My dog died 2 years ago, and I can't get over the guilt?!
Question: My dog died 2 years ago, and I can't get over the guilt!?
Sorry if this is disjointed, but I'm not feeling great right now!.
My dog of 8 died 2 years ago, and I still feel awful about it when I think of him!. He was the sweetest dog, and my soulmate!. He lived with me for 3 months before he died (he had lived with my mum before that)!.
I lived in a tiny flat, and had severe depression!. I had awful mood swings, and I shouted at him sometimes!. he was a very sensitive dog, which made me feel even worse!. We brought him to a vet because he was peeing everywhere, and it turned out he had kidney failure!. I still haven't got over the shock, and it was the worst thing that has ever happened to me - I'll never get over the shock!.
A lot of crappy things have happened to me, but he was so innocent and didn't deserve anything that happened to him!. I want to be able to think of him positively, but I just feel guilt whenever he comes into my head!. I only walked him at night, as I have social anxiety disorder!. I don't know what to doWww@Answer-Health@Com
My dog of 8 died 2 years ago, and I still feel awful about it when I think of him!. He was the sweetest dog, and my soulmate!. He lived with me for 3 months before he died (he had lived with my mum before that)!.
I lived in a tiny flat, and had severe depression!. I had awful mood swings, and I shouted at him sometimes!. he was a very sensitive dog, which made me feel even worse!. We brought him to a vet because he was peeing everywhere, and it turned out he had kidney failure!. I still haven't got over the shock, and it was the worst thing that has ever happened to me - I'll never get over the shock!.
A lot of crappy things have happened to me, but he was so innocent and didn't deserve anything that happened to him!. I want to be able to think of him positively, but I just feel guilt whenever he comes into my head!. I only walked him at night, as I have social anxiety disorder!. I don't know what to doWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I am sorry that you are going through a lot!. First of all I would suggest that you get counselling for the depression you have so you can move on with your life!. Secondly you need to allow yourself to grieve properly over your dog!. You had your dog for a long time and at times you may have treated him in a way you are not happy with put you need to forgive yourself and move on!. You have depression and that is why you have all those mood swings!. Remember your dog is not a human being and as such he doesn't hold grudges and anger against you because you may have snapped at him a few times!.
As for the social anxiety I would suggest start slowly trying to interact with people!.Get counselling for that as well I have been through that and I know how tough it can be to deal with!. Might I suggest that although it is okay to have a animals but don't use them as an exuse not to interact with people!. Remember dogs are not people and all of us need someone who we can talk to!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
As for the social anxiety I would suggest start slowly trying to interact with people!.Get counselling for that as well I have been through that and I know how tough it can be to deal with!. Might I suggest that although it is okay to have a animals but don't use them as an exuse not to interact with people!. Remember dogs are not people and all of us need someone who we can talk to!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I understand the pain left after the loss of a beloved pet!. Living with an animal is a brilliant thing, I have 4 cats!. I lost 2 a few years back but always think of them with happiness even though the sadness tries to get through!. Being with out a cat was difficult especially when I could offer so much love and care to animals!. You could give so much joy and happiness to another dog and there are plenty of unwante ones around!. It would not be unfaithful to your fist but a way of making up and giving another dog a home!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I am puzzled as to why the key emotion that you feel is "guilt"!. Is that a bad choice of words !? Do you really mean, "sorrow, sadness, grief, loss etc" !? If you do, in fact, feel "guilt" you may benefit from figuring that out!.!.!. !?survivor's guilt!? why would you feel guilt for the sickness/death !? Surely you don't think that he died for a failure of attention/walking !? Sometimes when we are depressed we want to find a "reason" and assign our feelings to that "reason" because then it is less of a mystery!. Maybe this is the "reason" rather than endure depression of no "known origin" !?Www@Answer-Health@Com