108. Oxytocin, The Happy Cuddle Hormone
Stroking, cuddling, caressing; they are good for us. When our skin is touched, something wonderful happens in our brains. A certain substance is formed, the hormone oxytocin. It is pronounced ‘ok-see-toe-sin’, with the emphasis on the “toe”. It’s always fun to pronounce such a strange word. But it is more than a strange word. It turns out that this hormone has a very positive effect on us and can even determine our feelings of happiness! I just had to know more about this!
Oxytocin, the happiness hormone!
It turns out that this hormone has a great effect on our brains. It causes relaxation, it softens pain and it gives us feelings of happiness. In addition, it also reduces blood pressure and allows stress to disappear from our bodies. Hey, that is fantastic! Give me a whole bucket full, every day! It strengthens your bonds with your partner, loved ones and friends. And it lowers stress, makes you more resilient against becoming addicted and it helps you to feel full more quickly when eating. Your body recharges more quickly and fear is more easily suppressed (Source: Wikipedia.).
Where is it made?
Oxytocin is formed in the Hypothalamus. This is a large, gray lobe in the center of your brain. The Hypothalamus is extremely important because it produces many hormones that are essential for our entire well-being.
When is oxytocin produced?
Now for what’s most important. What causes your body to produce it? Your body does this when it experiences pain, such as during a woman’s labor or if you experience pain during sports. Your body produces oxytocin, enabling you to deal better with the pain and discomfort. You also produce more oxytocin during pleasant contact with your skin, such as when hugging and during intercourse, and oxytocin is released during an orgasm!
What I find remarkable is that oxytocin is produced when people look at each other! Partners, parents, children and friends strengthen the bond with each other by looking into each other’s eyes. This is useful when a relationship is not so strong!
Strengthening the bond between people
Dr. Uvnäs-Moberg from Sweden studied oxytocin and wrote a clearly-written book about it, “The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing.“ She says that if we want to be healthy, to counteract stress, we have to pay attention to relaxation and leisure. At the opposite of much stress should be just as much relaxation and leisure. This means pleasant skin contact, for example hugging, massages, making love, masturbating and also petting our pets. In many hospitals and care homes, pets are regularly used for this reason: they are obviously good for people!
Maintaining intimate relationships
In relationships, oxytocin helps people to continue to feel connected with each other and to create a bond. If touching disappears from a relationship, people feel less intimately bonded with each other. Many people forget to ask their partner, “Would you hold me?”. This can be enough to renew the connection between them again.
The MIR-Method and oxytocin
Naturally, I didn’t realize this while developing the MIR-Method, but while stroking your hand this also happens. You stroke your hand, slowly and lovingly, and oxytocin is released in your brain. Just stroking causes a positive reaction throughout your entire body. Always take the 2 minutes’ time for yourself and always do all 9 steps. That small moment of attention does a lot of good to your body and for your feelings of happiness. Do it! It’s especially good for people who experience a lot of stress and little relaxation. For people who are alone and seldom get touched. And people who are out of touch with themselves because of stress or strong emotions. Stroking your hand brings you in touch with yourself again.
And how about you? Have you noticed that stroking your hand is good for you? I hope so. I’d love to hear about it from you! Please share your answer below. Thank you!
By using the “End” key on your keyboard you can go straight to the form. Personal questions should always be asked of a MIR-Method coach!
My wish for you is that your feelings of happiness will be nourished well and often!
Greetings! Mireille
P.S. Will you help spread the MIR-Method? You would do me a big favor by forwarding this article to other people! Feel free to post it to your Facebook page or send it via e-mail, Twitter or Linked-In! Use the icons on the left-hand side or below! Thank you!
P.S. Not familiar with the MIR-Method yet? Please go to the homepage. You can watch the video there and also the instruction video. Sign up for our newsletter and 6 weeks of coaching e-mails for extra support!
Dear Mireille, Thank you for the MIR-Method.
I read Dr. Uvnäs-Moberg´s book a year ago, very inspiring.
MIR-method has helped me during several years, to handle stressproblems.
I am so grateful for the MIR-Method.
Blessings!
I am ardently practicing,MIR,for the last one year.. I request you to pl explain how MIR Metod, for NEURO COGNITIVE ILLNESS. My friend’s grandson, is 2 years old.But has the growth of a 4 months child.He is medically diagnosed as… Neuro Cognitive Illness afflicted…Pl guide. Gratitude,in advance.
Dear Guhapriya,
Could you please contact a MIR-Method guide? They can help you find the root cause of the illness.
Greetings, Mireille
Today I did the first time mir method. When I stroke my hand . I felt the energy fulfilling my hands.
Most interesting. I plan to implement the Oxytocin Method in my MIR routine. Will report
my results.
Thanks for your article. Blessings !!
Dear Donald,
What do you meant with ‘the Oxytocin Method’? The MIR-Method already activates the oxytocine in your body, so no need to to anything else but the 9 steps!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes
Dear Mireille, I found this article on the Happy Cuddle Hormone was very interesting. I have only recently started using the MIR Method (two days ago)but even the first time I used it I felt this wonderful feeling of happiness come over me. I did not understand why but just enjoyed it. Reading your article has explained it all. Just one question. Can I do the exercise more often than twice a day? Sometimes when I am feeling stressed I want to do it again. A friend of mine introduced it to me and now I want to pass it on to other people.Thank you very much.
Dear Lindsey,
How wonderful that you could feel the impact of the MIR-Method! Yes, you can do the MIR-Method extra if you feel stressed, but usually 2 times a day is enough, because your body already works hard to release all old emotions. Thank your friend from me to introduce it to you. And I hope many people in South Africa will want to give it a try!
Good luck!
Mireille Mettes