Archive for August, 2010
Grieving and Depression
It is very natural to feel depressed and in pain after losing a beloved pet. Feelings of sadness after such a death are much like a wounded animal’s instinct to withdraw, find a safe spot and lick their wounds. Such emotions can be an indicator that your usual notions of faith and reality have been shattered. This can lead to deep questions about the meaning of different aspects of your life, and also of impending death. These feelings of sadness can also be an indicator that you need to slow down, take some “me” time and allow yourself to heal. You need to put yourself in touch with your feelings, and find a way when it is time, to move on with life.
While feelings of sadness after death of a loved one, whether 2-legged or 4-legged, are very real and normal, actual clinical depression is not. If your feelings of depression and helplessness continue for a long periond of time and you are not able to return to normal activities, you need to seek help. You should consider visiting with a trained therapist, or with your clergy person. There is nothing wrong with seeking and accepting help to overcome such grief. It is very common and can help y0u to heal faster.
When looking for a Pet Casket to properly intern your furry loved one, find one that fits the personality and size of your lost pet.
How do I Grieve?
Grieving is unique to every person. We all experience grief in our own way and in our own time. Do not expect that each grieving process will be the same, each loss may be uniquely different than the last one.
Fortunately we have the ability to cry, to wonder, to tell stories of our lost loved ones – and also to even get angry. We also have the ability to reach out to others who have also gone through the grieving experience. The more you use these abilities, the easier it will be to find meaning in our loss. Here are some questions to consider when you are trying to navigate through the grieving process:
How do you individually cope with loss and grief? What have you learned from past losses or from others who have gone through it?
What has helped you or others get through a loss gracefully? What kind of support will help you deal with this loss now and in the future?
Here are some suggestions that may help you deal with grief: 1. Pay attention to your feelings. Write them down in a journal or talk them over with a friend. 2. Don’t assume your current grief will be like the previous ones. You grow with each experience – so you are not the same person now. 3. Create something – art, poetry, or music to express your feelings. 4. Get out and get moving. Walk, run, dance – anything to get your body going and lift your spirits. 5. Spend time with friends who have been through similar experiences. Find a pet loss support group, go out with friends, go to lunch with an old buddy, or visit with your therapist or clergyman. Grief is unique to each person and how succesfully we deal with it depends on how willing we are to feel it and work through it. If you try to repress your feelings, it will make the grieving process longer and more painful.
Pet Cremation Urns are a personal way to say “Good-bye” to your lost loved one.
Creating Fond Memories
It may come to as a surprise to you that you have such a deep bond with your pet. You may have been aware, but not mindful of the many wonderful gifts and memories that your companion animal has brought into your life. For many of us, the loss of our pet is the loss of a family member, one of our “children’ if you will. As you experience this grief and sadness, take the time to consider your pet’s special place in your heart. Remembering the special times you had together can help you to heal the wounds of loss. You may want to ask yourself these questions:
How did my pet come into my life? What types of activities did we enjoy together? What important life’s challenges did my pet help me to endure? How did our time together make me feel?
For many of us, pets provide an unwavering source of love, affection and companionship. Create a Personalized Pet Memorial to pay tribute to your fondest friend. You may want to make a special place in your home where you display photos, toys and mementos of your companion animal.
Grieving the Loss of Your Pet
Most pet owners consider their pets to be fur children or members of the family – not just an animal. At least half of pet owners actually spend more time taking their pets to the vet than going to the doctor themselves. We are also more likely to remember the names of our neighbor’s pets, than the names of our neighbors.
Given this deep and intense relationship we have with our companion animals, it is no wonder the loss of our pets can bring such intense emotional pain and stress. This loss can trigger overwhelming feelings of grief, sadness and depression. You may have trouble sleeping, lose weight, feel tired all the time, and even have trouble focusing. This grieving may even take you to spiritual and emotional edges you have never experienced before, so it’s often tempting to avoid it. Yet, the more you are willing to embrace the emotions of your loss, the better equipped you will be to live and love more fully.
One huge difference between pet loss and the loss of a human, is that our friends never truly understand or appreciate it. They may ask “What’s the big deal? It’s just a pet.” There is an assumption that humans are more important than pets. But for those of us who have truly loved an animal, we can feel just as devastated, if not more, than losing a human loved one. The very things that make pets different than humans often make them more endearing. The qualities of a beloved pet are hard to match in human form. Pets give us unconditional love, they never pass judgement, and they don’t withhold companionship or give you the silent treatment. The loss of this type of companionship can be heartbreaking. Like grief for a human loss, grief for companion animals can only be dealt with over time and in different stages of grieving. Pet Urns are a wonderful way to pay tribute to your lost loved one.