Currently, I’m still on maternity leave. Prior to giving birth to our daughter, I read a couple of books and articles for fun. One of them about the hormone oxytocin, well-know as the nursing hormone. Why would this be an interesting topic for a blog? Do you know the saying: ‘I have 13 tabs open, 3 are frozen and I have no idea where the music is coming from’? Do you know how that feels? Because of the amount of stress in modern Western society we know a lot about stress and the pressure to achieve. However, oxytocin is a big influencer of the exact opposite: the calm and connection system.
Our bodies and minds are constantly striving for balance, even if we are not always conscious of it. We need balance between rest and activity, between calm and action. The biological view is the dynamic interplay between the systems of fight or flight and calm and connection. In Eastern philosophy also referred to as yin and yang.
A lot of research has been done on the fight or flight response. The sympathetic nervous system is engaged in the fight or flight response and produces a rise in pulse rate and blood pressure (among other things). These days, this system gets triggered a lot in our Western society. Tempo is fast, the flood of information heavy, let alone the time we spend looking at screens. There is no doubt that the stress-related fight or flight system inside us has been activated to the point of overload.
Oxytocin is both a hormone, which acts in the body through the bloodstream, and a signalling substance in the nervous system. It engages in the parasympathetic nervous system, which supports digestion and the storage of nutrients (among other things). Both digestion and storage of nutrients slow down in the fight or flight situation, but are more active in situations of calm and connection.
The calm and connection system is most often at work when the body is at rest. It helps the body to heal and grow. It changes nourishment to energy, storing it up for later use. Body and mind become calm. In this state, we have greater access to our internal resources and creativity. The ability to learn and to solve problems increases when we are not under stress.
We need calm and connection not only to avoid illness, but also to enjoy life, to feel curious, optimistic and creative.
Kerstin Moberg
What can be done to activate the calm and connection system? In her research, Moberg found several activities and pursuits that release oxytocin in our body – both females and males can be influenced by it. Activities can be more active or about stillness. Exercise, for instance, could release oxytocin to some extent. But also meditation, breathing exercises or even taking a nap. It could be a massage. But also playing with our children, or taking a walk outside.
As you can see, these are diverse options. What these activities or pursuits have in common is that they recharge us. To what extent, will probably differ for everyone. Hopefully, more research will be done to extend on Moberg’s findings. Most of all, I hope you already found your favorite ways to recharge, especially in this challenging time.
Oxytocin was originally called the birthing and nursing hormone because it was first identified in this context. Over times, researchers found that oxytocin has many more roles to play, and both females and males are influenced by it in a variety of situations. Nursing, however, is still a paradigm for the workings of oxytocin; it is also well researched, since it allows the effects of oxytocin to be studies without administering the substance from outside the body.
Source: The Oxytocin Factor – Tapping the hormone of calm, love and healing by Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg.
Essence of Change 