Many people did not realize that losing their pet can hit them emotionally in a completely different angle than any other form of loss in our life. We as pet parents had poured in a lot of energy, love and care into taking care of out pets without asking for anything in return, and that is a purest form of love. Pets in turn, weave themselves into our lives in a consistent, quiet way and they too give us their love unconditionally. This is the reason why losing them can shattered our life.
Pet loss often catches people off guard, because it is both deeply personal and rarely talked about with the seriousness it deserves. But the pain is definitely real and it can be so intense with unexpected depth, which makes the grieving process harder and you might feel more isolated than ever.
So, if you are wonder what you can do during this challenging time, we have a few tips to help you out. First of all, if you are feeling the pain and emotion throughout your body to the extent that prevent you from breathing properly, please slow down and take 3 slow, steady and long breaths. When you are calmer, try distracting yourself by stimulating your sense. For example, light a nice scented candle and find a playlist that suits you. You can try to go through the photos with your pet, and try to remember all the good times you had with them. Another useful tip that could be soothing would be having a soft and fluffy blanket or plushies as studies have shown that touching or cuddling soft toys can improve mood.
Journaling your feelings and grieve will take 50% of the load off your heart, so writing a letter to your pet can be helpful. You can write anything that you want, knowing that it will be confidential and safe. Please remind yourself that all these pain that you are feeling is happening because you love them, you have tried your best when they are around, and you are trying your best now to get through this. Make yourself a cup of calming chamomile tea, or use some self-massage tool to take your mind off the matter afterwards. The trick is to acknowledge and understand why you are feeling that pain, address it by writing it down, and try not to stay in that loop for too long.
Last tip is to get some keepsake items such as paw prints, fur locks, customized urn or customized drawings to remember your pet forever. These items will make you feel better because you are enforcing the idea that even when they are gone, their memories are going to stay with you forever.
You are not alone in this, comment about your story and we will be your faithful listener.