Hormone spray could banish shyness

[Sweet Pea]

would you try something like this?
********************************

It was hailed as the "trust" hormone, then the "mind-reading" hormone. Now it seems oxytocin may also help people with social phobia to interact.

Markus Heinrichs at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues are studying 70 people with generalised social phobia, characterised by overwhelming anxiety and self-consciousness in social situations.

Half an hour before undergoing standard cognitive behavioural therapy, which is designed to alter negative thoughts and behaviour, the patients were given a dose of oxytocin by nasal spray.

Preliminary results suggest oxytocin improved their readiness to interact in role-playing and their confidence in tackling social challenges outside the sessions, says Heinrichs, who will present his results at the World Congress of Neuroscience in Melbourne, Australia, this week.

In a separate study, Heinrichs and colleagues report that oxytocin reduces the response of the amygdala - a brain region involved in the fear response - to pictures of fearful, happy or angry faces (Biological Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.03.025). This may explain why patients are more ready to engage in social situations, Heinrichs believes.

From issue 2612 of New Scientist magazine, 18 July 2007, page 18

Hormone Spray Could Banish Shyness

[jaeksmith]

That reminds me - I listened to an article (can't from where) where they talked about using a drug to deter the production of something in the brain... what the effect was, was that it helped mice unlearn fears quicker that they would otherwise have done.

As to Sweet Pea's question:

I think, if I had a good knowledge of the length of the effect, I might experiment with it selectively and see what the results are.

I have, at time, abused chocolate caffeine and sugar when I need to power code. I also tend to get more obnoxious, easily unpleasant (when aggrevated), and have major mood swings. (It's a good thing I tend to work at home).

My fear would be that I'd be too de-inhabited.

[pnoopiepnats]

Oxytocin is the hormone that makes people fall in love isn't it? That is released during sex.

[Sweet Pea]

pnoopiepnats said:

Oxytocin is the hormone that makes people fall in love isn't it? That is released during sex.

yes, it's released during orgasm. it's also released by women during labor and breastfeeding.

[ProdigiousGamer]

i need to get my hands on some of that stuff. the scientists need to get it on the market soon.

[Sweet Pea]

prodigiousgamer said:

i need to get my hands on some of that stuff. the scientists need to get it on the market soon.

i just hope it doesn't have side-effects if it does...i'd hate to have to choose between feeling more social and having my hair turn purple and fall out in chunks or something.

[ProdigiousGamer]

sweetpea said:

prodigiousgamer said:

i need to get my hands on some of that stuff. the scientists need to get it on the market soon.

i just hope it doesn't have side-effects if it does...i'd hate to have to choose between feeling more social and having my hair turn purple and fall out in chunks or something.

we need to test it on lab rats first. only the shy ones that sit in the corner.

[HybridMoment]

I would never try nasal spray.

[Sweet Pea]

hybridmoment said:

I would never try nasal spray.

i'm curious as to what your reasons are.

[HybridMoment]

I don't like chemicals going up my nose.

My doctor once gave my nasal spray for a sinus infection and it burned my nasal cavity so much I never used it again. Comparably the pain was only second to getting acid in my eye (which I experienced a week ago).

[jaeksmith]

Actually I'm not a fan of nasal spray either... I usually just sneeze it back out right after. (My nose hair is 'great' ).

Now it's kind've like when the doctor goes to give you the burst-of-air-in-the-eye glaucoma test and tells you not to wince - it's only air as if I didn't know that and that would help the psychology of the situation.

[audioalone]

prodigiousgamer said:

sweetpea said:

i just hope it doesn't have side-effects if it does...i'd hate to have to choose between feeling more social and having my hair turn purple and fall out in chunks or something.

we need to test it on lab rats first. only the shy ones that sit in the corner.

I'm with you. Too bad them rats (bad grammar on PURPOSE! lol!) - oops I guess they were MICE - from the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy weren't around, lol! Them two I'd like to give a dose or 2 lol (don't mind me, silly mood again - see "rant" thread under "don't you ever talk"?). Maybe it would shut them up! har har! - You know, like some drugs have the opposite effect depending on the person (i.e. Ritalin - a stimulant calming those with ADD, but acts like speed on someone who doesn't have ADD) Frankie Mouse; Benji Mouse; I wish Arthur Dent would have told them to just shut up lol!!!! ;D

Like I said, silly mood so I'm just joking around lol!!!

[Sweet Pea]

hybridmoment said:

I don't like chemicals going up my nose.

My doctor once gave my nasal spray for a sinus infection and it burned my nasal cavity so much I never used it again. Comparably the pain was only second to getting acid in my eye (which I experienced a week ago).

yeah, that sounds nasty. i was thinking it would just be sterilized purified water and the oxytocin...but you're right, they seem to put extra chemicals in everything.

[nats]

I saw it in the paper, i'd love to do the trial or something. It said it should be released in about 4 or 5 years.