Weemie
MyPTSD Pro
Actually, complicated grief is a recognized mental health disorder in the DSM under Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder. And tbh, I thought your reply to @arfie was unnecessarily harsh. The joke was rather apparent, no one in their right mind thinks a donkey qualifies as an ESH. (But who am I to judge, they're animals like anything else! I'm sure you probably could get them certified.)Grieving is not a professionally diagnosed mental health disorder
Regarding the topic at hand, though, I'm definitely dissimilar to most. I struggle with animals and typically don't bond meaningfully to them at all (let alone actual human beings). I have a good connection to my cat who is emotionally similar to me, but I don't gain much comfort from her. Probably a me-thing, possibly an abuse thing (my abuse involved animals at various points), or maybe just an attachment issue in general.
Dogs are one of my biggest triggers so I always struggle when people bring their ESH/guide dogs around. Someone at my synagogue has one and it's enough to kick me out of the room. But what ya gonna do. Some people need 'em.
Last edited: