How counselling can help with pet bereavement

Bereavement is a very difficult part of life that we all experience at some point. Losing a loved one is extremely difficult to process. To lose a pet, can be just as traumatic but also just as normal.

Our furry friends become part of our family, no matter how big or small they are. From the moment we bring them home, we care for them just like we do all our loved ones, and we have so many enjoyable delightful moments with them. They give us so much and only ask that we feed them and offer a little affection to them.

They become our pal, our buddy, and sometimes even our confidante. When they are unwell, we take them to the vet, hoping they will return to being healthy as quickly as possible. But sometimes they become too ill and are unable to recover.

It can be difficult to absorb the information that our pet will not live forever. Especially when it is suggested, we may have to make a very unpleasant decision, to help them along their way. This can be a very distressing time. Having to make this decision can be incredibly hard to do, bringing feelings of tremendous guilt. The guilt is, you are the one who is saying if they continue to live or not.

When we have finally decided to help them along their way, the days up to the appointment can seem to be the longest yet shortest days all at the same time.

We try not to show them the emotional turmoil that we are going through, we try to act normal, giving them as much love and affection as they could ever need.

When it comes to the actual day of saying goodbye. The sadness is overwhelming. We feel a great emptiness in our hearts, the same normal emptiness felt, as when we have to say goodbye to a human loved one.

The days after our loss, are filled with the grief we as humans feel.

Our home is empty as the joy from our pet, is no longer there to welcome us home. Our lives have changed so much, as the everyday duty of taking our special friend on a walk is no longer required.

The old feeding times are very hard to pass, as there is no one looking up at us with those adorable eyes, asking us where their dinner is. We may find ourselves instinctively reaching for their feeding bowl or checking for fresh water, only to be struck by the painful realisation that there are no longer any bowls to fill.

Losing a pet can be a very difficult process to go through. We can find ourselves feeling just the same, as when we experience the loss of a human, that we will never recover. To help us recover, we have to allow ourselves time to grieve and time to adjust. Sometimes it is not expressed to others that we are grieving the loss of our pet, as this can seem a little odd to some.

As with all unexpressed grief, this can be very unhealthy for the individual, as it may bring other issues. Counselling offers you a confidential comfortable place to express all your feelings for your loss. It offers you the same support as in all grief experiences. Helping you get through those days when you feel empty and your emotions are shattering. It will support you and allow you the time to make those steps forward and feel the strength to again live your life. Your sessions will give you the space you require to talk about the feelings and emotions you are experiencing, especially emptiness, guilt and sadness.

You will start to be able to understand these feelings and emotions without feeling silly for having them. As with all counselling issues, there is no judgement, but empathy, understanding and support. counselling will help you every step of the way through your grief.