Mourning the Loss of Your Dog: The Grief Process
Losing a
pet can be one of the most painful losses you'll endure in your life, often equal to losing a family member or dear friend. As human beings, we need to grieve and that takes time. There's an actual process that everyone goes through - at their own pace, in their own way - that leads to ultimate healing and the ability to move on through the tragedy. This process is called the
grief process, and it holds true for any kind of loss, animal or human.
The first step is denial, where you might not be able to really believe your companion is gone. Then comes the bargaining phase; you might find yourself trying to make a deal with your higher power or even your dog to return to you. When that doesn't work, you move on to anger. You could be angry at yourself for grieving, or even angry at your pet for leaving you. Guilt follows, and you may try to stuff your feelings down and reason yourself out of feeling sad. Real sadness is the next step, and this begins as you finally start to realize that the loss is real and can't be fixed or corrected. Finally, ultimately, comes acceptance, where every day brings a little more strength and a little less pain when you think of your beloved pet.
Don't Avoid the Process
While each person may move through the steps of grief in his or her own pattern or time frame, it's necessary for everyone to experience them. It's the only way you can truly move on
and allow healing into your life. Here are a few ways to help yourself through the process:
