Oxytocin: The Chemical of Connection

Your brain is hard-wired for connection. Social bonding is an essential part of being human. Feeling close and connected and accepted by others is not just a nice idea; it is necessary for thriving.

What triggers oxytocin release?

When we engage in socially bonding experiences such as hugging, kissing, spending time with loved ones, thinking about someone we care about, or having emotionally connected conversations, our brain produces a hormone called oxytocin.

How does oxytocin make you feel?

Often referred to as the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone,” oxytocin can increase feelings of trust and empathy. The improved sense of trust can strengthen the emotional connection between partners, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying marriage.

What are the effects of oxytocin on mother and baby?

Oxytocin is also responsible for uterine contractions during labor. It’s amazing to consider how nature works to provide and protect innocent babies. As a mother is laboring and giving birth, this attachment hormone floods her body, so when she holds that newborn for the first time, she immediately begins to bond with him/her. That bond becomes more and more secure as she routinely releases more oxytocin each time she breastfeeds the baby. Even if the mother chooses not to breastfeed, holding and cuddling the baby produces oxytocin and creates an attachment between mother and baby!

What are the benefits of oxytocin?

Remarkable research on oxytocin has come about in the last few decades. We now understand that oxytocin is released by both men and women alike and is responsible for the same feelings of contentment and connection throughout the lifespan. Additionally, oxytocin has other potential benefits, such as reducing anxiety and stress, promoting wound healing, and improving digestion.

Recently, researchers have found that oxytocin not only strengthens bonds between partners, but also protects against infidelity. Some experts even named it “The Molecule of Monogamy.” According to the study, men who were given synthetic oxytocin were more likely to maintain greater physical distance from flirtatious women than those who received a placebo.

So let’s get oxytocin flowing! Spend more time cuddling, hugging, and touching. Increase your own and your loved ones, sense of well-being and belonging by increasing the natural flow of this bonding hormone every day.