss of the Old One
When our pet dies, it may be appealing to immediately get another one to replace the void the dead one left. But it is more advisable to thoroughly mourn the loss of the old one and be sure you are emotionally ready to deal with a new one.
Pets are lovely companions and the way we feel their loss similar to the way we feel the loss of a beloved one. It is therefore not surprising that when we buy a pet immediately after the loss of the old one as a rebound, we might still feel some sort of emotional detachment.
Conclusion
It is a challenging experience grieving the loss of your pet when others devalue your loss. But this should not deter you from grieving and acknowledging your hurt. Pets are lovely companion and it’s only normal there you feel a sense of acute loss and pain when you lose them seek out support groups online and offline if there are no one around you who understands.
Grief has stages and varies from person to person. Sometimes, it could be lengthy, but by all means, allow yourself to feel. To grief, healthily.
Remember if your grief reaches a stage where you want to harm yourself or people around you, seek professional help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does the Loss of a Pet Hurt So Much?
pets are excellent companions. they provide social interaction and security. For these reasons, it is easy to form emotional bonds with your pet.
when they die, you feel similar emotions to that of losing a loved one because of this bond
Our Dog Hasn’t Died Yet, but Is Really Old and Sick. Should We Start to Prepare Our Children?
Before your pet actually passes away, how you talk about death can have a significant impact. Especially if your child has reached the age where they can begin to comprehend what dying entails.
If your pet has a fatal illness, it could be tempting to downplay the severity of the situation or to assure your children that everything is alright. Instead, discuss the situation with your child in an age-appropriate manner. You could use age-appropriate books. Inform your child that you want to appreciate the time you have left with your pet with your family. Respond to their questions. All of this offers your child the opportunity to begin processing their feelings and the opportunity to say goodbye.
Would Getting a New Puppy Aid My Kids in Coping With the Loss of Our Dog?
It’s a huge decision to get a new pet, and it might help your family cope with the loss of your dog. However, rather than getting the new pet as a coping mechanism, it’s ideal to describe it as a ‘new adventure’. One reason is that your children can be upset when a new pet isn’t exactly like the previous one because they expected it to be. Also, kids could mistakenly believe that departed loved ones can be replaced.