She also offers valuable insights into how friends can help their grieving friends, which will give you insight into getting what you need from those around you. In the 31st episode of the Mindfulness & Grief Podcast, award-winning author of When Their World Stops, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and founder of the Grief & Trauma Healing Network shares her insights into working with guilt, regret, and self-blame in the face of traumatic grief, mental health struggles, addiction, suicide, and other types of loss. Guilt and shame are heavy burdens to bear, and add more suffering on top of our broken heart. Whether your special person died by suicide, an overdose, long-term illness or suddenly, self-blame often appears. If you have been blaming yourself for the death of your loved one, or feeling guilty that you didn't do something you 'should' have done, you are not alone.

You are not alone, and I hope this episode will help you like it helped me. For many of us the death of a pet is one of the hardest losses to navigate because of the unconditional love. We also talk about constructive rituals and memorial spaces you can set up to remember your companion animal. Since then, both Dave and I have both experienced major pet losses, and we discuss the myriad of feelings that pet owners face - from feelings of guilt surrounding euthanasia, wondering how you will survive without your best friend, and even navigating the decision to welcome another furbaby into the house.

In this episode of the Mindfulness & Grief podcast Dave Roberts and I continue the conversation we began in an earlier episode on Pet Loss & Grief. As with the loss of anyone we love, it is helpful to find ways to honor their memory and the imprint they leave on our heart. When they die it is heartbreaking because we love them so much! The key to surviving the death of our beloved cats and dogs is to first acknowledge that it hurts, and acknowledge that our grief is real and understandable. Pets are not just animals that live in our house, they are our chosen family.

Dr david treleaven