Aggression, Linked To Oxytocin Deficiency.

Oxytocin is known as the love hormone, even the "moral molecule" but what happens if you do not have enough? Could anxiety, depression, stress, aggression and even a low libido be related to an oxytocin deficiency?

What diseases and symptoms are related to oxytocin deficiency?
Imagine a life where there is nothing to help labor induction, not even a bond between mother and child. Imagine a life in which the cortisol of the stress hormone can not be stopped, social interaction can not be improved, the antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect of oxytocin is absent, there is no social bond and there is no fidelity in relationships monogamous What would society be like?



Just as some things increase oxytocin levels, other things decrease oxytocin levels, causing symptoms and diseases related to oxytocin deficiency. The importance of oxytocin can not be exaggerated. Oxytocin is either secreted at a level where it performs its work or its absence will do the opposite.

Aggression: a symptom of oxytocin deficiency
Oxytocin has the ability to alter the way the brain reacts to situations. Cerebral oxytocin can keep adrenaline waves under control, for example, thus limiting the amount of aggression that is shown.

The research shows that oxytocin is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, immunity, thermoregulation, reproduction and physiology of the liquid, and that its secretion provides a mechanism to improve and suppress aggressive behavior.
Therefore, if there is an alteration in this sense, a deficiency of oxytocin, the opposite will be the case. The mechanisms that help to improve and suppress aggressive behaviors will be negatively affected.

Little or no pleasure during sex: Could you have a deficiency of oxytocin?
Have you seen someone who never enjoys sex? The solution may not be exaggerated: book an appointment with an endocrinologist.

Oxytocin is a good vasodilator. It facilitates adequate blood flow to the sexual organs. One particular study showed that the level of oxytocin increases during orgasm . The hug hormone plays a vital role in the erection during sexual arousal, and is also essential to form monogamous couples between sexual partners.

Therefore, when there is a shortage in the secretion of this hormone, sexual arousal is affected and the monogamous couple bond is cut off.
Lack of oxytocin, lack of social interaction
It is evident that some individuals exhibit a fear of social gatherings, moving away from meeting new friends, and as such exhibiting what is known as a social deficit.

Oxytocin has been linked to interpersonal bonding and promotes social interaction by stimulating the production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, the same neurotransmitters that are stimulated when marijuana is smoked, in fact. Therefore, if there is a deficiency in the production of this neurotransmitter, which is sponsored by oxytocin, an individual will exhibit social deficits.

Oxytocin deficiency makes you feel
Stress seems to be endemic now. Therefore, limiting or controlling cortisol levels is a major concern for medical science and even for endocrinologists.

If childbirth is certainly the situation where our body spontaneously releases the greatest quantity of oxytocin, it is unfortunately not feasible to integrate it without end in its daily life. What other activities or attitudes to cultivate to improve one's sense of well-being?

1 - The smile
If a smile gives the individual a more pleasant face, it is also partly due to the fact that the smile stimulates the production of oxytocin in the other. Which explains, in part, why we have more desire to get in touch with someone who smiles. Because his smile simply makes us happier. Surrounding yourself with smiling people and focusing attention on smiling faces would naturally increase our oxytocin levels in the blood.

2 - The touch
Touch, when caring of course, is a great way to boost oxytocin production. Whether through the practice of duet dancing, a massage or just a hug, the tactile exchanges with our peers instantly lead to an increase in oxytocin production. We can better understand the success of the "free hugs" (the act of hugging the other). Perhaps this is the reason that urges us to instinctively take in our arms children or loved ones, when they go through a difficult time. We certainly know, by memory, the benefits.

3 - The thoughts of love for others
Paul Zak, an economist known for his experiences with the impact of oxytocin in the field of economics, has shown that feeding thoughts of love for his spouse increases the level of oxytocin in the body. If the results of some of his experiments are to be taken with tweezers (no consideration of many biases), there is one that is perfectly standardized since a blood test was taken before and after the experiment. Paul Zak asked 32 men on Valentine's Day to take a few minutes to think of a declaration of love they could make to their girlfriend. The level of oxytocin in the blood was significantly higher after feeding thoughts of love for their partner. Thinking about people we love and placing ourselves in a position of love giving would be a great way to improve your own sense of security and well-being. It would be useful to keep in mind the consequences on one's own emotional state when one thinks of people we are far from cherishing!

4 - Cultivate tenderness
Tenderness would also be an excellent vector to stimulate oxytocin production. If receiving pampering increases oxytocin levels, giving it will promote as much the production of this hormone "happiness". A study showed that a moment to cuddle your pet was also an opportunity to increase your own feeling of well-being. In other words, giving tenderness has the same consequences as receiving it.

5 - Share funny moments with friends
Exchanging with friends on positive topics and laughing together would be great ways to boost oxytocin production. Cultivating shared moments of intimacy with a touch of humor is the guarantee of improving one's sense of well-being.

6 - Meditate
Many experiences have shown the benefits of meditation on mental processes. 20 minutes of meditation a day would allow you to approach your daily life with a greater sense of inner calm.

Oxytocin was first discovered to help the ejection of labor and milk, but more recently, its role in promoting the fight against stress and restoration has been brought to light. Oxytocin induces anti-stress effects, such as the reduction of cortisol levels and blood pressure. People who lack oxytocin may notice a deterioration in their normal state of health due to the presence of cortisol, which carries the immune system down, certainly another symptom of oxytocin deficiency.

