The Grieving Process
The act of grieving is often complicated by the feeling that perhaps we should not be "over-reacting" to the death of "just a pet". Many friends and family members don't understand what a pet means to us in life and cannot empathize with these very real and deep feelings.
One of the most difficult and important parts of grief is understanding what has happened. Remember: what you are feeling is all right. Your sense of loss may encompass your life and these feelings are normal. You have the right to grieve and you can take as much time as you need. The trick is to take the time that you need.
There are many stages of grief and none are absolute. Time frames vary from person to person. Generally, the stages include:
- Shock, disbelief or denial
- Anger
- Bargaining (often with God)
- Depression
- Acceptance, resolution and recovery
In some cases, we go through all the stages in predictable fashion. But more often, there is no rhyme or reason to how an individual experiences these stages. Some people only go through one or two stages and have resolution. However, a memory or anniversary of your pet's passing may knock you back into the anger or denial stage. Again, this process has no timetable. Keep in mind you are having natural and normal feelings. You are not crazy!
"Many will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave paw prints in your heart".
Dallas-Fort Worth Local Grief Support Resources
www.animalcompanionsandtheirpeople.com
Animal Companions and Their People
972-966-8993
National Grief Support Hotlines
Grief Recovery Hotline
800-445-4808
Pet Loss Support Hotline
888-478-7574
Pet Loss Hotline
877-394-2273