Medications That Help with Pet Loss: The Anxiety Reliever I Took and How to Ease the Grief

In this blog, I share my journey overcoming pet loss and depression. I frequently receive these questions from readers:

“Are there any medications that help with pet loss?”

“Which medication did you take?”

Of course, I am not a medical professional, so I cannot give medical advice. However, I’m happy to share my personal experience. Today’s post explores my thoughts on medication in the context of pet loss.

Medications for Pet Loss and Depression

When I was diagnosed with depression at a psychiatric clinic, the doctor told me:

“There’s no single medication that works best for everyone.”

“Medication can be helpful—but it’s tricky to use well.”

“People react differently: some meds suit certain individuals, while others don’t.”

Because I feared that I might take all the medication at once, I requested—and received—the weakest dose available. Knowing that even an overdose would have minimal effect gave me peace of mind.

Advice from a Trusted Friend

I have a senior friend—someone with much more life experience—who advised me, “You shouldn’t rely on medication.” While this is a rather extreme stance, it ultimately helped me avoid becoming dependent on pills.

How to Use Medication Wisely

I also met a practitioner who taught me two important principles:

1. Avoid long-term use: Taking medication every day can lead to tolerance, requiring stronger doses and making it harder to stop in the future.
2. Use medication as needed: Having pills on hand for particularly hard moments can be a lifesaver—helping you calm down or sleep when grief hits hardest. Mentally, knowing “I have this if things get overwhelming” can be a strong anchor.

Building a Healthy Relationship with Medication

Finding the right balance with medication is difficult—everyone’s symptoms and body chemistry differ. Trust is essential. If your doctor doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to look for a second opinion. The emotional nature of this journey demands a doctor with whom you truly connect. Sometimes, a heartfelt conversation with a trusted friend can offer more comfort than medical advice.

For me, choosing not to rely heavily on medication played a key role in my recovery. But I understand—choosing not to take pills can be tough. Learning how to use them wisely, if needed, can also be key.

I hope each of you finds your way back to daily life soon—and in a way that feels right for you.

When Second Opinions Matter

If your relationship with your doctor doesn’t feel right, seeking another opinion is a good idea. I once visited a referred specialist—but discomfort at check-in made me realize it wasn’t the right place for me. That experience deepened my appreciation for my original doctor—sometimes, the right medical relationship matters more than anything.

Finding the Right “Medication”—Sometimes It’s a Hug

One day, we received a thank you message from a customer. Their daughter had just lost her pet and was suffering. We gave them a cushion made by our store, and they hugged it with joy and seemed to cheer up. she become more comfort than any medication—and she stopped needing the pills altogether.

We have many customers who have had similar experiences.

I hope that this work will be a source of comfort to everyone.

This is a custom-made pillow made from knitted yarn depicting a pet.

From a customer:
I’m still unable to overcome the loss of my pet and rely on medication every day, but since I discovered Miasa’s work, I’ve been looking at photos of Shio that I’ve never been able to see before and thinking about which one to choose, and I think I’m slowly becoming more positive.
From today, I’ll have her by my bedside every night.
Thank you so much for your heartwarming work.