Finding Light After Loss: Sarah W’s Journey Through Grief and Healing

For years, Sarah W. from Toronto had managed her depression and anxiety with care and consistency. She understood her rhythms, stayed in touch with her therapist, and had created a sense of balance in her life. But nothing could have prepared her for the heartbreak that began in 2020, a season of loss that would test every ounce of her strength.

That year, Sarah lost her beloved cat of twenty years, a constant companion who had seen her through every major chapter of her adult life. “It was devastating,” she recalls. Still, she pushed through, holding onto her routines and the comforting presence of her two other cats.

But just a year later, another heartbreak arrived. Her second cat, which she had hand-raised from just two days old, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “Letting her go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Sarah says.

Only weeks later, her ten-year-old cat fell gravely ill and was hospitalized in the ICU. Doctors doubted he’d survive. Sarah brought him home and began the exhausting work of daily fluids and palliative care. Miraculously, he stabilized, and the two shared a peaceful spring and summer together before he, too, passed away just before the holidays.

By the end of 2021, Sarah’s home, once filled with familiar warmth and soft purrs, felt painfully quiet. “I missed my cats so much,” she says. “I was exhausted all the time, and things felt very dull and hopeless.”

When the World Turns Gray

In the months that followed, Sarah noticed herself fading. She worked and did only the bare essentials at home. Once-loved hobbies like baking, sewing, and even watching favorite TV shows lost their spark.

Her therapist, who had guided her for years, recognized the deepening depression and encouraged her to speak with her doctor. Together, they began exploring treatment options. Two medications didn’t help, and Sarah began to lose hope. But her doctor didn’t give up, she referred Sarah to the local mental health hospital, where a psychiatrist recommended a new medication that finally began to lift the weight.

“I really credit my family doctor for not giving up,” Sarah reflects. “After a couple of failed medication trials, I was starting to feel like this wasn’t fixable. But she kept going, and that gave me hope again.”

Learning to Conserve Energy

As part of her healing, Sarah developed a strategy she calls her “energy austerity measures.” She made lists of the absolute essentials going to work, washing dishes, and doing laundry, and began planning her days around conserving limited energy.

“I’d pick one or two priorities for the day, do them at my own pace, and give myself permission to rest,” she explains. “If I got to the end of the day and felt like I hadn’t done anything, I’d make a list of what I had done, even small things, to remind myself that I was trying.”

The hardest part, she says, was letting go of guilt. “It took me a long time, and the support of my therapist, to stop feeling lazy and start accepting that I was doing my best with the energy I had.”

The Healing Power of Companionship

For Sarah, healing wasn’t just about medication and therapy; it was also about connection. Her cats have always been an anchor for her mental health. “They’re my family and my biggest emotional support,” she says.

When human interaction felt draining, her cats offered quiet comfort. “When it felt like no one cared about me, I knew my cats did,” Sarah shares. Even her therapist noticed during online sessions that the only moments she saw Sarah smile were when a cat wandered into frame or did something endearing.

Her bond with animals runs deep, both personally and professionally. Working with cats every day, she’s seen firsthand how powerful that connection can be, especially for people who may not have human friends or family who understand.

Going through so much loss inspired Sarah to help others facing the same kind of pain. “I look at the silver lining as the fact that I can help others through the tough time of losing a pet,” she says. “Especially when they feel like they have no one else who supports them.”

Finding Hope Again

With time, treatment, and compassion for herself, Sarah began to rediscover hope. “I thought because I was still somewhat functional that I didn’t deserve help,” she admits. “But when I went to our local mental health hospital, everyone told me that I did deserve to be there, and they gave me back hope that I wouldn’t have to feel tired and pointless forever.”

Her experience has reshaped the way she thinks about mental health and recovery. Today, she’s an advocate for persistence in finding the right doctor, the right medication, and the right support system.

“Find a good doctor who treats mental health as seriously as physical health,” she advises. “If your current one isn’t helping, keep looking. Don’t be afraid to reach out. You deserve help.”

A Message from the Heart

Sarah’s journey is one of quiet courage, a story of grief, perseverance, and the healing power of compassion, both human and animal. Though the losses she endured were immense, they led her to deeper empathy and a renewed sense of purpose.

Her story is a reminder that healing doesn’t always come in grand leaps; sometimes it’s found in small moments of care, gentle self-forgiveness, and the steady love of those who never judge or demand, only sit beside us when the world feels heavy.

“I don’t know if I would have made it as far as I have without my cats,” Sarah says softly. “They saved me and now, I just want to help others find that same comfort and hope.”