Managing the Pain When You Lose a Pet
If you have lost a pet and felt like the pain was unbearable, you’re not alone. Pet loss is sometimes even more painful to process than human loss, because people don’t understand or expect the loss to be so profound. Clients are often afraid to admit how much pain they are in and have fewer resources available to them to deal with the grief.
Because pets are constant companions, we tend to lean on them for our daily mental health. They are dear friends, confidantes and playmates. Owning a pet has been shown to lower our stress levels, improve our fitness and ease loneliness. When they’re gone, that’s a big hole to fill.
These days, when families tend to live farther away, people move around more, and communities are less connected than ever, pets have become even more important to individuals. More now than in the past, people rely on our pets for friendship and affection. They are a part of their family, and their death is a source of great pain.
Some ways to heal from pet loss:
Normalize the pain. It’s completely reasonable to mourn your pet in any way, and for as much time, as any other loss. There is no “right” way to grieve.
Allow yourself to memorialize your pet. Make a scrapbook, put up framed photos, and talk about your buddy to keep the memory alive.
Have a way to express and process the feelings coming up. Write a story about it, journal, paint, talk to a therapist or religious leader.
Look for support. Loneliness is epidemic during grief. Let your loved ones know you need contact. Whether it’s a call, I a text that says “I’m thinking of you,” or a funny meme, just knowing people are behind you can ease your struggle.
Join a grief group. Sometimes it really only helps to talk to other people who get it.
Making meaning has been shown to heal mourning faster than almost anything else. So if you can give more energy to giving back, it can help you feel better or at least distract and refocus the sadness. If you could volunteer for an animal shelter or contribute to rescuing animals, you can put the love you have for your pet to a higher purpose.
If your loved ones don’t understand your pain, try to explain it simply and clearly. Let them know you’re deeply upset, likely not ready to simply replace your pet, and need some time and space to feel sad without any judgment.
If you’re ready to find support with therapy, schedule a free consultation here.