Grief – What to Expect
We will all experience a loss sometime in our lives, and with that loss we will all experience the sometimes overwhelming emotion or response called Grief. It may feel at times that it will be impossible to recover and move on after we loss someone we love. But, grief does gradually get better and less intense as time goes by. To help get through the pain, it may help to know what things you might expect while grieving.
The first few days after you lose your companion animal can be very intense with a lot of crying. You may feel very strong emotions and need the comfort of others who express their support and condolences. It is very common to feel like you are “going crazy” and feel very extreme emotions of anxiety, panic, sadness and helplessness. Some describe this time as feeling “unreal” as if they are looking at their world from the outside in, or from a faraway place. You may also feel moody, irritable and resentful of the loss and others.Most people show their emotions right after a loss, but other people can be so shocked and overwhelmed that they don’t show emotion right away – even though the loss is very hard. These people may be found smiling and talking to others as though nothing has happened.
After the first few days are over and you try to get back into your “normal” activities, it may be hard to put your heart back into everyday things. Even though you may not talk about your loss as much, the grieving process still continues. It is natural to have these feelings for day, weeks, and even longer – depending on how close you were to the animal who has passed.
No matter how you grieve, there is no one right way to do it. The grieving process is a gradual one that lasts longer for some people than others. There may be times when you wonder if life will ever get back to normal again. This is a very natural reaction after a loss. Cat Urns or Pet Urns are one way you can keep your lost loved one close, even though they are gone.