neil was sitting in my lap and i took a photo burst of him and sent them to someone and he was like “your cat looks like the 5 stages of grief” so here y’all go

Denial is a common defense mechanism that buffers the immediate shock of the loss, numbing us to our emotions. We block out the words and hide from the facts.

As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger.

The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness & vulnerability is often a need to regain control through a series of “If only” statements. This is an attempt to bargain. we may make a deal with our higher power in an attempt to postpone the inevitable & the accompanying pain

There are two types of depression that are associated with mourning. The first one is a reaction to practical implications relating to the loss. The second type of depression is more subtle and more private. Sometimes all we really need is a hug.

It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm.

i copy and pasted all these descriptions from google.

if you’re going through shit, my cat believes in you.