Oxytocin Has Entered the Chat

Oxytocin Has Entered the Chat: Dopamine Is So Yesterday What happens when you've spent most of your life preparing for danger and suddenly find yourself somewhere you feel safe? This week in Stable Roots, I'm exploring the biology of belonging, the role of oxytocin in our relationships with horses and humans, and how our brains can learn new ways of experiencing the world. I'm sharing the terrible advice that helped inspire Bramblewood, a memorable lesson from Rupert Isaacson's visit to the farm, and why emotional safety deserves as much attention as physical safety. I'm also looking back at three very different Halloweens, from a time when I wondered whether I'd ever feel well again to an evening at Lavender Hill filled with ridiculous horse costumes, old friends, laughter, and a sweetness I'm finally learning to trust. After decades of fighting for the life I wanted, I'm beginning to ask a different question: What happens when I don't have to fight anymore? Perhaps it's time to put dopamine in the back seat and embrace the cozy. Read or listen to the full essay at Stable Roots. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stableroots.substack.com/subscribe