![]() In the online article, "How Art Heals Grief" (source citation below), author Douglas Mitchell argues in support of expressive arts therapy. "I’m a writer, and I need to process my grief by writing," he said, "so that’s what I’m doing." Creativity, in all its forms (not only writing, but painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, musical expression, wood carving.the list is almost endless) is a valuable tool for the bereaved, including grieving pet owners. Work the process. Not surprisingly, Joe Yonan (the author of the Washington Post article mentioned above), chose to write about his loss to help him process the grief he felt. Here are some steps you can take to make that happen: In other words, you want to move through your pet loss grief, not just resign yourself to sitting in it. Taking that as true, part of your pet loss grief will involve shifting from the relatively inactive experience of the emotional, physical and psychological effects of loss into taking an active role in your pet loss bereavement. Steps You Can Take to HealJoan Didion, in her book, The Year of Magical Thinking, refers to grief as a passive experience and mourning as an active one. Those of us who've never established this level of connection with animals may not be able to fathom this pain." So, how do you best handle the depth and breadth of emotions which are part of pet loss grief? She's the author of the Huffington Post blog post "Losing a Pet May Cause Inconsolable Grief", and writes, "When an individual forges an intense bond with a beloved pet, the passing of this creature may be an excruciating loss. Linda Lipshutz, a psychotherapist with degrees from Cornell and Columbia is also very much aware of the intensity of pet loss grief. I haven’t felt grief quite like this since, well, the death of my previous dog five years ago." He notes that although the anguish of his grief over the deaths of his father and sister was intense when his beloved canine friend Red passed away."somehow, and much to my distress, the death of my dog seems even harder. The Intensity in Grieving the Loss of a PetIn the 2012 Washington Post Health & Science article, "The Death of a Pet Can Hurt as Much as the Loss of a Relative" (see Online Sources for the complete citation), author Joe Yonan candidly wrote of the intensity of the grief he experienced upon the passing of two canine companions. And the grief we feel can be surprisingly intense, as well as long-lasting. Yet, when they pass from our life, we remember the essential truth: this loss was inevitable. Pet Loss Grief is Inevitable"Sadly," begins the Pet Loss resources page of the ASPCA website, "everyone who cares for a pet will one day face the illness, old age or passing of their beloved animal friend." Somehow, as our hearts open to a new pet, we easily choose to forget that fact, don't we? You could say it's a trick of the heart a willful amnesia of sorts. Without doubt, we are very privileged to walk alongside grieving pet owners they are always sure to remind us about the value of both love and loss. Also, our professional lives provide us with many opportunities to witness the hardships of pet loss firsthand. ![]() After all, many hours are spent in the company of our own family pets and we have lost many of those we came to love so dearly. We know how much it can hurt to lose a loving companion a gentle being that joyfully enriched our lives is gone. Pets are our seat belts on the emotional roller coaster of life-they can be trusted, they keep us safe, and they sure do smooth out the ride.” ~Nick Trout, Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon They ground us, help us escape the grief, make us laugh, and take full advantage of our weakness by exploiting our furniture, our beds, and our refrigerator. They give us purpose, responsibility, a reason for getting up in the morning, and a reason to look to the future. Not only is your heart broken, but your day-to-day routine is disrupted leaving you feeling adrift in your own life. In the early days after the loss, you can be overwhelmed by pet loss grief. You can learn more on the website Grieving the Loss of a Pet Whether your pet recently passed from your life, or your loss happened months (or even years) ago the weight of the grief you carry can often feel very heavy. The information below if offered from Treasured Pets located in Sacramento California. Good news – there is help right here in Sacramento ![]() I wish there was helpful information available as I moved through the grief. Tears still come to my eyes years later when I remember my past pets and how much joy they brought to my life. We know are pets will not live forever but when that time comes it can be devastating. I know firsthand about the loss of a beloved pet.
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