Hack Your Body & Improve Your Mental Health- Boost Oxytocin

Written By Brianna Skanderup

In the whirlwind of life, it's easy to overlook the quiet whispers of stress from the deep corners of your mind. Enter oxytocin- the life of the party, your anti-stress guru, and the lovable cupid of hormones. Diving into the world of oxytocin feels like embarking on a whimsical adventure through the enchanted forest of emotional well-being – and who wouldn't want a ticket to that magical journey?

What is oxytocin?

Oxytocin is a hormone and neuropeptide that plays a crucial role in various physiological and social functions in humans and other mammals. It is often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone" due to its involvement in labor, social bonding, emotional regulation, and attachment. Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream, this enables it to help calm the nervous system. The release of oxytocin is influenced by a variety of factors, such as social interactions, stress, and positive sensory experiences. While oxytocin is associated with numerous positive effects, it is essential to approach discussions about its potential benefits with an understanding of the complexity of hormonal regulation and individual variability. Some research evidence is also limited and this happy hormone is still being understood.

Some important functions of oxytocin include regulating behaviors and emotions connected to:

  • Anxiety and stress

  • Building trust and feeling empathy

  • Childbirth and breastfeeding

  • Social bonding and physical touch

Stress… friend or foe?

Back in the day, our ancient ancestors needed an active amygdala because it helped with survival. Our brain and body work very similarly today and respond to threats with these primitive responses. EXCEPT, today instead of a bear or other dangerous predator, the things that trigger this response are our thoughts, deadlines, interactions, hectic schedules, etc. We encounter many of these stressors everyday, which can keep us in a constant state of fight or flight.

When our stress response system is constantly in overdrive, it's like a never-ending rollercoaster of cortisol and other stress hormones. This can really do a number on our mind and body, leading to all sorts of unwelcome consequences. Some examples can include triggering other mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety, brain fog, respiratory issues, fatigue, forgetfulness, tension and pain, and other serious effects on our immune system, cardiovascular system, and our digestive system.

What is brain and body hacking?

Hormones & neurotransmitters in your body are responsible for much of your body’s functioning. Our “happy hormones” including oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins influence many processes that relate to our mental health and sense of wellbeing. This includes things like appetite, motivation, sex, energy, mood, sleep, pain and much more. By introducing foods, actions, and lifestyle changes related to these happy hormones we may be able to hack our brain & body, and help ourselves feel better!

5 ways to boost your helpful and happy OXYTOCIN:

1. Physical touch and affection: Because this is the love and bonding hormone, actions such as hugging someone you love, playing with or cuddling with your pet or baby, holding or shaking someone’s hand, and even making/sustaining eye contact can get your oxytocin flowing. Getting a relaxing massage or acupuncture, doing skin to skin with your baby (or your partner which is what I did when I was trying to trigger labor).

2. Listening to certain music: Think warm and fuzzies (this is my early labor playlist). Music can be quite magical, helping your emotions literally shift from one moment to the next. Listening to music as well as singing can help boost our sense of social bonding and boost that oxytocin

3. Labor and nursing your baby: Suckling during breastfeeding and through non-nutritive sucking is linked to oxytocin release in babies which has immense benefits to them as well. Breastfeeding and the other physical and emotional aspects of breastfeeding and holding one’s baby release oxytocin for the breastfeeding parent, or others assisting with the feeding through bonding and touch.

4. Socializing: Spending time with people we care about or that bring us joy increases the powerful elixir or oxytocin. Whether this be laughing and having a good time with someone (tip: try something new together, bonding over a new experience with someone can boost even more); active and empathetic listening; altruism and acts of kindness toward others, sex and intimacy, expressing our feelings for someone or hearing them express their love and affection toward us as well as sharing and being shared with.

5. Getting a massage or acupuncture: Aligning with physical touch as we talked about above, receiving a massage, giving a massage and even self-massage can help increase calm, reduce stress and increase levels of oxytocin. Because there is a strong component of social bonding with oxytocin, there have also been benefits shown with partner massage (with boosting the general sense of wellbeing through massage and also mitigating marital conflicts), as well as with baby massage for both the baby and the mother (parent).

Brianna Skanderup