S2S (Screening 2 Supports) by Mental Health America is an educational program intended to help inform people about options they have in getting help for mental health issues. It’s important to remember that grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a pet and that everyone experiences the range of emotions that come with it differently. Within 24 hours, two celebrities took to Instagram to share their thoughts after losing 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. Pet loss support. Crying, sleeping a lot, not wanting to do anything, feeling lonely, not wanting to eat, and other symptoms of sadness are very normal for you to exhibit after your cat has passed away. The stages of pet loss grief for some people over 60 are really no different than the experience of someone in their 20s. - You may begin to wonder about yourself and whether you are losing your mind. It helps us to slow down and take stock and to rebuild ourselves once more. - You may lose interest in eating, finding it difficult to eat and perhaps feeling guilty that your pet is no longer able to do so and start to lose weight as a result. You may be familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Depression is not more prevalent in one breed over another. They may only be able to be around you by attempting to ‘snap you out of it’ or make light of the situation in an attempt to lift your spirits. However, Sharp says, pet loss differs from other losses in that “guilt tends to play a bigger factor in the grieving process”—much of it tied to decisions around euthanasia. - You may find yourself withdrawing from life, caught in a fog of intense sadness. Depending on how long you had your pet, you may reflect on what age you were when you first got them, and it may make you think about your own mortality. Depression can occur in kitties who have lost a fellow feline friend. Oh Steve, I understand exactly what you are feeling. The death of a pet can be truly devastating, and while it's important to show someone who is grieving that you care, it can be hard to know what to say. © Copyright 2018 | Mental Health America | Formerly known as the National Mental Health Association. Pets bring so many laughs, snuggles, and smiles and act as a great source of comfort during rough times. You may not realize it, but dogs do grieve the loss of a companion. Depression: In this stage, we begin to realize and feel the true extent of the death or loss. It doesnât matter whether there are still other pets living there. Make room for expressing your emotions. In fact, a 1996 survey of pet owners conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals showed that 65 percent of their kitties experienced at least four behavioral changes after the death of a feline companion, according to the Manhattan Cat Specialists. As hard as it can be to endure, Depression does have a purpose. Medications for Dog Depression. Ways to Cope with Grief and Loss after Putting a Pet to Sleep August 20, 2014 • By GoodTherapy Staff In the United States, there are almost as many pets as there are adult humans. This stage includes grieving and sadness but with appreciation for all the joy their pet’s life brought. Unfortunately this is usually an expression of that person’s own needs and their inability to tolerate your sadness rather than a response to your needs. It doesnât matter whether you raised your pet from being a baby or got them later in their life. 6 Stages of pet grief and how to move through them – SheKnows It may suggest tools and resources that offer information, treatment services, do-it-yourself tools, and/or ways to connect with others. You need to be allowed to experience your sorrow as a part of your grief and pet loss recovery and in doing so you will find it will leave you as soon as it has served it’s purpose. Helping your cat to overcome grief can be especially difficult if you are having trouble coming to terms with the loss of your cat yourself. You have lost a loved animal and friend, and the realisation of this is understandably deeply saddening. It is important to recognise that the depression you will feel in grief and pet loss is not a sign of mental illness, it is simply an appropriate response to your loss and one of the stages of grief and pet loss. Surround yourself with supportive friends/family. Friends, family, and neighbors may also ask you about your pet and stir up that sadness when you must inform them that your pet has passed. Depression and sadness are a natural part of grief and pet loss recovery and a necessary step along the way. Sometimes, if the dog is depressed because of the loss of a companion, getting another pet can help, said Ciribassi. One of the symptoms of depression is a lack of energy, an inability to focus even on simple things, let alone on the overwhelming problem of your grief. Much like Anger, Depression is often viewed by our society as something that is unnatural and must be treated. Your house will feel empty. Mental Health America (MHA) - founded in 1909 - is the nationâs leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Talk to your veterinarian. If nothing else works, medications can help dogs get past their depression. Depression in Cats: Treatment. As with all the stages of grief and pet loss, Depression and sadness won’t necessary follow a logical pattern. The next of the stages of grief and pet loss is the ‘Depression’ stage. Any dog is susceptible to depression, but it seems dogs showing symptoms also faced a life-changing event such as a move to a new home, change of owners, new addition to the family or another pet recently died. Setting a routine, entertaining the cat, … - You may feel that other people around you do not understand your sadness and continually attempt to ‘cheer you up’ instead of accepting that your feelings are a natural part of your grief process. Losing a pet is a sad and stressful situation for everyone, including the other dogs in the household. You might feel relieved that your pet is no longer in pain. Mourning may lead to a loss in appetite, lowered water intake, sluggish response to humans and other pets, a loss of interest in play or physical activity, and even a mournful howl here and there. MHA permits electronic copying and sharing of all portions of its public website and requests in return only the customary copyright acknowledgement, using "© Copyright Mental Health America" and the date of the download. For some people, intense grief after the death of a loved one can lead to depression or make underlying depression worse. Showing your sadness is often seen as a weakness and something you should be encouraged to ‘snap out of’. On Wednesday night, actress Salma Hayek posted a … If you are anything like me and regularly share your food with your pets, the sense that they are no longer there to take treats from you can be very depressing. Before a loss, it seems like you will do anything if only your loved one could be spared. This site is currently in beta. Typical thoughts when in the Depression stage are: - ‘Life has no purpose or point to me anymore.’, - ‘What’s the point of getting up in the morning?’, - ‘What is the point of going on without my pet?’, - ‘I feel too guilty to eat when my pet can no longer eat?’, - ‘I feel bad doing normal things or taking pleasure in anything when my pet is gone.’