Oxytocin vs. Cortisol: Stress
2nd Period
16 September 2014 Oxytocin vs. Cortisol: Stress Stress is an inevitable factor of a human’s everyday life as it can positively influence one to be motivated and accomplish activities or it can be an off-putting setback that leaves a person to be dejected, which takes a harmful toll on the body. Either way, stress on oneself is an essential state of mentality that allows an individual to properly function—whether or not it benefits one to achieve all the set goals or pressure one to pull out the remaining hair left on one’s head. Stress can heavily affect an individual’s actions and emotions as it may cause anxiety. In fact, a hormone known as cortisol plays a heavy role into why a person may be feeling stressed out. It has been known that heightened levels of cortisol amplify the “risk for depression, mental illness, and lower life expectancy” (Bergland). Cortisol is a typically known as a hormone that induces stress that also assists one during an individual’s fight-or-flight situation to counteract any seeming threat that your brain processes. After the threat passes, the “hormone levels need to return to normal” so it goes through homeostasis (Mayo Clinic Staff). The natural reaction is that the adrenaline and cortisol activities will plunge in substitution for the body’s blood pressure and heart rate to come back regularly with the help of another hormone called oxytocin. This hormone help the body regulate homeostasis is popularly known as the love or trust hormone. It is the exact opposite of cortisols as it reverses its effect as it can be seen in the example of what happens during and after a fight-or-flight-situation. Furthermore, it can be seen that the relationship between the two, despite its distinctive characteristics is to help the body maintain homeostasis. If one hormone only exists without the other counteracting it—humans might as well have died off due to either being too sentimental (caused by cortisol) or have been too nice to have defend oneself against predators (caused by having too much oxytocin). This anecdote explains reason why it is essential for humans to have both oxytocin and cortisol! In conclusion, the two opposite hormones oxytocin and cortisol are detrimental hormones a human must have to suitably function. Oxytocin is seen as the positive hormone as it leads to the stimulus of feeling happy, attached, and love. In the case of stress; oxytocin aids the process of the body returning back to normal after a fight or flight situation. It lowers the adrenaline that caused one’s heart rate and blood temperature to rise. This illustrates oxytocin’s role in the body as it attempts to remain homeostasis. While, in contrast, cortisol is seen as the opposite of oxytocin as it leads to stress, medical conditions, bad relationship, and social isolation. However, after researching more in depth, it is evident to say that the two hormones correlate with each other to maintain homeostasis within an individual’s body. Works Cited Bergland, Christopher. "Cortisol: Why “The Stress Hormone” Is Public Enemy No. 1." The Athlete's Way. "The Stress Hormone" Is Public Enemy No.1. 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes -way/201301/cortisol-why-the-stress-hormone-is-public-enemy-no-1> Mayo Clinic Staff. "Stress Management: Chronic Stress Puts Your Health at Risk."MayoClinic.org. Mayo Clinic. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037>