For some, grief is cyclical, coming in waves, or a series of highs and lows. The lows are likely to be deeper and longer at the beginning and then gradually become shorter and less intense as time goes by.
Some people find grief comes in stages, where they experience different feelings such as denial, anger, guilt, depression, and eventually acceptance and resolution.
Some people may not understand the depth of feeling you had for your pet, and you should never feel guilty or ashamed about grieving for an animal friend.
Given the intense bond many of us share with our animals, it’s natural to feel devastated by feelings of grief and sadness when a pet dies.
80% of 16 year olds who ran away from home say they were experiencing family problems. Sometimes running away may seem the only option, but you can talk to someone.
If you have run away from home, Missing People can send a message home to family on your behalf. Call or text 24/7 on 116 000.
When teaching your children about sex, periods, life, money, jobs and so on, make sure you discuss the emotional side as well as all the practical advice.
If you have negative feelings about yourself, reach out to people who care about you and tell them how you are feeling.
If you treat children with kindness and love, they are more likely to treat themselves kindly, and carry this through adolescence into adulthood.
It is incredibly frustrating even as an adult not to have your feelings acknowledged – for a child it is confusing and causes deep emotional pain which can lead to many forms of psychological disorder.