. Life is just kind of blah and I just don't feel the zip I did before losing Peaches. Finally, people reach acceptance, where healing occurs, Pich says.                 Â. They support our … Having someone there who will sit and listen to your thoughts without trying to ‘fix things’ or ‘cheer you up’ can be a tremendous help. After losing a pet, people usually experience many of the well-documented five stages of grief, including anger and depression. Yes, you can help a sad cat! If you have chosen to have your pet cremated, receiving their ashes may also bring waves of sadness. The best thing anyone can do for you when you are in the Depression stages of grief is to accept your sadness as natural and not attempt to talk you out of it or somehow make it better. I don't know if my feelings are normal, if others go through this stage too, or if I am getting too depressed. Here are some simple messages you can use in a card, a text message, or on the phone to console your friend after the death of their beloved pet. In the depression stage, you may have thoughts such as “I miss the way life was before,” or “I could never get another pet.” How to cope with depression is to talk about it. What helps is the support of loved ones who understand how truly important your pet was to you and how intricately woven they were into every aspect of your daily life. We also experience anticipatory grief, or the feelings of grief while our pet is still living, but we are aware of an upcoming end either through disease or natural death… It is normal to feel devastated after the loss of a pet. - You may feel lonely, fearful and a sense of hopelessness. However, if you are feeling a little raw or unsure with your emotions from the impending loss or the loss of your pet, keep in mind that what you are feeling is normal. I am wondering if anyone who has had a loss that was "a while" ago is feeling depressed. Friends, family, and neighbors may also ask you about your pet and stir up that sadness when you must inform them that your pet has passed. To say you are going to miss your pet terribly doesnât do your justice to your sadness. The loss of a primary companion: For some of us, our pet was our only social companion in the world. Every stray hair/feather/toy you see around the house might remind you of them. Your heart might physically feel like there is pressure on it. The loss of a pet is devastating, and many pet owners find the grief associated with the loss of a pet just as or even more challenging than the loss of human loved ones. But it has to be done carefully with both the family’s and the dog’s needs taken into account, he said. Depression after any loss is often viewed as unnatural, usually by people who have no understanding of loss … If the situation you are in is distressing and depressing, why wouldn’t you feel depressed? Dog Depression Dog depression affects a number of pets. Sign up for our newsletter to learn about opportunities to help change the conversation around mental health. Speak with a loved one, console with them, express all of your emotions. You may feel as though you have worked your way through this stage, and then at certain meaningful times where you are reminded of your pet, you may find yourself experiencing these feelings again, but usually for briefer and briefer periods. Click here to go straight to the next page on The Stages of Grief and Pet Loss - 'Acceptance' Click here to return to the Stages of Pet Grief Index Page Click here to return to the Pet Loss Matters Homepage, Click here to Read and Share Pet Loss Stories, Click here to go straight to the next page on The Stages of Grief and Pet Loss - 'Acceptance', Click here to return to the Stages of Pet Grief Index Page, Click here to return to the Pet Loss Matters Homepage. Cats, dogs, horses and other cherished pets provide companionship, reduce loneliness and depression, and can ease anxiety. It may only take a thought, memory or visual reminder of your pet to get the tears flowing. It may have spared them suffering and pain, but you still had to make that decision to end their life and it comes with some degree of guilt. Bargaining. You may also be wondering, âIs there something I could have done differently to have prevented a health condition or improved their quality of life?â. Those who live alone may feel a loss of purpose and an immense emptiness – if you live alone, your pet may have alleviated any sense of loneliness or isolation. Getting to do something fun and enjoyable with you can go a long way toward helping your pet cope — and will help you feel better, too. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal. Re: Severe and constant anxiety after pet loss? Much like Anger, Depression is often viewed by our society as something that is unnatural and must be treated. Sometimes it helps to share your feelings with someone who knows from personal experience just how distressing the loss of a pet can be. Please send any and all suggestions, comments, or questions to us at screening at mhanational.org. You may find people around you are unable to cope with your sadness or depression. Typical behaviours when in the Depression stage are: - You may wake up in the morning and have no desire to get up, or the thought of getting up and facing the world just seems like too much. Showing your sadness is often seen as a weakness and something you should be encouraged to ‘snap out of’. - You may feel under the weather and as though you have a bad cold or flu with fatigue and aches and pains. - You may find it difficult to sleep and feel restless throughout the day. The symptoms can also increase gradually over weeks or months. 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