How to emotionally deal with a missing pet?

Let it out, there’s no one way to grieve. Some people say they feel sad, angry, numb, and even guilty after the loss of a pet. These feelings are all a natural part of grieving. Perhaps writing down how you feel in a diary can help you to process your emotions. Don’t hold back – let those emotions flow. Consider spending time with other animals, you could offer to walk your neighbours dog, or volunteer at a rescue shelter. This could give you with a sense of purpose and a connection to animals. Knowing that you’re making a difference in their lives might help you feel a little better. Take care of yourself physically and mentally, get enough sleep, eat well, and do things that make you feel happy. Even if you’re grieving, you deserve to take care of yourself. Don’t bottle it all up, share your feelings with your friends or family, sometimes, talking about your pet and the memories you shared can be incredibly therapeutic. Remember, healing takes time, be patient with yourself and know that it’s okay to seek help when you need it.

You're in the Grief Process A situation in which your companion animal has run away can quickly send you into a tailspin of emotion and grief. Although it is easy to beat ourselves up, we must continue engaging in self-care strategies and taking care of ourselves and members of our family. Moving Away From Blame-Making One of the quickest ways to compound your grief and increase the tailspin of pain faced throughout the grief process is to add additional blame on yourself while you are grieving. It's easy to project anger and the many raw emotions we face throughout the grief process onto ourselves or others. Making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Is there anything productive that happens when we add the pain of additional guilt and blame on ourselves or others. We attempt to comfort ourselves, especially in the beginning holding onto hope that they will return to us safe and sound. As discussed above, being productive in our grief and making signs, sending out emails, and engaging the neighborhood to look for our lost companion animal can help us cope. Similarly, in coping with the unknown, we must continue to move through our emotions and begin to engage in the closure process whether with ourselves or with a family unit. Doing so doesn't mean you are giving up hope, or admitting defeat. We can begin the process of closure by saying "goodbye" or "see you later" to our pet, giving thanks, and crying through our loss.

The uncertainty and the fear of what may have happened can be devastating. Not only can your mind come up with all kinds of horrible scenarios of what could have happened to your animal companion, but it is also very possible that feelings of guilt and self-blame will torment you. The uncertainty is especially hard to handle as it can keep you in long-term emotional turmoil switching from feelings of hope one minute to despair and grief the next. Never let the fear and dark thoughts take over. Whether your pet is alive or dead, he needs your loving thoughts. Let the light in your heart shine with the brightest light you can, so he can find his way home – in spirit or his physical body. Hold the image of him in your light and love – it means more than you think. But knowing what happened is not all bad, even when it is discovered that your beloved pet has died. The pain of the loss is still overwhelming, but knowing that their life has ended brings a degree of closure, and therefore peace. The not knowing, I find, is very hard and makes it nearly impossible to get closure or relief. Getting confirmation that your pet was dead enables you to say goodbye to him, make a memorial ceremony for him and express your gratitude for the love and joy he brought into your lives.

Acknowledge how you’re feeling. The reason for your loved one’s passing could release powerful emotions that can have an impact on how you deal with your feelings about losing your dog, cat, or horse. From guilt and anger to sadness and confusion, the flurry of feelings you might experience following a sudden or unexpected loss can replicate the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. Before allowing strong emotions to control your life in the wake of losing your much-loved pet, you need to acknowledge how you feel. By acknowledging how you feel, you’re taking an important step towards processing what’s happened, and you’ll be better able to keep all-consuming emotions under control. Communication is key when you’re overwhelmed by emotion, even though it may be extremely difficult to put into words the ways your pet’s sudden or unexpected loss impacts you. Speaking to a trusted friend or family member about what you’re going through might help to release some of the pressure of managing your emotional wellbeing alone. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Although it can feel impossible to care about much at all in the aftermath of losing a loved one, basic self-care routines should still be followed every day. Even when your mind is consumed by grief, your body doesn’t stop needing vital care to stay alive, including getting enough nourishment, water, and sleep. It’s also important to be kind to yourself, in the same way you’d treat a friend if they were going through something as awful as bereavement. If your mental health is suffering due to the sudden or unexpected loss of your dog, cat, or horse, please reach out to a reputable organisation for support, such as Blue Cross Pet Loss Support Service and Samaritans.