(PRWEB) July 31, 2006 -- He became part of your family. When you were sad, he comforted you. He shared your joy. When you got angry at him, he hung his head in shame. He never judged you, never forsake you, and never let you down. If he had his way, he slept on your bed and ate your food….but, regardless, what he wanted more than anything was to be your loving companion. He was a part of your family…and then he was gone. He left a big hole in your heart. So, now what?
Given time, you will heal. The following suggestions will help speed the healing process:
Give yourself permission to grieve. Don’t let society’s insensitivity prevent you from grieving. You are the only one who knows what your pet meant to you.
Don’t just stuff his memory into the recesses of your mind? Honor him with his own memorial. Memorializing your pet allows you to express your feelings, pay tribute to your pet, and makes your loss real and helps with closure. Did he make you laugh? Remember him with an urn that looks like a fire hydrant. Do you have a photo of him looking at you with that special look? Make it a part of your memories with a photo urn. Was there a special place in the garden he loved to lie in the sun? Keep it his special place with a special cenotaph marker. There are so many ways to remember your very special friend. He doesn’t have to be stuffed into the recesses of your mind.
Take care of yourself. Eat properly, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
Surround yourself with others who understand your loss and who will care for you. Take advantage of support groups for bereaved pet owners. If necessary seek the help of support groups or a grief counselor.
Make an effort to study and understand the nature of grief and the grief process. Understanding helps you realize that what you are experiencing is normal. Allow yourself to backslide and allow yourself to heal in your own time….not in accordance with someone else’s time schedule.
Express your grief in your own way – in poetry, singing, or art
Seek to connect with and rely on your own “Higher Power.”
