Pet Loss: When Nothing Eases The Pain

[Reviewed and updated July 19, 2022]

There is sorrow enough in the natural way / From men and women to fill our day / But when we are certain of sorrow in store / Why do we always arrange for more? / Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware / Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.  ~ Rudyard Kipling

A reader writes: It has been 17 months since my husband and I lost our deeply loved dog Buddy. Yes he was old - unsure of his age as he was a stray who showed up at our house at an estimated 2-3 years old and we had him for 13 years. But other than arthritis, due to obvious abuse, injuries and neglect before he was either thrown away or (we hope) he escaped, he was lively, healthy and so so happy. We have no children, so you can imagine how he became the center of our then very newly married life, and remained so for 13 years. We preferred his company to anyone else's by far and created a life of "the three amigos".

Caregiving and Hospice, October 22 - October 28, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Fact Sheet: Falls - The Biggest Threat to Senior Health and Safety, http://j.mp/2z0YEhF « Aging.com

Learning About 'Ambiguous Loss' Helps Some Caregivers Cope With Grief, http://j.mp/2yR7kVN  « KJZZ 91.5

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, October 22 - October 28, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Loss of a Spouse: 5 Things Only a Widow/er Understands,  http://j.mp/2yZ6SXr « The Grief Toolbox

Trust Me As I Grieve, http://j.mp/2yYFZTM « What's Your Grief ?

Lin Sue Cooney: Coping with grief during holidays, http://j.mp/2yTFOqE « AZ Central

In Grief: Brother's Dating Causes Family Conflict

[Reviewed and updated October 16, 2022]

Don't look at me in that tone of voice.  ~ Dorothy Parker

A reader writes: There is so much to this story that I could write a book on this but I will try to make it brief. One day last fall, my husband and I were awakened at 6 in the morning to learn that my husband's younger brother had been murdered by one of his employees. We are all in in several states away. Their father died 10 yrs ago of cancer, and besides their mother there are seven brothers and sisters in this family. This brother was the only one who lived far from home. He was 34 and for 15 years had been living with his girlfriend; together they had a son who is now 2 years old. Needless to say, the shock ,anger, denial and a range of emotions all set in, and no two family members reacted the same. For the past several months, the deceased brother's girlfriend and son have been down here for numerous visits. My husband's younger brother and this girlfriend have shocked all the family by starting a relationship, which has set off a new depression among several of the family members.

Understanding and Managing Grief, October 15 - October 21, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Why Do Friendships Change After a Significant Loss? http://j.mp/2guyTvQ «The 5 Facets

Finding the Safe, Helpful People We Need, http://j.mp/2gu03q8 « The Grief Toolbox

Coping With What You Can't Control, http://j.mp/2gvNVVv « Psych Central

Coping with Pet Loss, October 15 - October 21, 2017

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Inside the growing trend of animal hospice and palliative care, http://j.mp/2gs5eTX « King 5

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Voices of Experience: My Final Blog

The end of one chapter is just the beginning of another. Read on ... The best part is always yet to come. ~ Susan Gale

Michelle Midgett was 31 years old when she lost Joey, her husband of seven years and father of their four children. She writes that since her husband died she has learned a lot about herself and life. "I choose to keep fighting and my goal is to help others find that fire inside them and keep moving." The following essay appeared originally on the Soaring Spirits International blog, and is reprinted here with Michelle's permission.

Caregiving and Hospice, October 8 - October 14, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Palliative Care at the Vatican, http://j.mp/2yiQaCd « HuffPost

What the Dying Need from Us, http://j.mp/2ylwYnv « Hospicare

How I Encouraged My Dad to Start Hospice 'Early,' http://j.mp/2yjUd0S « Life Matters Media

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, October 8 - October 14, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

In grief: A Glimmer of Hope, http://j.mp/2ghEPf9 « HuffPost

What *should* you say when someone dies? http://j.mp/2ggveVK « Refuge In Grief

7 Years Later, http://j.mp/2fWHQxD « The Grief Toolbox

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Coping with Pet Loss, October 8 - October 14, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grieving for a pet can take many forms and duration can vary, vet says, http://j.mp/2gf1t7U « Kansas State University

I've been there: Pet grief support comes to Philly, http://bit.ly/2yj0xG3 « Philadelphia Inquirer

Pet grief: When you lose your most faithful friend, http://j.mp/2ga6Jtd « Daily Mail Online

Loving A Pet Too Much: When Bonding May Be Unhealthy

[Reviewed and updated December 10, 2022]

There is such a thing as having too much of a good thing.  ~ Michelle Gomez

A reader writes: In my opinion there are just too many people around the world who love their pets more than they love people. Do you have any more detailed information\articles outlining signs of unhealthy relationships with pets? Or maybe you can point me in the right direction.

Caregiving and Hospice, October 1 - October 7, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

NHPCO Report: Hospice patients with short period of service continues to be a concern, http://j.mp/2fQeCjQ « Markets Insider

Book Review: "Life After the Diagnosis" by Dr. Steven Z. Pantilat, http://j.mp/2fO9TyY « Seven Ponds Blog

Stunning Poem on Living with Depression: "Having It Out with Melancholy," http://j.mp/2hHjsE7 « Brain Pickings

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, October 1 - October 7, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Resources for emotional trauma support for you and people you love, http://j.mp/2fR0CGx « Danielle Laporte

Megan Devine Interview: The Howl at the Center of Grief, http://j.mp/2hQHE73 « Audio Boom

Dogs Comfort The Bereaved in Funeral Homes, http://j.mp/2fL2KzK « Seven Ponds Blog

In Grief: Infant’s Death Threatens A Marriage

[Reviewed and updated November 3, 2019]

New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.  ~ Lao Tzu

A reader writes: My wife and I just lost our daughter. She was only 26 days old at the time. I was stationed overseas the whole time, but was home for the death. My wife and I got married shortly after our daughter’s death. Then I returned to Afghanistan to finish my tour. My wife now wants an annulment on our marriage and has moved to a different city. She still says she wants a relationship with me, just wants us to start over. Is this normal behavior?

Caregiving and Hospice, September 24 - September 30, 2017

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Don't let new Nurse Ratched show be an American Horror Story for real nurses! http://j.mp/2fyJqpe « Change.org

Physicians have the power to save our health care system, http://j.mp/2fyrX0e « Kevin MD

Five Years Sober, http://j.mp/2fwF7L4 « Musings of a Distractible Mind

Understanding and Managing Grief, September 24 - September 30

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Living in the Shadow of a Child’s Death, http://j.mp/2fzDw78 « Alive in Memory

Why it's OK to use social media to mourn, http://j.mp/2hzq04e « Mashable

Widowhood: The Club Nobody Wants to Join, http://j.mp/2hsgrrp « HuffPost