BUFFALO, N.Y. — A loss is a loss and for many Buffalo Bills fans, it's a familiar feeling.
"People go through various stages. There's some sadness. There's some anger. There's some projection of blame," according to licensed psychologist Dr. Amy Taublieb.
She said if someone says 'it's only a game,' it's because they don't realize what's important to you may not be important to them.
"For those people who have that emotional connection. This is not just the loss of the game. This has all kinds of emotional ties associated with it," the doctor said.
To deal with it, some people may want to withdraw from others, some may want to talk. "Do what helps you and don't be shy about doing it and don't be embarrassed or ashamed about feeling what you feel."
Even the players are likely feeling down about the game.
Dr. Taublieb said it's important to ask yourself, how would you feel if you were in a position in your job where when you do well, you're basically a hero and when you don't do so well, you're the next thing to a worm."
"They have all of the of- season to think about what happened. Hopefully not, but let's be real, to beat themselves up to experience skills to go through what it could have, showed us. It is a horrible, horrible position to be in. "
The psychologist also has advice for parents. "Try to be careful and observe your reactions to the loss. As we all know, whether we want to be or not, parents are role models to their children. Our little ones are always watching. Make sure how you react to last night's loss is the way you would like your children to react when they lose a game."
She called this "an amazing opportunity for adults who are parents to teach our kids a very valuable lesson. When things go well, things go well. When things don't go well, that's when we learn. Make sure you're teaching your kids what you want them to learn."