Grief
Grief is a normal response to loss. It is an individual journey, and cannot be rushed. It does not conform to any schedule or plan.
Grief can often manifest in physical, as well as emotional changes. These changes can include:
- changes in appetite
- changes in sleep patterns
- changes in health
The goal to managing grief is not to "get over it". Ideally, the sadness you experience will become less difficult over time. Memories will not cause sadness, but will instead bring laughter and smiles.
Guilt
Guilt is a normal feeling after losing a beloved pet. It is normal to think about what you perceive you could have or should have done to change the outcome. It is one of the most common feelings of grief.
In reality, sometimes bad things happen without any reason, and there is no one to blame. You are often not in control of events that occur.
Children
Often one of the most difficult things to deal with after a pet passes is explaining the death to a child. Some tips to help when explaining death to children:
- be honest
- keep thing simple and direct
- kids are literal; try to void phrases such as "went to sleep"- this can often be confusing and scary for a child
- let them grieve at their own pace, in their own way
- show your emotions and talk about your feelings with them
