Pets are our best friends; they accompany us during good and bad times, provide unconditional love, and cheer us up when sad.
That’s why it’s natural to feel grief when you lose your pet companion.
Psychologists believe that the triggered sadness and grief you feel is similar to losing a family member.
It can become overwhelming in coping with the loss but there are several tips and strategies mentioned below that you can follow to help control your grief, cope up with pain, and carry on for the life ahead.
How To Get Over The Loss Of A Pet
Getting over the loss of a pet doesn’t have to be an immediate thing.
Our pets – whether they be a cat, a dog, or a rabbit – can be a part of our homes for a decade or more. They leave a big gap when they’re gone, so it’s normal to be upset.
Here are 7 tips on how to get over the loss of a pet.
1. Care For Yourself
The stress that comes with such a great loss has devastating effects on physical and mental health.
The effects can make you feel exhausted and unmotivated. Therefore, it is crucial to take care of yourself in these times.
Make it a habit to engage in healthy activities, eat well-balanced meals, and spend more time with people who understand the emotional stress you are going through.
2. Connect With People
You can contact other individuals who have lost their beloved pets through online groups, forums, and pet support loss groups around your area.
Joining groups like these will let you learn from the pet loss experiences from the past and understand how to cope with similar situations.
3. Take Your Time
Grief takes time to go away. Be patient and don’t try to lecture yourself to control your emotions.
Don’t feel embarrassed and express your emotions the way they are meant to be.
It’s okay to feel sad or happy at times and cherish joyful moments to reduce stress levels.
4. Commemorate Your Pet
You can hold a ceremonial event or conduct a funeral where you can express your love with memories that last forever.
Funeral types like cremation are a popular choice among individuals to honor the love for your pet.
As you plan for a funeral-like cremation, make sure that you know about the pet cremation costs out there as that step will save you time and help you plan ahead.
Besides conducting a funeral, you can commemorate your pet by making a memorial, planning a fundraiser for other animals, or even planting a tree in their memory.
Furthermore, avoid listening to people who discourage you from expressing your feelings and stick with what you think is appropriate and in your best interest.
5. Stay Active
You will feel low on energy as you encounter the emotional stress felt after such a loss.
After giving yourself enough time to heal, try pushing yourself to adopt a regular exercise routine.
Staying active can prevent a lot of physical and mental health conditions.
A daily exercise routine boosts up the immune system and helps you fight depression and anxiety.
The best way to start is by finding the type of exercise you find the most enjoyable and start by setting up small but achievable goals.
As you progress, you can increase the time spent exercising and even increase the intensity of the exercise if necessary.
The body releases chemicals called endorphins in the body that can elevate the mood and reduce stress levels by many folds.
6. Stay Connected
Most of us have a daily walk routine that will be missed after the loss.
Try to stay connected and interact with people to help you spend your time without experiencing the feeling of being alone.
7. Don’t Rush
Getting another pet immediately might not be a great choice to make.
You have to give yourself ample time before you think of adopting a new pet. Building a relationship with a pet requires time.
It might be difficult for some to feel comfortable bonding with another pet during this distress.
However, if you have made your decision to adopt a new pet, avoid comparing your pet as each one has unique personalities that develop after adequate bonding with their human companion.
Grieving Pet Loss
The care and attention given to pets give internal satisfaction, especially to the owner.
You can use the previously occupied time to pick up a hobby, build up skills, or do what makes you feel content and happy.
By following the above-mentioned tips, it will become easier to cope up with the grief you experience after the loss of your pet.
However, if you still find it hard to move on after trying several interventions, seeking help from healthcare professionals is necessary. After all, it’s you who has to control stress, fight anxiety, and protect your physical and mental wellbeing.
Take the to time commemorate your pet as well. For example, if your pet was a dog, a quality piece of dog wall art could be a good way to remember them.
Dog death gifts can also help those close to you grieve the loss of their pet.