Depression is related to oxytocin deficiency
People suffering from depression show signs such as indigestion, weight loss or weight gain and pessimism. These can be managed by the antidepressant effect of oxytocin.

Sometimes, a hug or body contact can be therapeutic for depressed individuals, since they stimulate the secretion of oxytocin, which can change brain signals.

A deficiency of oxytocin will pave the way for the symptoms of depression to have an overwhelming effect on an individual without a braking effect.

Could your anxiety be caused by a lack of oxytocin?
Being anxious about a job interview, or an upcoming event is normal, but when worries refuse to go away for a long period of time, you may have an anxiety disorder.

From the research on oxytocin, we know that the nano-peptide can influence behavior through the reduction of anxiety. Oxytocin in nasal spray has been shown to have an anxiolytic effect on the brain. Where there is a deficiency of oxytocin, the opposite will happen, and people will become more anxious.

The beauty of this nano-peptide can not be enjoyed by people with an oxytocin deficiency. However, it is advisable that we are involved in activities that naturally cause us to increase oxytocin or make use of synthetic oxytocin to maintain a balance in the fight against stress and the problems that may result?

Oxytocin: the hormone that could reduce social isolation in autism?
GM summary

In recent years, research teams have been studying the influence of oxytocin on autism. Studies of blood levels of oxytocin indicate that children with autism have low blood levels of oxytocin; these levels do not increase with age. Studies by Eric Hollander's research team have shown that oxytocin injections reduce repetitive behaviors.

In 2006, a new study by Eric Hollander et al., Showed that adults with autism spectrum disorder treat and retain social cues better after receiving oxytocin injections: 15 adults with autism received either a placebo, After listening, pre-recorded sentences recorded in four different intonations (joy, indifference, anger sadness), they had to point the words that best matched the emotions they had perceived. Two weeks later, the injections were reversed, participants who initially received placebo received oxytocin and those who initially received oxytocin received placebo. A new test of emotion recognition was administered. Research has shown in all patients improvements in verbal understanding of emotions. A difference between the two groups appeared while the group receiving oxytocin continued to associate the emotional meaning with the intonations heard in the comprehension test. "Following this study, Hollander and his team decided to test the effects of a Intranasal spray of oxytocin on autistic behaviors The spray is easier to administer and could allow a better penetration of the cerebrospinal barrier. "

Since 2006, the results of intra-nasal oxytocin studies show that it increases confidence in interactions. Research suggests that oxytocin alleviates amygdala responses (the region of the brain involved in fear reactions) in the face of threatening social situations.
In May 2007, preliminary studies at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York indicate that oxytocin is leading to changes in brain behavior and function in autistic adults. Images of brain activity highlight an improvement in areas of the brain known to be involved in autism.

In late 2009, Simon G. Gregory of Duke University and Jessica J. Connelly of the University of Virginia reported on the discovery of a new genetic signature strongly correlated with autism. This is not about changes in the DNA sequence but how genes are turned on and off. In autistic people they find a greater quantity of molecules, called the methyl group, which play a role of regulation of the genetic activity in a region of the genome which regulates the expression of the receptor of the oxytocin hormone. In blood samples and in brain tissue, the methylation state of regions specific to the oxytocin receptor gene is significantly higher in a person with autism (70%) than in the general population (40%). ). This discovery may suggest new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of autism; it would identify people with autism in the population, who are likely to respond better to oxytocin treatment.

In February 2010, the promising results of the CNRS team, led by Angela Sirigu, following the intranasal administration of oxytocin to people with autism, open new hopes for reducing their social confinement.
Angela Sirigu's team tested the hypothesis that oxytocin deficiency may be implicated in the social problems of autistics. In collaboration with Dr. Marion Leroyer, from Chenevier hospital in Créteil, they observed social behavior during games and face recognition tests expressing different feelings following the administration of oxytocin in 13 patients suffering from autism without cognitive impairment.

The observation focuses on the behavior of patients with three people during a ball game. The first player is instructed to always return the ball to the patient, the second player does not return the ball, the third refers indifferently the ball to the patient or others. Whenever the patient receives the ball, he makes money. The situation is repeated 10 times to allow the patient to identify the different profiles of his partners and act accordingly. Under placebo, the patients return the ball indistinctly to the three partners. Under oxytocin, patients return the ball to the most cooperating partner, demonstrating an ability to establish social relationships related to the players' profiles.

The research also focused on the degree of attention to the social cues of patients in the context of observing pictures of faces. Studies of social cues show that people with autism preferentially focus on mouths and neglect eyes. This remains true when patients are on placebo; they focus their attention on the mouth or outside the photo. However, after inhaling oxytocin, they look at the faces, especially the eyes, which is a real progress. During testing, researchers measure plasma oxytocin levels before and after the nasal spray. Before nasal spraying, the oxytocin level was very low. Inhalation multiplies it by 2.5 but still remains,

Comment
The results of oxytocin studies show the benefit of using this hormone to develop the social skills of people with autism. However, we will have to wait a little longer to see if all people with autism can benefit from inhaling oxytocin, what are the mechanisms that reduce oxytocin levels in the brain, and is it irreversible? What are the protocols? to observe for inhalation, what dosage, what duration of action, what is the stability over time of social learning worked under oxytocin when the treatment is suppressed, what is the harmfulness of the treatment.