Oxytocin vs. Cortisol: The Science of Love and Fear

 Historically, philosophers and psychologists recognize two basic emotional lived experiences of human beings: love and fear. Physiologically, this is true that all human beings have two opposing hormonal responses to two opposite emotions. When we are threatened the body will release adrenaline and costisol as a natural response to stressful situation or stimulus. Appeasing and reassuring stimuli generally cause an increase in oxytocin production in the body.

As we face a threat that triggers a fight or flight response related to adrenaline production. Adrenalin increases heart and respiratory rate, muscle strength, and makes us hyper-vigilant. Prolonged stress triggers the release of different types of glucocorticoids such as cortisol, a stress hormone. As we encounter major stressors in life such as major life events and changes, to adapt to major changes, cortisol starts to break down non-essential organs and tissues to maintain blood sugar and to feed vital organs. It automatically digests bones, muscles and joints to obtain these key nutrients. The result is elevated blood fats and sugar, which are related to many disorders. Another side effect is hunger; we reach for high-calorie foods.

Due to modernistic era, stress nowadays are not physical it’s more of emotional and mental. We encounter major changes in life, such as death of loved ones, loss of job, natural catastrophes, heavy traffic, disharmony in relationships and a lot more. Then the body naturally responds to this, more cortisol.

Fortunately, our Creator designed our body with natural ability to countering stress which is formed by alternative response to stimuli. This another hormone is the oxytocin. Aside from uterine contraction, lactation and other pregnancy related benefits, oxytocin is believed to be as the hormone that fights the effects of cortisol. More and more research findings have been associated to this as anti-stress hormone. Moreover, this makes life more exciting and worth living for.

Fear - Cortisol	Love - Oxytocin
Aggression	Anti-stress hormone
Arousal, Anxiety, Feeling stressed-out	Feeling calm and connected, Increased curiosity
Activates addictions	Lessens cravings & addictions
Suppresses libido	Increases sexual receptivity
Associated with depression	Positive feelings
Can be toxic to brain cells	Facilitates learning
Breaks down muscles, bones and joints	Repairs, heals and restores
Depresses immune system	Faster wound healing
Increases pain	Diminishes sense of pain
Clogs arteries, Promotes heart disease and high blood pressure	Lowers blood pressure, Protects against heart disease
Obesity, Diabetes, Osteoporosis	---

As you can see at the table above, more negative effects are associated with elevated level of cortisol and positive effects with oxytocin. Elevated level of cortisol in the body includes: chronic anxiety and depression, emotional over-reaction, negativity, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immunity.  Oxytocin, by countering cortisol, can reorganize all of these conditions - as well as some others. Numerous activities produce more oxytocin: contemplation, yoga, exercise, massage, caring for a pet, joining a support group, worshiping, and so forth.

Doubtlessly, if oxytocin is released these ways one of the most important avenues in promoting oxytocin production is forming intimate relationships. In Love & Survival, Dr. Dean Ornish emphasizes that love and intimacy are the two of the most powerful tools in optimum wellness, and should have prescribed by the physicians for their unhealthy patients. That’s why some doctors include it in their prescriptions together with the drug. Some doctors would prescribe 3 hugs and kisses a day for their patients.

You might be wondering why not come up with a pill or tablet or a spray maybe with oxytocin inside so anybody can take in by himself. Some study shows that long-term spray of oxytocin has resulted in amnesia, hallucinations and imbalances in electrolytes and hormones. Abuse of this chemical is like abusing a prohibited drug.

We acquire its benefits in two ways by producing it naturally in the brain or have it injected in the specific part of the brain with great precision and accuracy with highly specialized equipment which is never practical. Oxytocin has been nicknamed as the “cuddling hormone”. We produce it naturally when we love, are loved nurture another, give selflessly, or engage in affectionate touch. It is not the neurochemical behind lust or burning sexual desire, although it is associated with sexual responsiveness.

Oxytocin is one of the most unused and unabused hormones as we are living in a cruel society, where one’s emotion is inhibited and remained repressed, where most people are unloved and unwanted. Affection and love are not well expressed because of the demands of this very competitive and merit-conscious society, a society that is full of instamatics and what we do is to keep on adapting to it until our body fails as a result we develop illnesses and we take for granted even our loved ones. We forget to be intimate and compassionate. We forget to love.

Love is the fundamental emotion that anyone should give and receive. In this sense, more oxytocin. More oxytocin, more optimal experience and more improved health and well-being.

  

References:

Marnia Robinson. (2005) Love and Fear. Reuniting Healing the Sexual Relationships.

A Course in Miracles, Foundation for Inner Peace (1975).