First, let’s define acceptance in the context of the five stages of grief. From the website Grief.com, the fifth stage of grief, acceptance: “Acceptance is often confused with the notion of being “all right” or “OK” with what has happened. This is not the case. Most people don’t ever feel OK or all right about the loss of …
“Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.” (psychiatry.org) It is important not to generalize depression in any …
The third stage of grief is bargaining. The bargaining stage becomes a coping tool with the onset of bad news. Erika Krull, MSEd, LMPH, in her blog, What Happens in the Bargaining Stage of Grief (6/30/2021) writes, “The bargaining stage of grief can feel like despair and anxiety rolled into one. Your mind is trying to wrestle …
You’re at your vet’s office. Your beloved family pet is not doing well. He stopped eating and drinking. The vet tells you the situation is terminal. Your heart is breaking; tears are falling. It can’t be true; your heart tells you. She was running around the backyard a few days ago. What happens now? If …
In this blog post, I’d like to share my personal experience of losing one of my precious pets and how my surviving pet, Emma, and I, got through the devasting loss together. When my cat Patrick died unexpectedly, I was left heartbroken. I cried and wailed as if I lost a spouse. His death came …
If you ask anyone who has recently lost a pet how they’re feeling since the loss, they’ll most likely tell you their heart hurts in ways they never thought possible. I’ve heard people say they have lost family members, co-workers, friends, and while they hurt deeply and grieved the losses, there’s something about the loss …
In my previous blog post, Help! We’re all grieving over here! Part One, August 2, 2021, I outlined ways a family can tackle grief over the death of a beloved pet. In this blog post, I address ways to help the children grieve the loss of a family pet. Losing a family pet may be …
How do you help your children grieve the death of a family pet while aching with grief as well? Focus on creating a safe, loving space for your children to express their grief and, to see you grieve as well. Now is not the time to be stoic. Now is the time to acknowledge to …
Among the most complex kinds of grief is the one humans feel for their lost service animals. Service animals, in addition to providing the love and companionship of the typical pet, are highly trained to help us live our lives and do our work. Some service animals help us navigate a world that is otherwise …
It can be particularly challenging to tell your child that your family pet has died. This may be your child’s very first experience of loss, and some parents feel daunted by the responsibility of delivering such difficult news to them. However, telling your child your pet has died does not have to be traumatic for …
