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Coping with the Loss of a Pet After Years of Love

By Wendy Van de Poll July 04, 2017 Family

Are you experiencing emotions of sadness and grief while coping with the loss of a pet? Are you unable to even imagine moving forward with your life again without them? Would you like to tell your buddy once again that you love them?

It can be difficult to accept and understand the passing of your animal friend from the physical form to the spirit form. This physical separation can create a huge gap of unexplained emotions, and coping with the loss of a pet can be overwhelming and at times emotionally paralyzing.

You probably already know that grieving for your pet is painful and can leave you feeling miserable. There is no perfect way to grieve. You received a lot from your animal and will always hold in your heart the love he or she gave to you.

Also, grieving is a normal process, unique to you. No two people grieve the same way, and it all depends on your experiences with previous loss, cause of death, support system and your beliefs around death.

Give yourself all the time that you need to go through the grieving process, as there are no shortcuts. Experiencing the pain of your loss is an essential part of working through and integrating your grief.

Heartache is numbing, so it is important to take care of yourself. There are many ways to do it, but I would like to share with you some of the ways in which I offer pet grief support. They help my clients take charge to transform their grief to joy after their animal dies.

Here is come advice for coping with the loss of a pet.

Grieving the Loss of a Pet is Normal

Grief combines mixed feelings – despair, anger, guilt, shock, denial, pain, bargaining, reflection, loneliness, etc. Writing, talking about and expressing your emotions in a supportive atmosphere can help you transform your feelings.

Your Endearing Bond

The bond that you had with your animal was filled with love, caring, endearment, tenderness, fondness, enthusiasm… All of these describe a deep love for your pet or animal companion. By focusing on how your lives and routines evolved over the years, you will strengthen the continued relationship that you can have with them in the afterlife!

Cherishing the End-of-Life Experience

Feelings of fear, panic, failure or catastrophe are very common, and you may experience them during the end-of-life process. The time when your companion is at the end-of-life stages can bring up a lot of emotions.

You should realize that death is a natural end to your friend’s life. Eventually, it happens to everyone. Being compassionate to yourself and thanking your animal for all that was shared between the two of you can help you be better prepared as you make some important decisions.

Welcoming Joy Back into Your Life

Feeling moments of joy after your animal dies is not a cause for you to feel guilty. Fortifying yourself with positive thoughts about your life with your animal never betrays your companion. Instead, this is what your animal really wants from you, to honor the joyful relationship that you shared!

So, remember, even though your pet has died, they are always accessible to you. With your heart and soul, you are able to contact them and hear what they have to say. Many of my clients have transformed their grief to joy.

Have you lost a pet recently? Can you share with us some ways in which you cherished your pet and welcomed joy back into your life? What are some special things that bring you happiness when you remember your pet? Please join the conversation below!

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The Author

Wendy Van de Poll is a leader in the fields of pet loss grief support and self-publishing. As a thirteen-time bestselling author, speaker and coach she works with people all over the world with their animals and writing their books! Please visit her website for pet loss https://centerforpetlossgrief.com or website for self-publishing https://selfpublishingbookcoach.com

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