Oxytocin!

Oxytocin.

Have you heard of it? Until recently, oxytocin was thought to only be a hormone released during childbirth and through breast feeding, but new studies have shown that Oxytocin is a bigger player in our daily well being than we ever thought! It is known in many science communities as the “Happy Hormone” and has a direct influencer on our emotional well-being.

We also now know that Oxytocin is a social hormone. When our Oxytocin levels are low our social interactions change and generally decrease. We lack interest in social activities and find difficulty or discomfort communicating with others. We also will find ourselves feeling low emotionally.

Oxytocin levels are affected by stress. When we are stressed, our bodies produce Cortisol, and as Cortisol levels rise our Oxytocin levels decrease.

One of the fastest ways that we can increase our Oxytocin levels is through PHYSICAL TOUCH!

Did you know that hugging for at least 8 seconds at a time releases oxytocin? So does playing with or hugging your pet.

One writer for the Huffington Post described receiving an intentional hug this way:

“An Amma hug (darshan) is eight seconds of bliss. It’s eight seconds of receiving incredible, unconditional love. It’s collapsing into someone’s arms, whose sole purpose is to be there for you. Whose intentions are to be very, very present and give you everything she has that’s positive. It’s eight seconds of connecting with pure goodness.”

Another writer wrote:

“When we hug what is said intuitively is, “I will hold your pieces together so you don’t have to worry about falling apart. Take a rest in my arms for a moment and remember that you are loved.”

When we hug someone, at about eight seconds on average there is a deeper breath in and then an exhale as our body actually relaxes. You can definitely feel it, we are rigid, and then we melt.”

Doesn’t that sound AMAZING?

Psychotherapist Virginia Satir states that, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

Another quick way to increase your Oxytocin levels is to increase your exposure to sunshine which in turn increases your Vitamin D levels.

When we are out in the sunshine for a minimum of 20-30 minutes, our bodies begin to produce Vitamin D which is a pro hormone. A pro hormone helps to activate other hormones. Vitamin D is a prohormone to Oxytocin, Serotonin and Vasopressin and these three brain hormones affect social behavior.

So in short, if you aren’t feeling as happy as you’d like to feel, try getting some sunshine and giving someone or several someone’s an 8 second unconditional hug every day! My guess is that you will quickly find yourself looking at the world through an entirely new lens!

Here’s to an increased state of Beeing Well and making our world a better place to bee!