I hope y'all don't mind but I'm just gonna copy/paste a reply I put on someone else's post:
> I'm a 38 yo male and this is also my first post here. I also suffer from agoraphobia, anxiety, PTSD, and depression. I've had less than stellar results w therapy and medication in the past and I've been increasingly isolating myself for a few yrs but I just put my dog of 5yrs down a few days ago and I just feel completely helpless and hopeless so idk I'm just trying to do something. Idk what to do anymore. I saw your post and ig I can relate so I'm reaching out. I'm open to chat if that's what you're looking for but I feel I should mention: I've experienced a lot of trauma and sometimes I do tend to ramble. I rly try not to make things Abt me but i am aware of my limitations and sometimes, when I start talking, I can't stop.
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Aloneandupset
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Thank you. She was the love of my life. It's been so hard without her. My GF texted me a little while ago and told me someone at her job told her "it's just a dog, just get another one" and even though it wasn't said directly to me, it made me so angry but I'm glad to know there are ppl here who understand that pain. She was my baby girl for half a decade. She was so much more than "just a dog"
I worked at an animal shelter for 2 yrs so I've had to face the reality of how we treat animals in this society up close and personal. I've also def encountered my share of selfish, narcissistic ppl. So I mean, the fact that someone would say that isn't surprising. That doesn't make it any less infuriating though.
I'm sorry for your loss but the fact alone that you say "my boy was my baby" shows that you gave him smth that most dogs, cats, etc don't get and if nothing else, that means smth.
We do what we can and maybe that isn't ever good enough but at least it's smth.
Hello and Welcome. I too have agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It is so, so helpful connecting here with people who understand. Other people just do not understand. There is so much support here. I am so sorry for your loss. I would be very happy to talk with you.
I am really truly sorry for you losing your pet. Having these conditions and dealing with a loss like that is very difficult. Opening up and sharing is very brave and necessary for healing and dealing. If I may I would like to share a story with you that I think you can relate with. I had been dealing with anxiety/depression until I met a woman with whom I eventually got engaged to. We got our own place together and I also had a very good relationship with her 2 kids. One day I found out that she had been using hard drugs and I tried to help her the best I could. One night I went out and came back to a note from her on my table telling me that she was leaving me. I tried everything to get her to come back but to no avail. Then one week later I woke up to my cat having some sort of health problem and watched him take his final breath. As if it couldn't get worse I ended up losing my job and apartment a month later. As you could imagine I was hysterical and was put on a lot of drugs. I can tell you with a lot of courage and support from friends and family I was able to make it through and ten years later I still deal with anxiety/depression but with knowledge and support you can do it. I know you can! Keep grinding and it will get better. Thanks for listening.
Thank you for sharing. I'd like to write a heartfelt reply but tbh rn I feel so spent but I'll say this: I read your reply and I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. This world can be so cruel to ppl but animals in our society are so disposable and it breaks my heart so much. I'm sry you had to go through all that, esp w your cat but I'm glad he had you until the bitter end. So many animals don't even get that. I wish I could have done more for my dog but for 5 yrs she was never alone and never had to feel unloved. I keep telling myself I'm the one that has to deal w the grief, not her, and while that doesn't rly offer much solace rn, so many animals don't even get that. I'm glad you were able to give that to your cat.
Firstly, Welcome to the Community! We are a caring bunch of folk, and we try to help.
You say you have been isolating yourself, and so losing your dog must have been a real blow. Dogs become family members, and you will grieve for them in the same way you grieve for another human member of your family. Grief is odd, it hits hard, especially if unexpected, and it also takes it's time, so be patient with yourself.
It's fine to unburden yourself here in the community, but it is best if you lock your post to Community only which is a little box at the bottom of where you first posted, so your info, etc, remains within the community.
I think first thing you should do is start looking for another dog. It will focus your mind on something positive and when you get one, you will not be alone anymore. Loss of a pet is terrible (I have cats), and when people lose one they often say and think they can never replace it or even try, but when they eventually do, they are much better off.
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