So, you’ve been devastated by losing a family member, your beloved pet! And you feel like you might need pet loss counselling.
You may be bewildered at a depth of your sadness over losing a pet. After all, it’s “just an animal, right?” You and I both know it was much more than that. First and foremost, you need to understand that you have the right to mourn deeply and fully over the loss of your animal companion.
Your sadness and distress over your loss have caused you to reach out for help. But first, we will discuss some basic truths about pet loss grief that might help you understand and feel better.
One of the best things you can do to help yourself is to realize that although most outsiders don’t understand, you are perfectly justified in your deep feelings of grief and loss. The loss of a beloved family pet can be devastating. Generally, our society does not recognize the significance of pet loss or allow for a proper bereavement. You may even be embarrassed or uneasy about expressing your grief to others and may end up feeling isolated and alone in your grief. When a pet dies, there are no formal and public rituals, like a funeral, where sorrow can be openly expressed and emotional support freely given. Since we don’t know how to deal with pet loss grief properly, we usually suffer in silence.
How do you deal with people who don’t understand what you’re going through?
These Are Three Biggies You Are Sure to Hear:
- “It was just an animal.”
- “Just get over it,” OR
- “You can always get another pet.”
These only-too-often-heard statements by well-meaning friends show a profound lack of understanding and empathy for your pain.
They don’t understand and have probably never suffered the pain of losing a beloved animal themselves. The best thing you can do is to forgive them for their ignorance. They do mean well. Let insensitive comments roll off your back, and don’t let them make you feel like you don’t have a legitimate right to grieve. Avoid these “well-meaning” folks and contact someone you have found who does care and will listen to your tale of grief without trying to “fix everything.”
If you have found your way to this article, you are looking for major help dealing with your pain and grief, perhaps even pet loss Counselling Singapore. And in extreme cases, we very much recommend professional help. But before you progress to this major (and probably expensive) intervention, we think you should try to find the support you need from among your friends and family members.
First, arm yourself with some knowledge and understanding of the normal grief process. Learn what reactions you can expect in grief, and find out how to make grief more bearable. Visit your public library, bookstore or pet supply centre and ask for information and literature on pet loss and bereavement.
