For many people, pets are their best friends. They help to cheer us up, keep us company, reduce our stress, and stick by our sides no matter what. Pets also provide emotional support and even assist people with limited mobility.

This is why losing a pet can be so difficult. The loss of a pet can lead to a range of mental health concerns and a long grieving process similar to when someone loses a family member.

Did you know that the process of losing someone so close can build resilience and make you stronger? Let’s take a look at how losing a pet can make you more resilient.

Why Does the Death of a Pet Impact Us So Much?

a man holding a dog

The reason why the loss of a pet hurts us so much is that pets are more than just our companions. There is an unexplainable bond between a pet parent and the pet. Pets add structure to the day, bring joy, and help us stay social and active.

Studies show that interacting with a friendly animal has a range of mental and physical health benefits. Interacting with pets can help to:

  • Reduce blood pressure
  • Improve cardiovascular health
  • Promote endorphin production
  • Alleviate physical pain
  • Reduce stress
  • Improve joint movement and motor skills
  • Increase self-esteem
  • Develop social skills
  • Motivate to join in activities
  • Improve assisted and independent movement
  • Increase verbal communication

Many people who are experiencing mental health concerns are also provided with pet therapy since pets can:

  • Alleviate depression
  • Improve your outlook on life
  • Decrease loneliness and isolation
  • Reduce boredom
  • Develop nurturing and empathic skills
  • Reduce anxiety by producing a calming effect

People with chronic ailments or living in long-term care facilities find it very beneficial to play with pets.

If you’ve recently lost a pet, you should never feel ashamed or guilty for feeling emotionally devastated. This experience can be extremely painful and lead to a lot of grief.

While the pain and the feeling of loss are inevitable, there are many ways to cope with this grief.

How Losing a Pet Can Make You Stronger

two people petting a dog

Clinical psychologists believe that people are changed and transformed by loss. This experience helps us develop resilience and become prepared to face the different challenges of life.

Here are a few ways losing a pet can promote personal growth.

1. Accepting the Loss

One of the reasons why losing a pet can make you more resilient is that you accept your loss and learn different ways to heal.

It’s important to learn about the different healthy ways to heal from this pain because, without it, you might stay tied to your past and be unable to re-invest this energy elsewhere.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it’s just important to learn how this grief affects you and how to cope with it. Some common experiences of grief include:

  • Anger
  • Guilt
  • Apathy
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Withdrawal from others
  • Numbness and loneliness

Once you start to accept the finality of this loss and acknowledge the full range of feelings that came after the loss, that’s when you start to heal. Active and healthy grieving requires a lot of self-care, tolerance, and balance. How you deal with this experience can shape how you cope with love and loss.

2. Improved Empathy and Confidence

a group of people comforting a girl

Going through the painful process of losing a pet can make people more empathetic. Studies conducted at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University revealed that people have an increased ability to relate to others and be more empathetic after losing a pet. The participants in the study also had more personal strengths and a more positive outlook on life.

It’s important to remember that for many people, a loss can lead to anxiety, PTSD, depression, and even cause a lot of painful memories. But you can always bounce back through healthy grieving and find the right kind of support to experience growth and develop empathy.

Here are a few ways you can become stronger after grief.

  • Practice gratitude: Think about all of the things you’re grateful for and jot them down somewhere. Studies show that practicing gratitude boosts the immune system, generates positive emotions, and increases optimism.
  • Take back control: It might feel like you’re losing control during this time. This is when it becomes most important to get a sense of stability through mindfulness activities.
  • Stay positive: While it’s natural to think about your loss, make sure you’re staying balanced with positive thoughts as well. Indulge in self-care and meditate and try to experience a little bit of positivity every day.

3. Preparing For an Array of Obstacles

Experiencing this loss prepares you for different kinds of challenges and obstacles in life. This loss will help you become more aware of the feelings that come with grief and find out how you can handle it. Just know that you don’t need to rush through this process, and just learn to be more compassionate with yourself. You’ll be surprised to find how much strength you have, even during the hardest of times.

Are you looking for a way to keep the memory of your pet alive forever? Get reliable pet cremation and memorial services at Heaven’s Gate Pet Memorial Center. Pet cremation and pet keepsake jewelry will help you keep the memory of your pet close to you in the form of a customized trinket.

Their team of pet cremation experts can also provide custom laser engravings, paw print memorials, chrome nameplates, and more.

Drop them a message now for more information.

About the Author

Andrew K. is a pet cremation expert who has been providing expert pet cremation and memorial services for the last eight years. He is a team member at Heaven’s Gate Pet Memorial Center and likes to write comprehensive blogs to help pet parents deal with the loss of their pe