Separation Anxiety

Seems like we are all dealing with Separation Anxiety lately. Not only my husband and his family with the passing of his father. But our dog. Yes, poor Bella is not having a good time in her crate lately when we leave. I guess she got freaked out a couple weeks ago when we had to leave her in my MIL's room when we went the to the wake for my FIL. We sure thought she would be fine since we left her crate in there with her bed and toys. After all, we had left her in there once before when we all went out for dinner and she was fine. Well, not so fine. She tore up the carpet and was digging trying to get out. Then the next day, we had to leave her again, but this time we put her in the crate. Well, she went nuts and tore up her bed and bit the cage trying to get out. Gosh...

She has been a crated dog since we got her and she just turned two. She went through a few bouts with anxiety, but we always were able to get her back on track in a couple of days. It has been over a week and every time we leave her she tears something else up in her crate, or bites through the crate, or tries to get out breaking the crate. Not sure what to do. My DH is getting really irritated with her, but I am trying to be more patient. I guess some re-training of the crate again. Small periods of time being inside. And training again with the basics like sit and down to get her confident again. It is just scary to see.

But I also think she may be feeling the anxiety we are still feeling too. With losing a dad. Yes, people have separation anxiety too. That is weird to think about. I guess we usually call it grief or loss or maybe even depression. But it is really separation anxiety. Whether it is someone who has died, or a relationship that has ended, or a job that has been left. Those normal routine things that you always did...you don't do any more. And you have to "re-train" yourself or your mind to do something else with that blank space. You have to build up the confidence again to do the things you used to do with that person or go to the places you used to go when you were working with that company. And it takes time. It won't happen over night. It is a process. And just as friends and family are patient with you during that new separation anxiety you are feeling...so we too must be patient with Bella and getting her used to being in the crate again while we are gone and building her confidence to know that we will be back to get her.

On another note...I was also thinking, during my walk/run last night, about heaven. Now, I am not as familiar with the bible as I would like to be. And I know the bible talks about heaven. But do you ever wonder if there really IS a heaven? Not that I doubt it...but really, is there a heaven up there in the clouds where you enter these pearly gates and God sits you down and reviews your life and shows you your accomplishments and areas you could have improved and then lets you in. And then what, do you really know where you are? Are your other family members and friends who have gone before you really there, and can you talk to them and ask them what they have been doing or if they regret leaving so soon? Do you really "watch down" over your still living family and friends, and sit next to them and put your hand on their shoulder when they are in pain, or root for them and encourage them when they need it? Do you really walk around in a white robe, or are you in the clothes you died in? Do you talk with the angels and sit on the cloud eating cream cheese with your best friend (that goofy cream cheese commercial).

I have been pondering this lately. Do all these things really happen and exist...or is it just a nicety that we have made up to make us feel better about the whole dying thing? Seriously. I want to know if the bible says anything about heaven itself. About what it is like. Does it talk about being able to look down and "visit" with those living?

I really feel ignorant about it, but does anyone know any passages or parts of the bible that you can tell me to give me some more insight on this? Again, I really don't doubt it, but I want some concrete passages to build my confidence in this area.

I often picture my dad sitting next to me or watching over me and giving me advice. But is that something in my head or is he really there? I like to think my FIL is up there laughing at all the anxiety we are going through and hassle and detail regarding his death...or is he really?

Anyone have any help for me??