Coping With Death
Though well-meaning phrases like "time heals all wounds" can simply upset the grieving pet owner, it is true that the one factor required for all coping strategies is time. Coping also involves understanding the emotions surrounding the loss of a pet, and then accepting the emotions to focus towards positive solutions.
Coping strategies include:
- Avoid inhibiting grieving
- Strengthen positive memories
- Actively seek support from resources, organizations and individuals
- If spiritual or religious, seek solace
- Prepare in advance for the death of the pet
After the loss of the animal or pet, there are further coping strategies available for the grieving individual:
- Consider changing your living environment by putting away pet-related items or rearranging the home
- Adjust the daily routine or schedule to avoid pet-related "moments"
- Express emotion through writing down experiences and memories
- Memorialize the dead pet
- Consider volunteer work or just helping out others around you
- Multi-pet households can focus on the remaining pets
- Get a new pet (preferably of similar appearance or breed)
Read more about this topic: Animal Loss, Effect of Animal Loss On Humans
Famous quotes containing the words coping with, coping and/or death:
“Parents learn a lot from their children about coping with life.”
—Muriel Spark (20th century)
“Parents learn a lot from their children about coping with life.”
—Muriel Spark (20th century)
“Time turns the old days to derision,
Our loves into corpses or wives;
And marriage and death and division
Make barren our lives.”
—A.C. (Algernon Charles)