Lots of hugs, vibes and wise words for a broken heart appreciated please 😞

[Claire W]

Frankly, it took me about 5/6 months to feel totally at peace with it, but there was a definite improvement after 3 or 4 weeks when I started getting into a new routine. I still get some painful memories (particularly if I smell something which reminds me of critical care), but I can quickly turn them into happy ones now.
The forum has actually been incredibly helpful for me- it means I can get my piggy fix without too many of the sadder emotions. It's also been really validating to see other people's grief, as many people don't understand the devastation of saying goodbye to guinea pigs. Helping other people also helps me in a way

Thank you. I expected it to take several months to feel at peace with it all It’s nice to know that the forum has helped you after all the hurt as I’m finding it incredibly painful coming here right now but I also need my piggy fix. My support worker took the rest of my wood shavings today so that’s all the piggy stuff gone now but I have a lot of guinea pig merchandise which is setting me off but I don’t want to get rid of it x

 

[Merab]

Thank you. I expected it to take several months to feel at peace with it all It’s nice to know that the forum has helped you after all the hurt as I’m finding it incredibly painful coming here right now but I also need my piggy fix. My support worker took the rest of my wood shavings today so that’s all the piggy stuff gone now but I have a lot of guinea pig merchandise which is setting me off but I don’t want to get rid of it x

Maybe put the piggy merchandise in the back of a cupboard for now until you feel like facing it.
This grief and it does take time for the rawness and initial stages to ease.

 

[ScrufflesRules]

That's completely understandable- I left some of my piggy-themed things in a cupboard until I felt ready to look at them again.
Eventually they become happy reminders of all the good times you shared- I've got a little guinea pig pin badge which brings me joy instead of tears now. Sometimes you just need a little break from piggy things until you feel a bit better.
Edit: it seems @Merab's Slave has beaten me to it

 

[Claire W]

Thank you both. There’s too much to pack away (I have socks, t shirts, mugs and magnets etc) but hopefully they’ll bring me happy memories soon x

 

[Claire W]

Now she has made an official announcement on her tribe thread, I can now tell you all that Esme has gone to live with @Wiebke and I’m sure you will all agree that she couldn’t have gone to a better home I’m so grateful to Wiebke for offering her a forever home now all her friends have passed and that I needed to break the cycle x