Referred to as the love drug to some, oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and hormone that increases during close intimate contact such as hugging, breastfeeding, orgasm, and even childbirth. In fact, it can even be increased during meditation and exercise or by doing something nice for someone else. The way you increase oxytocin depends on your own hormonal balance, how well your brain processes the neurotransmitters, and whether it sends the right messages to the correct places.
The Hormone that Makes You Feel Good
That “feel good” hormone in your brain is actually regulated and the level changes every second depending on what you are doing, what you are thinking, and how you are feeling. It is how your brain responds to what is going on that changes those hormone levels appropriately. According to studies, the levels of oxytocin in the blood increase right after a social interaction such as a hug or kiss. Even petting a dog has been known to increase those hormone levels immensely.
Oxytocin is Produced in Your Brain
Your hypothalamus produces the hormone oxytocin and it is the posterior pituitary gland that releases it. This can happen due to stimulation of the uterus when giving birth or the nipples when breastfeeding, helping the mother to bond with her child. Oxytocin also increased when enjoying a connection with a loved one, or when cuddling a puppy.
What Is the Love Hormone?
Because oxytocin increases when you cuddle, hug, and kiss someone, many have dubbed it the love hormone. This does not mean that you can make someone love you by giving them a dose of oxytocin. It means that when you feel a closeness or bond with someone, it increases the level of oxytocin in your blood, passed on through the brain. Loving someone and feeling close to them does increase the hormone levels, but it does not work the other way around.
Oxytocin for Childbirth
When a woman is in labor, her brain is producing and releasing oxytocin to help the uterus contract. Researchers are not sure whether this is to help the mother get through the pain of childbirth or if the hormone actually makes the uterus contract to push the baby out. However, oxytocin has been used for decades as a drug to help induce labor in women who are overdue. Therefore, the hormone definitely has something to do with the uterus contracting. In addition, it creates the uterine contractions after giving birth for the uterus to shrink back to normal size. This can be encouraged by breastfeeding since the nipple stimulation causes oxytocin to be released.
Oxytocin for Depression, Anxiety, and Other Mental Health Issues
It has been found that high levels of oxytocin can relieve anxiety and depression. That is why it is often suggested that people with anxiety or depression disorders do some type of physical activity every day to increase those hormone levels. While there are drugs that can increase the level of oxytocin for anxiety and other mental health disorders, it is not that simple. Because some who were given the drug did have an increase in oxytocin temporarily, but it did not do what it is supposed to do. Similar to type-two diabetics, your body has the hormone needed to make you happy, but it does not know how to use it. But the studies are continuing to find new results all the time, so the answer may be found soon.
Helping with Autism
Because of all the positive research results on oxytocin and social interactions, scientists have done studies to determine if it may be helpful treating those on the autism spectrum. Because autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes limited social communication and interaction, researchers felt that oxytocin may increase their interest in being social.
Because the oxytocin helps ease the social anxiety that people on the autism spectrum feel, they are more apt to respond to social stimuli.
Natural Increases in Oxytocin
If you and your partner are having intimacy issues or just feel like you should be closer, try exercising together. Or of course, you could try cuddling or making love. Doing fun activities together like playing a game or going for a walk can also help increase oxytocin and your bond with your significant other. But if you still feel like something is missing, talk to a relationship counselor about what is going on. The ReGain.us counselors can help you online and you do not even need an appointment.
The News is Not All Good
Unfortunately, it has also been found that high levels of oxytocin can cause memory loss. This may be apparent in those who do not really remember the pain of childbirth, but they know that it hurt. Most mothers just cannot explain it. And some who are given the hormone as a drug may be adversely affected, so it is an ongoing process to find the correct way to use oxytocin, or if you should just let nature take its own course.
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