Comforting Words
Animal companions come in many forms, from the conventional to the unique. The pet that lives with you through major life transitions (romances starting and ending, graduations, major moves, children leaving home, promotions, job losses, etc.), becomes part of your emotional support system. For those whose support does not include other people, the loss of companion is doubly profound. Not only have you lost someone you love, your primary means of comfort is missing. You do not have to face this pain alone. There are people and other animals that understand and they are waiting to hear from you.
There are things you can do to honor your profound loss and began the healing process. Here are a few:
- Talk to other people you trust about your loss; even though the last thing you feel like doing is socializing, sometimes the only thing that can help you feel better is connecting with another person. Reach out.
- Create a shrine or decorate a nook in your home. It can be as simple as a photo and a votive candle or as complex as a memorial statue. Let the artist within you speak.
- Maintain your usual routine as best as you can. Routine is soothing because it doesn’t require you to make conscious decisions. Right now your decision-making power is diminished. Take it easy.
- Set aside a limited amount of time to cry. Standing in the shower for a bit and letting the tears flow will provide some relief. Limiting the amount of time that you cry prevents the sadness from taking over, while still allowing you to indulge the desire.
- Write about it. Putting your thoughts and feelings into words will provide structure around your loss. Structure is comforting.
