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Oxytocin: A Cure for Shyness and Anti-Social Behavior?

time.com — Without oxytocin people would be far less inclined to seek social interaction, let alone fall in love and mate for life. The brain releases gobs of it during orgasm, mothers are awash in it during breastfeeding and, in clinical trials, a spritz of oxytocin has been shown to reduce anxiety, increase feelings and even ease the symptoms of shyness.

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MakiMaki 82 days ago, made popular 82 days ago

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hackop, on 07/21/2008, -12/+104I'd be interested to see if this could actually be used to aid in the treatment of real diseases (the article mentions autism some). However, "curing" shyness and anti-social behavior is just ridiculous. Some people are naturally shy (or somewhat anti-social), so what? I happen to be one of those people who likes to avoid crowds and talking to people. I don't consider it a sickness or something which needs correcting.

It's so frustrating that everyone wants to "cure" any slight social abnormality. Not that that's what this article is aimed at, but nevertheless, it's an irritating development in this country (USA).
- DeathJux, on 07/21/2008, -3/+27"Some people are naturally shy (or somewhat anti-social), so what? I happen to be one of those people who likes to avoid crowds and talking to people."
  
  You're on Digg. You're likely in the majority.
- NodOfficer, on 07/21/2008, -4/+22But we want you to fit in.
  Don't you want to fit in?
  
  Become one with The Many.
  Become Happy.
  Join your friends.
  Join us.
  - sockpuppets, on 07/21/2008, -1/+14Those aren't tentacles, they're gentacles!
  - orph3us, on 07/21/2008, -3/+3be all you can be?
    in the aaaarmy now ;-D
    or is that marines?
  - DraxusD, on 07/21/2008, -1/+4It's the army.
    
    The few, the proud, the marines.
  - caosheng, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0really?
  - NodOfficer, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Well that game reference reference flew over a lot of heads.
- subxero37, on 07/21/2008, -1/+23Hackop, marvelously said.
  I would digg your post twice but I can't.
  So I thought about telling a few friends to digg the post, but then I remembered I don't have any.
- ligyron, on 07/21/2008, -3/+37If you're not a social butterfly in America, you're a defective human being
  - GlassAgate, on 07/21/2008, -1/+2In a windstorm, a butterfly is screwed.
    If your somewhere else, and not in the
    windstorm, your in a better place.
- ShaneMcDeath, on 07/21/2008, -0/+55I appreciate how you view your shyness but you need to appreciate how other people view their shyness. People who aren't confident in social settings are perfectly entitled to want to overcome their fears. Be under no illusions, a cure for shyness would be absolutely life changing stuff for many, many people.
  - samyoungguitar, on 07/21/2008, -11/+2Still no substitute for manning up and overcoming those barriers yourself. There is no substitute for REAL confidence. If you take this drug your still just addressing a symptom, not the problem.
  - GliTCH82, on 07/21/2008, -0/+8I call *****, what if the real problem is a deficiency of oxytocin related to some unknown disease, or possibly even a known disease like Autism? Refusing to accept medicine as a viable solution does not make you more of a badass.
- Melf26, on 07/21/2008, -0/+42There's a difference between being introverted and something like social anxiety disorder.
  - hobophobe, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1To an extent. There's also overlap. Let's not pigeonhole a whole spectrum of behaviors.
- oMeSSiaHo, on 07/21/2008, -0/+11Just like anything else there are various degrees of the problem. Some people are just shy, others fear being around other people. Just because you are not as bad doesnt mean others have real issues. Ignorant over simplification keeps people from the help they need.
- Hockey13, on 07/21/2008, -2/+24"but nevertheless, it's an irritating development in this country (USA)."
  
  Am I the only one who finds this statement ridiculous? At what point in any country's history has abnormality been met with welcoming arms by the majority of those who consider themselves "normal?"
  
  And on top of that, social hierarchy isn't something that is uniquely American. I come on Digg all the time to find comments like, "Only in America do they..." when 99.9999% of the time the bit that follows is a trait that is common across all of humanity.
  - Nisi, on 07/22/2008, -0/+0Only on digg...
- ralphthemagi, on 07/21/2008, -5/+3Hmmm. I don't know. I think you might be sick. Have you checked your spam mail lately? According to my spam mail, you are very sick. You need these pills. Also, your penis might be too small, so you should get some pills for that too. And do you need a mortgage? No money down.
  
  In some sense, modern psychiatry in the US is just as bad as Scientology. Both take ordinary people off the street, tell them that they are sick and need help, and then proceed to rape their wallet. The only difference is that at least with psychiatry you get drugs. With Scientology you get stupid.
  - rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2There's something to that. I'd guess that 200 years from now our current brain research/medicine will be written as "this isn't medicine, it's medievalism."
- spoodigity, on 07/21/2008, -1/+9I think its easy to knock these kind of drugs because people get the impression that it is repressing what makes you an individual. But I believe in actuality that they can help you to be yourself. You may like to avoid crowds, and thats fine, but there are some people that can be completely debilitated in social situations and may want the help of a drug like this.
  
