It Wasn’t “Just a Pet”: The Science of Love and Why the Grief Is Real

You still catch yourself glancing at the door. That reflex is data: this bond wasn’t cute; it was consequential. In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Esther Adams explores the human-animal bond through both nervous system and narrative—oxytocin surges, attachment patterns, and the quiet daily rituals that scaffold our stress chemistry. We name why pet loss can jolt sleep, mood, and focus; how anxious vs. avoidant styles shape the waves; and why end-of-life choices (including euthanasia) can stir guilt that lingers. We’ll talk disenfranchised grief (“it was just a pet”), continuing bonds that help (rituals, memory objects, small acts of service), how to support kids through a first loss, and when to reach for clinical care. If a bowl sits where it always did, you’re not overreacting—you’re recalibrating after losing a steadying presence.