Pet Loss: Delayed Grief

[Reviewed and updated June 12, 2022]

A lie that is half-truth is the darkest of all lies.  ~ Alfred Tennyson

A reader writes: Hi, I found your website and thought that maybe you could explain something to me. I am 32 years old. I am married with two wonderful small children. I have a great life. I just found out from my parents that my rabbit, Precious, who died 13 years ago, did not pass away the way I had been told.

Caregiving and Hospice, November 19 - November 25, 2017

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

Care for the dying does not mean obstinately resisting death, pope says, http://j.mp/2jkOcYU « The Tablet

Why Does Earlier Hospice Care Improve the End of Life? http://j.mp/2jkYsAe « Seven Ponds Blog

How Older Patients Can Dodge Pitfalls Entrenched In Health Care System, http://j.mp/2A77lFR « Kaiser Health News

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 19 - November 25, 2017

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

Widower's Grief: Rituals of Community and Grief, http://j.mp/2jjwG7a « Widower's Grief

New online tool helps caregivers support children in times of grief, http://j.mp/2A4p7t3 « Cision

Voices of Experience: Love, Snow and Meyer Lemons, http://j.mp/2zVvvml « Grief Healing

Coping with Pet Loss, November 19 - November 25, 2017

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

Why parents shouldn’t lie about pet's passing,  http://j.mp/2A5BTrq « Vancouver 24 hrs

Pet Loss and the Holidays: Four Things To Consider When Grieving During the Holidays, http://j.mp/2jkkfbj « Animals in Our Hearts

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: Love, Snow & Meyer Lemons

While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die: whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness.  ~ Gilda Radner

Sydney Chaney Thomas lost her husband in July 2016 when he died of a heart attack. His death was sudden and unexpected, as he was just 55 years old and thought to be in good heath. Sydney now lives in Northern California where she is raising her two daughters, ages 16 and 17. Sydney is an instructor in Marketing at UC Berkeley's International Diploma Certification Program, and author of a cookbook titled Real Food for Real People. She co-founded The Trident Project, a non-profit that does global water testing to fight ocean acidification. She also co-founded Ocean SF, an adventure-wear clothing company that designs and makes quality sailing apparel. Her popular lifestyle blog SydneyChaneyThomas.com reflects her varied interests, her love for the environment and her entrepreneurial spirit ~ as well as her personal experience with grief.

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 12 - November 18, 2017

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

"Conversational Narcissism" ~ an excellent read on grief response: The Mistake I Made with My Grieving Friend, http://j.mp/2zU65pg « Oprah.com

Grief Is Good, http://j.mp/2iZZP7m « OptionB.Org

STOP! Read This Before You Post Another RIP on Social Media, http://bit.ly/2inAip5 « Grief Watch

Coping with Pet Loss, November 12 - November 18, 2017

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

Horse Owners Urge Others to Plan for Equine End of Life, http://j.mp/2j1ObJk « World Horse Welfare

Dr. Carmack one of the world's first Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarians, http://j.mp/2j1OXGc « Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice

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 The Holidays: Suggested Resources 2017

[Most recent update: June 10, 2018]

Coping with loss is even harder during the holidays. What used to be a festive time of decorations and parties — laughter and togetherness — now seems meaningless. We’re paralyzed by the thought of shopping and socializing. How can we continue old traditions like nothing has changed? Because everything has changed . . .  ~ Lynn Sue Cooney

In my daily travels around the Internet, I am always on the lookout for helpful articles and reliable resources that I can recommend and share with my readers. This is especially important during the holiday season, which for many mourners and caregivers can be a difficult and challenging time.

Caregiving and Hospice, November 5 - November 11, 2017

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

How Volunteering for Hospice Changed My Life, http://j.mp/2iHlX6q « Care Dimensions

#MeToo shows why women must learn sexual self-defense, http://j.mp/2hcAyXf « Kevin MD

The painful side of positive health care marketing, http://j.mp/2haX7LC « Kevin MD

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 5 - November 11, 2017

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

How Can We Open Our Hearts to Grief? http://j.mp/2iP4p8i « SevenPonds Blog

Here's one blogger who writes on grief, http://j.mp/2iOl3F0 « Twitter, @bfotoronto

Everyone's Talking about Grief - And for Good Reason, http://j.mp/2iK3FkO « Verily

Veterans Day 2017

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Americans across the country celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, a special day to salute the men and women who have bravely served our country in the military.

These fellow Americans ~ and their family members ~ have made profound sacrifices in defense of freedom and they deserve our heartfelt thanks, appreciation and support.

The liberty that we citizens enjoy comes at a price paid by these valiant men and women. May we all make sure we do our part to recognize and support them throughout their lives.

To all our nation’s veterans and their families, a sincere and heartfelt thank you.

Caregiving and Hospice, October 29 - November 4, 2017

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

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month! Let's celebrate the wonderful end of life care that hospice and palliative care can give! http://j.mp/2h1Mx9M « Hospice Action Network

Defining Dignity at End of Life: One Question to Ask Hospice Patients, http://j.mp/2iwEWR4 « Pallimed

Linda Campanella: Why Are We in Denial about Death? http://j.mp/1nMTc7u « Pittsburgh Better Times

Understanding and Managing Grief, October 29 - November 4, 2017

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

Grief Woke Me Up and Now I Can't Go Back to Sleep, http://j.mp/2iueEyH « Second Firsts

Alison Miller: Ghost Dancing Into Our Forever, http://j.mp/2inqg6Q « Soaring Spirits International

Halloween Horror — Hurt or Help Your Grieving Friends, http://j.mp/2z1ZNUh « What to Say When Someone Dies

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 29 - November 4, 2017

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

Pet's quality of life is key to knowing when the end is near, http://j.mp/2iqvlv5 « The Post and Courier

How a Pet Hospice Vet Can Help Your Senior Dog, http://bit.ly/2otGHR9 « Dogster

How to Care and Support a Dying Animal, http://j.mp/2iqNYPo « Healthy Pets