Guilt is our brain s way of protecting us feeling the full weight of our grief and sadness over something like loss.
Grieving loss of dog guilt.
In some pet loss situations there are things we can learn through the questions our guilt forces us to ask.
As long as we re feeling guilty our emotions and thoughts are busy in the past thinking things like what if i.
Guilt is among the most difficult common and initial feelings following the loss of an animal companion.
After all you and your pet were close.
Finally people reach acceptance where healing occurs pich says.
Feeling guilt is a sign of just how much you cared about your pet.
For anyone grieving the death of a pet the pain can be overwhelming.
For example we might cover up electric cables in the future having had a pet that bit through them or we might replace the lock on the garden gate having had a pet escape when the gate blew open.
Occasionally overrun animal shelters and other places and people will opt to put a healthy pet to sleep.
Explore common patterns of guilt when it comes to tragic loss runaways and incomplete endings.
Here are some ways you can begin the healing process.
I should have closed the screen door.
Instead of remembering all we contributed in love and quality to our friend s life we focus on self criticism and condemnation the time we were too tired for one last walk the time the demands of life left our sentient being with little attention the time we went on a vacation or.
A lack of space time resources and other reasons relating to the wants and needs of the animal and or person cause the choice to be made.
Circumstances surrounding the loss.
When you are grieving the death of a pet one of the most painful feelings is guilt.
Pet parents also may feel guilty replaying events that led to the pet s death and second guessing themselves.
The grieving process after the loss of a pet.
Feelings of depression might follow regardless of whether the person has a history of depression as the pet parent realizes the loss is permanent.
Experiencing the sudden death of a pet makes the grief even more painful.
If our pet died in a way we perceive could have been avoided the duration and severity of guilt can be intensified.
Grieving is a highly individual experience.
This is often referred to as convenience euthanasia since there is no medical reason to put the pet to sleep.