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Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can 'cure' shyness (oxytocin)
The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | June 22, 2008 | Andy Dolan

Posted on 06/23/2008 7:57:18 PM PDT by Stoat

But a 'love drug' produced naturally by the body during sex and childbirth could offer hope to the millions of people blighted by shyness, scientists have said.

Investigators believe oxytocin - a natural hormone that assists childbirth and helps mothers bond with newborn babies - could become a wonder drug for overcoming shyness.

 

Sixty per cent of Britons say they have suffered from shyness and one in 10 say it impedes their daily life.

Researchers in the US, Europe and Australia are now racing to develop commercial forms of the hormone, including a nasal spray.

They believe it could also be turned into a 'wonder drug' to treat a range of personality disorders such as autism, depression and anxiety.

Paul Zak, a professor of neuroscience at California’s Claremont Graduate University said: 'Tests have shown that oxytocin reduces anxiety levels in users. It is a hormone that facilitates social contact between people.

What’s more, it is a very safe product that does not have any side effects and is not addictive.'

Professor Zak has tested the hormone on hundreds of patients. Its main effect is to curb the instincts of wariness and suspicion that cause anxiety.

 

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: boffins; mentalhealth; oxytocin; scientists; shyness
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To: martin_fierro
Intraventricular oxytoxin induces yawning and penile erection in rats

ROTFLMAO!!!

The sort of combined behaviors that do not necessarily make for a 'good date'

"snicker"

21 posted on 06/23/2008 8:42:51 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: UCANSEE2
“What’s more, it is a very safe product that does not have any side effects and is not addictive.’”

Except for falling in love with the next person you see after taking the drug.

Something that will be of great interest to cads and rapists as 'the new date-rape drug' but a living hell for those who take it and experience that effect.....

22 posted on 06/23/2008 8:55:42 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
"I'm ready for my interview..."


23 posted on 06/23/2008 8:57:17 PM PDT by Dumpster Baby (Real men drink mercury)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear; Stoat
We are going to be a planet of game show hosts.

Or a planet of formerly shy adults attempting to breast feed...

24 posted on 06/23/2008 8:58:13 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: buccaneer81
No, thanks. I watched as my wife was induced with Oxytocin. I guess it helped with the delivery of our son, but it turned her into Lucille Ball for a week or so afterward. (Not physically, but she was a ditz.)

Congratulations to you on the arrival of your son  :-)

As to your wife's personality change, she is lucky to have a husband as understanding as yourself, and hopefully she cooked you several nice steak dinners afterwards to illustrate her appreciation for you in a tangible way   :-)

25 posted on 06/23/2008 9:02:42 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: altura
If there are no shy people, how will I get a chance to talk?

LMAO

I suppose you could do what so many rude people do and simply interrupt others when they are talking, but no FReeper could possibly be rude like that....right?

"snicker"

26 posted on 06/23/2008 9:07:33 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: wideminded
Oxytocin is supposedly one factor responsible for the greater ability of women to handle repetitive tasks. Maybe it would be good for ADD.

Indeed....it may also be a cure for the mental disorder known as "liberalism"....from the article:

Previous research into the hormone by Professor Zak suggested that generous people had higher than average levels of oxytocin in the brain, while mean-spirited people have lower than normal levels.

27 posted on 06/23/2008 9:12:07 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
Congratulations to you on the arrival of your son :-) As to your wife's personality change, she is lucky to have a husband as understanding as yourself, and hopefully she cooked you several nice steak dinners afterwards to illustrate her appreciation for you in a tangible way :-)

LOL!

My son is 12 now. His mother and I divorced six years ago.

A result of Oxytocin? Who knows ;-)

28 posted on 06/23/2008 9:13:20 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
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To: Dumpster Baby
"I'm ready for my interview..."

LMAO!

You're hired!  hehe!

But I wouldn't want to be the HR person interviewing the Rosie O'Donnell lookalike who just took a basketful of that drug....oh lawdy....

29 posted on 06/23/2008 9:15:52 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: buccaneer81
His mother and I divorced six years ago.

I'm very sorry to hear that, and I hope that life has gotten better for you since.

A result of Oxytocin? Who knows ;-)
 

A woman's heart is a tempestuous place....I'm certainly no expert on the matter, but personal experience in healthcare suggests to me that sometimes people don't 'completely' recover from drug regimens that have significant personality-altering side effects.  That's just my experience with a few specific cases though, and not the result of clinical studies.

30 posted on 06/23/2008 9:25:08 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: buccaneer81
I guess it helped with the delivery of our son, but it turned her into Lucille Ball for a week or so afterward.

You blame the meds? It couldn't possibly have been stress, exhaustion or the life-changing event itself?

I'd let you know if I were ditzy after the birth of my sons, but I remember so little of it...

31 posted on 06/23/2008 9:48:18 PM PDT by Dianna
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To: Stoat; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...



32 posted on 06/23/2008 9:56:10 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Code Pink should guard against creating stereotypes in the Mincing Community." --Titan Magroyne)
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To: Stoat
"Its main effect is to curb the instincts of wariness and suspicion that cause anxiety."

I live in Prince George's County, about a long rifle shot from DC, and I view instincts of wariness and suspicion as a normal mental state - not something that should be treated.

33 posted on 06/23/2008 10:06:09 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("Ah! but it was something to have at least a choice of nightmares.")
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To: VanShuyten
"Its main effect is to curb the instincts of wariness and suspicion that cause anxiety."

I live in Prince George's County, about a long rifle shot from DC, and I view instincts of wariness and suspicion as a normal mental state - not something that should be treated.
 

LMAO!

Agreed wholeheartedly   :-)

In fact, I would tend to support clinical trials of any drug designed to 'increase' wariness of all things, persons and pronouncements coming out of DC  :-)

34 posted on 06/23/2008 10:19:45 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Slings and Arrows
Thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

img90/7096/thankyoush6.gif

35 posted on 06/23/2008 10:20:45 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat
Intraventricular oxytoxin induces yawning and penile erection in rats ROTFLMAO!!!
The sort of combined behaviors that do not necessarily make for a 'good date'
Talk about sending mixed signals!
36 posted on 06/24/2008 12:16:17 PM PDT by Titan Magroyne ("Drill now drill hard drill often and give old Gaia a cigarette afterwards she deserves it." HerrBlu)
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