Losing a pet is incredibly painful, leaving you without the constant companionship of your cherished friend. As animal lovers, we understand just how difficult this can be, so have put together some advice to help you cope after they’ve gone.
Allow yourself time to grieve
Don’t hold your emotions in – allow yourself the space to cry and experience what you’re feeling, without having to pretend you’re ok. This may involve taking a few days off work, allowing yourself some time for self-care, and talking to supportive friends and family.
Seek professional support and counselling
Counselling can help you work through emotions of grief, loneliness and isolation, providing you with a place to share your thoughts and feelings without judgement. Sharing your emotions and concerns with someone else can help you feel understood and make the grieving process less isolating.
Remember your beloved pet
Honouring your pet can be a great way of working through grief. Whether sharing stories with friends and family, creating memorial keepsakes or planting a tree in their memory, commemorating their life can help you make positive steps towards healing and acceptance.
Take care of yourself
Prioritising your needs can be difficult when you’re grieving, but it’s important to look after yourself. Make sure you’re drinking and eating enough, try to stick to your usual routine as much as you can, and make some time to rest each day.
Connect with others
Meeting up with friends and family, joining support groups online, and talking about how you’re feeling can help you process what you’re going through. Try not to isolate yourself and accept any support that you feel would be useful.
