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Wow, do you need a hug! Now more than ever. You know why? Because every time you hug a loved one, you get a fresh burst of oxytocin, the “love chemical” or the “feel good hormone.” It relaxes and calms your nervous system with a balm of peace and comfort, and may improve overall well-being. It’s termed the love hormone for other reasons, such as making us more empathetic toward others.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the brain’s hypothalamus and released into the pituitary gland when activated. Once released into the bloodstream, it provides an infusion of peaceful energy.
The “love hormone” is perhaps best known for being released during childbirth and breastfeeding. Since it is a hormone that encourages bonding, it naturally bonds mother and baby. You might say that oxytocin was produced by Mother Nature to ensure the survival of the human species, with its signature bonding potential.
Oxytocin May Nudge Us Toward Physical Touch
While it is healthy to have alone time, humans also crave connection, including physical touch. We need human contact for our well-being, helping us to feel safe and comforted. We are social beings, whether we like to admit it or not. A comforting arm wrapped around our shoulder, a strong clasped hand, a reassuring smile and a loving gaze into the eyes can make all the difference when we are feeling down or stressed.
We may survive without human contact as adults, but relationships can help us to thrive as individuals. Our relationships with others deepen our experience on this strange planet and help us to learn empathy and compassion. Even remote indigenous peoples live in tribes not only for physical survival, but for emotional survival. Human contact is an important aspect of our species. It’s what makes us, well, human.
Oxytocin seems to be an integral part of our humanness. Not only that, but it’s de-stressing and physiologically healthy for us to have physical touch, with its oxytocin release. In fact, the hormone oxytocin is released through human contact and other specific means as well. Hugging, though, can be our go-to for that essential daily dose of oxytocin.
Oxytocin and You: Ways to Get It
Here’s the good news: You can get this feel-good chemical in a number of ways, many involving human contact. And they’re all just as easy as getting a hug.
Physical touch, connection, and sex
Hugs and physical touch: A good hug or loving touch releases the “love hormone” for a soothing burst of relaxation. In fact, human contact in general, including a massage, can stimulate oxytocin release.
Cuddling and sex: Cuddling and sex are not only bonding activities, but they also stimulate the release of oxytocin, sometimes called the “cuddle chemical.” In fact, orgasm itself releases several powerful, relaxing, and feel-good chemicals in the body (with a partner or solo). including dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and prolactin. No wonder we feel relaxed after sex!
Bonding Activities, Eye Contact, and Pets
Having deep, caring conversations with others and maintaining eye contact in a close relationship may also stimulate oxytocin, with eye contact even increasing after a dose of oxytocin.
Many of us are quite bonded with our pets, which are also wonderful sources of the love hormone. For the dog or cat lovers out there, pet your furry friend or gaze affectionately into their eyes, and you’ll get a nice burst of happiness, too.
Yoga, Music, and Oxytocin
More good news. We’re discovering additional ways to generate this feel-good chemical in the body, such as potentially during yoga. (As if we needed another reason to begin practicing yoga!) In fact, yoga has been found to increase feelings of well-being in several recent studies, so oxytocin may be a contributor to the increased feelings of well-being.
Sound may also be a factor in the release of oxytocin. Even soothing music and group singing seem to release this feel-good hormone.
With so many ways to get your daily infusion of oxytocin, there’s no reason we can’t get a boost of the feel-good hormone when we need it. So, go ahead. Hug it out or find another healthy way to get your daily dose of relaxation today. You need it!
