The Downside of Love

Are you familiar with the term Oxytocin? This is also known as the love hormone that is released during hugging, touching, and orgasm in both genders. In short it is the hormone you get from being in love or engaging in physical contact with someone you love. It is also known as cuddle hormone, monogamy hormone, or trust-me drug.

Some psychologists prescribe oxytocin off-label to help some people with autism and schizophrenia. It eases the uneasiness of those people. But researchers from Concordia’s Centre for Research in Human Development claimed that prescribing oxytocin is not a good idea. They said that having too much oxytocin can have its side effects.

Too much oxytocin results in oversensitivity to the emotions of other people. An experiment was tested on 82 young adults who have no signs of autism or schizophrenia. Half of them are given doses of oxytocin while others are offered placebo. The participants did an emotion identification security test in which researchers compare their emotional states. Those who took oxytocin doses showed greater emotional intensity in their faces.

Researchers suggest that people who do not need oxytocin must not be given dosage since it will greatly affect their emotions. These people will tend to be easily irritated with small things or it can tend people to overreact. An example can be that when someone stares at you for even a short time, you tend to interpret a lot of things. You also tend to be more paranoid to the point that seeing someone in a dark place will make you think that he/she will do something to hurt or kill you.

Oxytocin is really a great help for those who really need it. But it is not advisable for those who do not have autism or schizophrenia. Who knows, oxytocin may also be the reason why other couples engage in fights more often on small things since it makes them easily hurt and sensitive. I am not stating in this article that you should prevent making physical contact or to engage in a relationship, for it really has a lot of benefits. Having someone by your side to take care of you and to be with you in good and bad times is really worth living for. After all, some says that love is all you need.

Blogpost by: Stephen Ko

Reference:

Concordia University. (2014, January 22). 'Love hormone' oxytocin carries unexpected side effect. ScienceDaily.Retrieved February 8, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140122112626.htm