In this series, we’ve been using charts of what happens when each hormone is too low, (deficient) when it’s ideal, and when it’s too high. That way you get to see the overall arc of what’s going on in succession. Two weeks ago, we focused on the four most relevant stress hormones. Then last week, we focused on the four major calming hormones. (If you missed those, I will link them at the end.) Now we are covering the last two from Trauma Glossary 3 (section 3). They are oxytocin and vasopressin, our social bonding hormones.
If you’ve done your own research in the past, you might ask, “Wait, aren’t they touted as the leading love hormones?” Well, yes and no. Yes in that we won’t fall in love without them. But no in the sense that they won’t help us fall in love without help from other hormones we’ve so far covered. So, here is the chart we will be using, the so-called “love” hormones.
Oxytocin and vasopressin both have receptors for the brain and receptors for the body. In other words, it’s entirely possible for these two hormones to do what they are supposed to do in the body (ideal levels) while being imbalanced (deficient or too high) in the brain and vice versa.
Oxytocin and Vasopressin for the Body
“I want babies.” That’s what oxytocin is saying to the body. So, in the man’s body, it moves sperm. In the woman’s body, it releases during labor and something else that greatly impacts the bonding experience between mother and infant. It’s responsible for lactation. The mere process of nursing involves the infant being held, skin on skin, and feeding from their mother’s body. It goes without saying that this, alone goes a long way in helping the baby develop secure attachments.
Kidney health is the keyword for vasopressin. It controls our water retention and the balance between our body’s salt, water, and our glucose. Urine is key to understanding the vasopressin levels in the body. Excessive urination is a sign our vasopressin is low, while bloating due to water retention is a sign of it being too high. Imbalanced vasopressin can lead to major health problems, like diabetes insipidus (low) or SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone secretion) or hyponatremia (high).
Oxytocin and Vasopressin as Social Bonding Hormones
Vasopressin
Vasopressin is more ancient than oxytocin. Maybe that’s why it’s a bit sexist on determining which gender has to suffer the psychological effects of too much.
As the highlighted area shows, men with PTSD tend to have high vasopressin to the brain. This causes aggressive behaviors on top of anxiety and depression. Conversely, women with PTSD do not tend to have high vasopressin. Does this mean that only men are aggressive and that all women are angels? No. Does this mean that all men with PTSD will have high vasopressin? Again, no. All it means is that vasopressin is a sexist little hormone when it comes to trauma.
Both genders have vasopressin. And high levels are not exclusive to trauma. High levels to the brain simply mean it’s more enhanced. But to better understand this, let’s have a look at its basic purpose.
Vasopressin as our first social hormone
In primitive times, safety in numbers was the first rule of survival. So, the desire to bond and cooperate was essential. It also activated whenever the tribe came together and acted as one to take a risk. Think of soldiers charging into the battlefield as one example. For it still activates in these types of group risks today.
Vasopressin’s keyword is assert but it’s a specific type of asserting. It’s how we communicate our needs effectively. It maintains the balance between autonomy and cooperation so that we bond without losing our identity. It also releases when guarding and protecting those we hold dear to us. This includes protecting the bonds we create with others. So, when all these traits are enhanced in men without PTSD, what do we get?
This article on the prairie dogs explains how it works. The prairie dogs were observed in their natural habitat. The purpose was to understand how oxytocin and vasopressin work together in mating and group involvement. What they found was that the male prairie dogs with high vasopressin are more aggressive than assertive. They jealously guard their mates and their food. And they are more inclined to seek alpha status (cooperation by a strong desire to lead it).
Oxytocin
Oxytocin’s keyword is social memory. While true, we release more oxytocin around familiar faces and while bonding with others, oxytocin actually has a dual nature. Remember what was said at the beginning, about the social bonding hormones having different receptors to the brain and the body? Well, this article describes an experiment with mice. I don’t even like mice but I felt sorry for the mice in this experiment.
One group of mice was missing the oxytocin receptors to the brain while another group had an increased number of receptors to the brain. One at a time, each mouse was put into a cage with a gang of aggressive mice. Each mouse was in there long enough to have its butt kicked by the aggressive mice. Then they were taken out for six hours and promptly placed right back into the cage with the same mice. Those who had no receptors to the brain were calm, as they had no memory of the attack. Those whose brains were overloaded with oxytocin were scared to death and went out of their way to avoid the aggressive mice.
This experiment proved that oxytocin is not necessarily a happy hormone. Our ability to engage with others and form secure bonds depend on our past experiences. “Social defeat” type memories, from public humiliation to schoolyard bullying can cause more anxiety than comfort in real time human connections. No wonder then, that avoidance and social anxiety (Trauma Glossary 2) are so common in complex-PTSD. Repeated abuse by our parent or spouse is the ultimate social defeat.
Oxytocin and Traumatic Experiences
Now, looking at the chart through the lens of traumatic experiences. Deficient levels explain how some of us have memory loss or even giant, crater-sized holes in our traumatic past when trying to recall it. The “good news” is it inhibits stress. The bad news is we need our memories for future forecasting. When oxytocin is too high, those painful memories are too vivid and it creates a high-stress outlook. Catastrophizing is also in Trauma Glossary 2. It’s our “false prophet syndrome,” where we imagine every worst case scenario and then treat it as though it’s a foregone conclusion.
How Trauma Impacts Our Social Bonding Hormones
Since primitive times, our social bonds have been our greatest protection against threats. Recovery from trauma always involves reconnecting with our fellow humans. And our child development hinges on the attachment bond we form with our parents. No amount of isolation or distracting activities will change our human DNA. As humans, we are social creatures and from that, there is no escape. But that’s also why relationship trauma (toxic, abusive partners or parents) is the most difficult type of trauma to treat.
We need good social memories (oxytocin) of trusting others who have heard and validated our needs (vasopressin, asserting) and that we can cooperate without losing our identity. Without this foundation in place, the other hormones (chiefly, dopamine and serotonin) won’t work as effectively at securing healthy attachments.
Further Reading
Two articles ago, we covered the stress hormones from low, ideal to high. They are: dopamine, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (adrenaline). Dopamine is the chief influencer of our hormones. If we balance our dopamine levels, our other hormones can start improving. That article is here.
In the last article, we covered the calming hormones from low, ideal to high. They are: serotonin, GABA, endorphins, and melatonin. Exercise, nutrition, and rest are key to balancing these hormones. That article is here.
Speaking of social memories, there are four visual aids here on how our memories affect us. It might give you further insights.