REactions to Grief

When faced with the sadness of the loss of a pet, you may “shut down”. This is your body’s way of protecting you from the sadness.

You may have problems staying focused or completing tasks. You may feel restless.

You may worry about loved ones and everyday tasks such as work or finances.

You may find yourself being angry with yourself or with others, lashing out unexpectedly. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel.

You may feel remorse over what you did or did not do. It is important to remember that you cannot change the past and you must learn to forgive yourself and learn for the future. Be compassionate with yourself.

Losing someone that we love is painful. Be patient and allow yourself to grieve and mourn. For some, a long period of sadness can overtake your life. This is when the reality sets in and it can be a very difficult time. If you are finding it difficult to cope, reach out for help.

Your body will react from your grief. You may have problems sleeping or feel poorly. This is your bodies way of reacting to your grief. Your body may require more rest during this time.

When you have dealt with a pet whose death was followed by a long and perhaps painful illness, you may feel relief when pet dies. This is normal and natural. Relief does not mean lack of love. On the contrary, it can be a statement of how much you loved your pet.

When you reach resolution, you accept and live with the loss. It does not mean that you won’t be sad, but you will be able to think about your pet with less pain as compared to when they first died.