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Grieving period after the death of my dog

Question
Vraag

How long does it take you to get over the death of your dog? I had to put my dog Bobbie to sleep 3 months ago, he was over 14.5 years old. He played a very important role in my life. I bought him when I was suffering from severe depression and he helped me get my daily routine in order and go outside a few times every day. I miss him terribly, it is incredibly quiet in the house. During the day, I can find my way around by now. I go outside every day and find that I sometimes enjoy not having to watch my time. I find the evenings and sleeping (because Bob was always in bed) the most difficult. I regularly think he’s still walking around and sleeping next to me. That’s crazy isn’t it? So many people ask me if I’m thinking of buying a new dog. Well I’m not over Bob yet, do you mind. How long does a grieving process take?

Answered by NiceDay Psychologist Wouter Schippers
Answer
Antwoord

 I will try to answer your question as best I can. First, your question about how long a grieving process lasts. To be precise, it can last between six months and a few years, but some say that a grieving process has no end because you are actively dealing with the death for the rest of your life. Of course, that is no cause for worry, as a grieving process is very natural when you allow yourself to go through this. And it can also be a beautiful thing. It may help to determine for yourself whether you are going through or have gone through the following stages and recognise them:

  1. Facing the loss, shock, reality slowly landing.
  2. Reacting to the loss, emotionally, experiencing pain, dwelling on secondary losses (e.g. sleeping together, or cuddling).
  3. Adjusting to the new world without your loved one. This is where you develop a new relationship with the deceased (e.g. it is now a star, a memory, an angel, a chapter from my book, etc.).

In this final phase, you can also invest in the new relationship. For example, by lighting a candle, recalling a memory or reflecting on the death annually. The important thing is that you feel comfortable with the investment, it should be something you value. However, what is also important at this stage is that you pick up life as it should be. Namely the world without the loved one. This is a process of adjustment and finding your way in this. This can sometimes take a long time. 

Furthermore, it is quite normal to have feelings of irritation towards others. The thought that others will get over a loss faster than you or the fear that others will forget the deceased too easily are more common in grief. 

In short, remember that everything you experience is normal and part of the grieving process. As long as you allow yourself to walk through the grieving process, you can trust that you will automatically sense when it is right. Should you find yourself avoiding or not doing certain things (e.g. not looking at photos) or being afraid to let go of things, it is important to reflect on what is holding you back from going through that part of the grieving process. Talking to someone about why you find it difficult can be very healing. 

I hope this helps you along the way!

 

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