Lowers stress
Studies show that when people are under physical stress like pain or restraint, oxytocin levels rise in the blood. This might stop your nervous system from shutting down when you’re faced with something hard or scary and lower your stress hormone cortisol.

Lowers anxiety
This peptide might help lower anxiety as well. In one study, people who were given oxytocin as a nasal spray before public speaking had lower anticipation anxiety. In another study, some people were given oxytocin nasal spray and a friend for support during a social stress test. Those who took oxytocin had lower anxiety than those who didn’t. Those who both took oxytocin medicine and had the support of a friend had the lowest anxiety and more calmness.

Builds trust
Other studies show that oxytocin helps you feel trusting and generous. The hormone helps you correctly identify faces as either positive or negative and lower response to threatening faces. This helps you build trust and connection with others.

Affects mood
People who have depression might also have changes in oxytocin levels and production, but these effects aren’t fully understood. While this peptide might be lower in those with depression, it’s not clear that taking oxytocin medication helps. ‌

Build connections
This peptide helps form social bonds, which give a burst of feel-good oxytocin. It’s thought that a lack of connection is a form of stress that causes your body to release oxytocin and send you looking for interaction with others.

This peptide is responsible for sexual arousal and orgasm. Nipple stimulation can cause a surge of oxytocin, which leads to lubrication and arousal in those with a vagina.‌ In those with a penis, oxytocin causes erection, increases sperm count, and moves sperm via ejaculation. Men have high levels of oxytocin during orgasm. Nasal oxytocin medicine raises the perception of arousal during masturbation.‌ People who have good, healthy sex lives are healthier and live longer than those without it. The theory is that this peptide from sex promotes good health. But it might also be that sex can deepen relationships and bonding, which also involves this peptide.