CPTSD and Coping With The Grief & Loss of a Pet

It can be harder to lose a pet than a person because they are truly innocent and unconditional.

My dog was my life … he was my family .. I’m truly devastated , I cannot stop crying . I see him everywhere . RIP Humphrey

It can be especially difficult when your pet had shown more humanity than most people around you. All we can do is be grateful for the memories and to have been a part of their journey.

Lost my dog 3 days ago. Been crying everyday since then. I miss him so much

I think the death of a pet, can be worse than the death of a person, depending on the person. Animals are innocent and good and absolutely genuine in their love. They are the closest thing to Angel's on this earth.

I put my dog down today 😢 I was and am extremely grief stricken. Could not stop crying very ugly tears, gut wrenching ache. I loved my Brady girl, she was a sweet heart. She was a part of my soul that got ripped out of me. It is so raw

When my parents died and when I left my marriage, it was stressful. However, when I lost my dog, Lily, it was just pure agonizing grief.

I have always grieved the loss of my pets far deeper than the loss of humans...

My two doggies protected me from my narcissistic husband and now they have both gone, it’s a very lonely life. I did promise my last dog before he died that he didn’t have to worry anymore and protect me because I will make sure sure I will be ok. That promise to him has kept me going during the really dark parts. The bigger the love, the bigger the grief.

Animals are beyond humans when it comes to unconditional lifelong loyalty .

It's 5 months and I'm still grieving. Depression, not sleeping, crying 😢 all the time. Miss my Furbabies 😢

My best friend is gone. The worst part is my parents, I take such good care of, poisoned him. My father, specifically. It was an accident, but so unnecessary, so stupid, such a nightmare to wake up to and wonder what went wrong at the animal ER... I can't stop wailing in the night, away from my wife. I don't think I can ever forgive this. My little friend, my only real friend, had so many more years to go.

I lost my dog at 5:45 AM from a stroke she had. I walked in the room she was in and I saw her on the floor shaking on the floor and she was still alive. I wanted to save her and I was to scared to do anything. I was trying to call a 24/7 vet but it was too late and she died in my hands. I have been crying ever since that night and I just can't bare with this sadness. I miss her so much and her life was taken at a young age. I had gotten her back in summer and I still remember taking care of her when she was just a baby. I have learned to accept the sadness and let it overtake me but to also remember how such a great dog she was.

I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you; but instead I am deeply honored knowing you spent the rest of your life with me.” –Camille Marcotte Just ❤to everyone. R.I.P. 🐈‍⬛ Blacky

Oh man … I lost my 12 yr old lab last December frig it was like relearning to walk again in a way, so much old crap came back up I thought I was done with 😢 Was the longest, healthiest relationship I’ve ever had, didn’t realize how much I relied on that relationship until it was gone

What helps me is remember to be grateful. We are all here for a finite amount of time, but we have had the chance to be part of their lifetime, enjoy their existence, and have the privilege to get to know them. Which is all we can truly have. My condolences to everyone.

I just lost my pet today. She was everything to me and it is true that my grief mirrors the immense love my dog felt for me and me for her. I know time heals in some way but the pain is never truly gone. My heart goes out to all the ones who lost their furry family.

I lost a 15 year old Tuxedo cat named Max early this year. Never had such a strong bond with an animal before him. He was unusually empathetic towards humans and always sensed if something was wrong. He would put his paw on my heart when I was in the middle of a panic attack. Putting him down was one of the most traumatic things I've ever experienced in my life. The weeks following I started having multiple panic attacks every damn day and night. I never felt so out of control. I'm mostly ok now but still have random moments where the weight of this loss re-emerges in very vivid flashbacks. My heart goes out to anyone currently dealing with this.

I lost my dear little precious Penelope Jack Russell last week. She was my everything. I could face anything because she was there to come home to each night, and now the house is empty and my life is empty and cold. Some people have no idea how broken people are without the unconditional love from their warm, happy dogs and cats. If Penelope isn't in Heaven when I pass, I want to go where she is instead. I can't go through this soul deep pain again.

Zack, my best friend, a schnouzer jrt, was suffering kidney failure at 15 years. We had so many good times and were connected heart to heart. He left peacefully 2weeks ago. This is a difficult passage