The benefits of oxytocin - our connection molecule

• BUFFERS the effects of STRESS and cortisol
• Helps you to connect with others
• Increases feelings of trust, generosity, optimism and altruism
• Promotes sleep
• Promotes healing
• Reduces blood pressure
• Can help with PTSD and spectrum disorders
• Anti inflammatory
• Helps to alleviate anxiety and depression
• Decreases appetite
• Improves digestion
• Increases pain threshold
• May protect against cancer

• Talk/Connect with others  
• Exercise
• Storytelling or reading stories aloud 
• Pet or play with dogs or pets
• Listen to or play music
• Dance
• Give/Receive massage (works for both!)
• Give consensual hugs, handshakes, or light touch  
• Meditate 
• Practice random acts of kindness (pay it forward!)
• Make love 
• Eat foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium
• Practice mindful eating
• Eye contact (put down the phone!)
• Give a gift 
• Think about those you love
• Look at photographs of those you love, pets included

                                 OXYTOCIN & VASOPRESSIN -     the LOVE & FEAR power couple

     Oxytocin is an ancient molecule produced in the hypothalamus, secreted by the pituitary gland, and it is present in all mammals. It facilitates human connection, social engagement and bonding and has been coined "THE LOVE HORMONE".  The beneficial effects of this amazing little molecule have been well documented by scientists across the globe, and the world's expert, Dr. C.Sue Carter PhD,  is teaching right here in our Charlottesville community at the University of Virginia. LOVE CONNECT TEND has been digging into her research,  and we are so excited to share some of what we have learned!  

     In order to fully understand how OXYTOCIN  functions in the body, you must also understand its partner, VASOPRESSIN.  These two molecules work together and have a regulatory effect on human sociality, immunity, metabolism, pain, stress, trauma, fear, trust, addiction and likely other functions yet to be discovered.   While oxytocin supports feelings of love, such as connection, bonding and social engagement, vasopressin, on the other hand, supports feelings of fear, such as protection, aggression, and guarding of a partner or territory.   Oxytocin drives us to connect. Vasopressin drives us to protect. 

How they work together to modulate these functions is dependent on how safe we feel in our environment. 

     This is an ancient survival mechanism. The perceived safety and security piece to this  partner dance is critical! If a person is in a situation or environment that they perceive as unsafe, then oxytocin will switch sides and join forces with vasopressin.  Vasopressin, on the other hand,  will not join forces with oxytocin.  This relationship between love and fear, the desire to connect and the desire to protect,  is innate in all of us,  but fear has a biological advantage.

According to Dr. Carter, perfect love is characterized by the absence of fear.   When we feel love (oxytocin), fear (vasopressin) has no power.  Oxytocin dances dominantly through our bodies, and vasopressin leaves the room. In the case of chronic stress or trauma, however, oxytocin will bond to vasopressin's receptors, aiding and abetting our desire to protect. Could it be that these two little molecules are a source of humanity's struggles?   Oxytocin will join forces with vasopressin, but vasopressin does not return the favor.   So many of us are living in environments that we perceive as unsafe, and we are living in an increasingly disconnected society.  This means fear is often the driving force behind our behavior, and this is not healthy for anyone. 

Fortunately for us, hope is stronger than fear.  We can put  MIND OVER MATTER.  Let's put our heads to work and  learn a little more about how we can pump our  OXYTOCIN, so LOVE can truly win!!!

"Imagine all the people
Livin' life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one."

- John Lennon