  I myself am on antidepressants because I was really sick at one point. By no means do these drugs make me feel like some kind of happy zombie.
  
  I guess what I'm saying is don't automatically assume that your situation applies to everyone else.
- Risingashes, on 07/21/2008, -0/+9As a person with minor autism I'd actually be interested in trialing the drug simply to see if my general annoyance with the majority of society is a personally trait or a result of my condition.
  
  Personally I think my reasoning is solid, but I guess you never know how your mind can justify things.
  - GliTCH82, on 07/21/2008, -0/+3Take it from a person who has tried a myriad of psychoactive drugs as treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, your perception of society and people has a lot to do with the way your brain responds to naturally produced chemicals in your body, and their quantity and effectiveness are merely a factor of genetic predisposition (and quite possibly affected by disease).
    
    Psychiatry and psychology are far from exact sciences, but we've come a long way to understanding how someone's personality and their behavioral characteristics, are not only a product of the sort of environment they were raised in but also the abundance (or lack thereof) of naturally occurring chemicals in their brain at the time of a critical event.
- desert88, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2You can try it. Its not classified as a drug since it is a hormone and it isnt fda regulated. I believe you can buy it online in nasal spray form. I hope it works for you because I would also be interested in testing it if my psychiatrist thinks it has potential, but then again they just knock everything they havent learned about.
- LuxFX, on 07/21/2008, -1/+5I agree. I'm all for helping people with autism or other actual anti-social disorder. But I am introverted, slightly ochlophobic, and happy to remain so -- except that people these days seem to view introvertedness as a problem. Some even view it as a disorder, and maybe even as a dangerous psychosis. (oooh, oooh, he doesn't talk with anybody and keeps to himself all day! He doesn't have any friends! When is he going to just snap?)
  
  So while I'm in full support of the research for the real, actual help I know it could give people with real, actual problems, my fear is that any publicity of it (like this article) will broaden the line for some between what is and isn't socially acceptable, and put introversion even more solidly into the category of "that which should be cured" for what feels to us to be the extroverted majority. Because regardless of whether or not extroverts are really the majority or not, they are at least the louder half.
- desert88, on 07/21/2008, -0/+7As a person with moderate social anxiety I can say that any kind of supplement that could help me overcome it would be life changing. Also my nephew has severe autism and it sounds like this could potentially improve his life.
  - Ridikul, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4I have social anxiety also and I agree with you.
- lfroker, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4You sound like an x-men.
- Paulish, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4I am like you now, but I think it is different for some people. There are those who get serious physical reactions in public situations. They often get a sort of fight or flight reaction and they sweaty and smelly and act awkwardly (not on purpose). I used to be like that sorta, and it was not fun. I just kinda learned to enjoy other peoples' presence, but I still dislike large groups of people.
- retrac1325, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4Its like X-Men
- FlyingSpaghetti, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2"..there is always soma, delicious soma, half a gramme for a half-holiday, a gramme for a week-end, two grammes for a trip to the gorgeous East, three for a dark eternity on the moon..."
- 808ethan, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2Thats a fair opinion. I am an anti-social person myself too, but I would pay money to have that changed. Every career I've looked into, the guy that is a genius makes 10% of the guy that is really social, because he can do management, handle office politics and make industry connections. Salesmen are basically highschool drop outs that make six figure salaries for being socially outgoing.
  
  I want a piece of that too!
- specialK16, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1At OP: Well, you seriously don't know what you are talking about, as well as the other 90 people who dugg you. Do some research around, there are a lot of personality disorders that can lead to major shyness and depression.
CDWMobile, on 07/21/2008, -14/+10Damn it, I hate digging one of MakiMaki's stories - but this one seems useful....
- ianthepetrock, on 07/21/2008, -3/+14Does it really matter who submitted the story? If you like it, digg it.
- willynilly, on 07/21/2008, -0/+3It's also a months-old story that already made the front page of Digg.
vovka3, on 07/21/2008, -3/+60Have they heard about booze?
- diespectra, on 07/21/2008, -0/+26I drink alone.
  - thirteenthcor, on 07/21/2008, -0/+6Give this man a medal.
- chispito, on 07/21/2008, -0/+3That was my second thought.
  
