Pet Grief Counseling

The grief over a Beloved Pet

The grief of losing a family member, whether animal or human, can be crippling. Grief is often unbearable and overwhelming, and very few of us who are grieving can believe that normalcy will ever return to our lives. The experience can be like a tidal wave – one moment you feel completely numb, the next you are confronted with brutal raw pain. Although we know that grief is a natural part of life, it is still very painful when we experience it. Grieving a loved one is completely natural, and it is very important to allow your grief time and space to find balance again.

Family members, sometimes the only family member

Our pets are family members, often playing a very central role in the family. Sometimes they can be the only family member. Animals experience the same emotions as we humans do. They build relationships and friendships, just like we do. With their very own unique personalities and habits, they brighten our lives and we create a strong, unique bond with each other. An animal friend sees your weaknesses as well as your strengths, is always loyal and lovingly by your side ready to celebrate joys and victories with you. They often spend many years involved as a central part of our lives and in difficult times they give us a sense of stability, comfort and security. They offer us modest, unconditional love and give us opportunities to express our feelings in ways that we would not normally do with other people.

The grief for an animal can be just as deep, many times deeper, than after the loss of a human. Many times it can also be a very lonely experience. Not everyone has understanding family and friends who can help with the grief. Not everyone knows how deep the grief can be.

We live in a society where we are almost a little afraid of, and not always allow ourselves the time and space to deal with grief. When it comes to the feelings associated with the loss of a pet, they unfortunately tend to be pushed further away by many people, with the attitude that the grief of a pet is something that people should be able to handle quickly and move on. Insensitive comments like "It was just a dog" or "Why don't you get a new cat" can be perceived as grossly offensive and hurtful and create more pain than good. Many people feel that the grief for their family member is not justified because the world around them does not confirms and acknowledges it.

They neither see nor understand, nor perhaps take the time to understand how important and crucial this relationship was. Therefore, many choose to grieve alone, for fear of not being understood and that the loss will be belittled and minimized, as something that people should be able to handle quickly and then move on.

How do you process grief? Allow the grief space! Let your grief be your unique grief!
We are all individuals, so the amount of time we need to process our grief is also very different. Some find balance in life quite quickly, while for others it can take months or years. What is important to remember is that we are individuals and the grieving process looks different for everyone. This also means that there are big differences in our recovery time. But don't underestimate the time it takes to grieve. Give your grief space, time and confirmation.

That time heals all wounds is probably not always true. But time can help create better balance. Seek the right conversation support. It is an important part to be able to talk about your loss. Someone you feel great trust in. If there is a family member or close friend who may have gone through the same thing that you can talk to, that is worth its weight in gold. But let it take the time you need. Don't try to force anything. Grief is really just evidence of a very strong relationship and love. Nurture and cherish it with a warm heart.