The loss of a loved one can be devastating and the grief that follows can cause a constant ache that seems to linger eternally. Indiana University describes grief as an emotional response to loss. Anyone who has loved an animal understands that the death of a pet can be just as painful as losing a human companion. Just like human loss, pet loss triggers a flood of emotions that usually follow a normal pattern known as the “stages of grief.” The stages of grief are highly individual, with no set time frame for each stage.
Denial and Anger
The bond between you and your pet can be so strong that when faced with the thought of permanent loss, feelings of denial and anger can surface. According to North Carolina State University, the denial stage of grief is often the first response to the death of a pet. Denial does not necessarily mean that you deny the death. Instead, denial is more of a coping mechanism that helps you deal with shock of your pet’s death. During this time, you may even ask yourself if your pet is really gone.
Anger usually follows the denial stage. The anger associated with grief is rarely logical. In fact, you may find yourself expressing anger toward well-meaning family members, friends and co-workers. In some cases, you may even find that you are angry at your pet for leaving you.
Bargaining and Sadness
The bargaining stage of grief follows denial and anger and usually includes feelings of “what if.” Many times this grief stage has spiritual undertones, where you may find yourself pleading with a higher power to bring your pet back to life or even fantasize about your pet still being alive. The University of Pennsylvania explains that the bargaining stage may also cause you to question your faith or even impel you to search for a meaningful purpose for the loss.
The feelings of sadness that follow bargaining can sometimes feel so intense that you slip into a state of depression. This overwhelming sadness can last for an indefinite amount of time, interfering with your social interactions and daily routine. Frequent crying and fatigue are common during grief’s sadness stage. Despite the intense feelings that you may experience during this stage, it is important to understand that sadness is an important part of your journey toward the acceptance of the loss of your pet.
Acceptance
The final stage of grief is acceptance. You will know that you have reached the end of your bereavement journey when you are finally able to come to terms with the fact that your pet has passed on. You may still feel a sense of emptiness and sadness during this stage and experience good and bad days. As the acceptance stage progresses, PetEducation.com explains that your good days will begin to outweigh the bad.
