A Tale of Two Hormones

Have you ever wondered why snuggling feels good?

The reasons are primarily related to the action of two hormones in the body, Oxytocin and Cortisol.

A lot of people know Oxytocin as the “love hormone” because it creates feelings of trust and helps us feel attached to other people. But it does more than just help people bond. Oxytocin reduces depression and anxiety in humans. It also appears to reduce inflammation – which has positive effects on general health and wound healing. It also creates a sense of contentment and calmness.

The other hormone snuggling affects is cortisol. Cortisol is often known as the stress hormone, and it does a bunch of unpleasant things to the body. It reduces bone formation, weakens the activity of the immune system, and slows wound healing. It disrupts sleep patterns and increases stress, and long-term exposure can damage cells in the hippocampus which impairs learning, memory, and retrieval of stored information.

None of that sounds like we want, right?

Snuggling increases Oxytocin and decreases Cortisol, creating a sense of relaxation, calmness, and contentment. If that sounds like the way you feel after a good snuggle, now you know why. If you’re looking to feel more that way, come snuggle with me!