  My first was, oh crap, another date rape drug.
  - mrbungleface, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0Yah... but if oxytocin came in the form of yellow, blue, purple pills with stars and other cheesy designs on them...... id pop a few lol
    
    oh wait.... they have those hahahaha MMMMMMDMA lol
sanman, on 07/21/2008, -9/+25women can have orgasms during breastfeeding

more women are now breastfeeding in public

exhibitionist sex FTW!
- TheTruthHurts, on 07/21/2008, -0/+3you killed it , me like ./. lol
  - PosedMagnet, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0What?
- Harbinger67, on 07/21/2008, -2/+11I'm no mother...or woman, but I'm pretty sure that if I got off on feeding my kid, I'd feel pretty bad about myself.
  - Gman1223, on 07/21/2008, -0/+7It has nothing to do with the child. It's the fact that the breasts are tied to the genitals by nerves and such. Orgasms can cause a women who is breast feeding to shoot milk out of her breasts. It's also why women also find it arousing to have their breasts fondled during intercourse (if a women tells you different, then she has no idea what she's talking about). Most women become aroused when they breast feed.
  - Mootabolife, on 07/21/2008, -1/+10Oh ya baby... just like that!
  - Paulish, on 07/21/2008, -0/+5Why? It is win/win. No one is being harmed. Your not scarring the baby. It's MEANT to happen as far as nature goes. Do you think people would be as inclined to feed their child if it caused physical pain?
- Sornos, on 07/21/2008, -1/+4Women cannot orgasm during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin which as the article mentions strengthens bonds. Oxytocin is also released during orgasm. Same chemical /= same process.
  - rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -1/+2Know that about all women do you...
- willynilly, on 07/21/2008, -5/+1Spelling "WTF" backward: not funny then, not funny now!
UltramegaOK, on 07/21/2008, -3/+55Alcohol = Liquid Confidence
- Jhiaxuz, on 07/21/2008, -6/+10Being an alcoholic is just a side effect. No biggie.
  - kingvik, on 07/21/2008, -0/+9Don't go to AA, side effect gone.
  - rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -1/+3Reminds me of "I'm not an alcoholic b/c alcoholics go to meetings."
- machocheese34, on 07/21/2008, -2/+21How about some liquid courage Mr. Dent?
- Hinducow28, on 07/21/2008, -1/+10I am DEFINITELY not afraid of the ***** POLICE right now!
seastobble, on 07/21/2008, -13/+13also, cocaine
- machocheese34, on 07/21/2008, -2/+12Cocaine's a helluva drug
JoeB4ever, on 07/21/2008, -11/+66at first I thought it said "oxycotton"
- oschmittyo, on 07/21/2008, -4/+0me to. wow ahha
- hardD, on 07/21/2008, -6/+8oxycotton xanax bars percocet and loretab
  valium morphine patches ecstasy and it all up for grabs
  - WELLDOITLIVE, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2Lil Wyte, because the majority of Digg has no idea why you just said that.
- Hockey13, on 07/21/2008, -3/+35I'm pretty sure the actual name of the stuff is "OxyContin" which stands for Oxycodone Continuous release.
  
  I could be wrong...or maybe the slang spelling is common now?
  - mecharabbit, on 07/21/2008, -20/+4Two different things. Oxytocin is a naturally occurring chemical in the body. Did you actually read the article, or do you just digg every article that you think is about powerful pain killers?
  - andydude117, on 07/21/2008, -2/+6no you're right dude
  - JoeB4ever, on 07/21/2008, -2/+8yup, you're right. Firefox even picked up the misspelling.
  - Hockey13, on 07/21/2008, -2/+8@mecarabbit
    
    I was responding to JoeB4ever's comment. Did you actually read the thread, or do you just respond in a dick way to every comment that you read out of context?
  - chevyorange, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2you're right. Oxycontin is the correct spelling. Oxycottin is what people who don't read call it.
- Waynerz99, on 07/21/2008, -2/+8I didn't realize it WASN'T oxycottin until I read this comment...and the next 3/4 following who also thought the same.
  - Jeffrr, on 07/21/2008, -2/+5It's oxycontin
    only retards call it oxycotton/cottin
  - thirteenthcor, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2Yeah I thought it was just another spelling error that are rife on digg posts...
ligyron, on 07/21/2008, -5/+30Any relation to oxycontin?
- sonorsven, on 07/21/2008, -1/+9Nope, oxycontin is the brandname for an extended release form of oxycodone.
- elipabst, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4No. Oxycontin is a small molecule opiate compound, like morphine or codeine. Oxytocin is a small protein hormone produced naturally by the body
- sx66gns, on 07/21/2008, -3/+1No , But it's THE *****! Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie!!!
gogog0, on 07/21/2008, -12/+28and here come the flood of comments from idiots who think they are the only one to notice that oxytocin is a similar word to oxycontin
- heliox, on 07/21/2008, -9/+3You're the idiot leading the way. Carry that banner high idiot.
  - gogog0, on 07/21/2008, -2/+9yea because there aren't 2 replies right before me making that comparison and trying to be funny. idiot.
- bbqsalad, on 07/21/2008, -2/+5Idiots
- chispito, on 07/21/2008, -5/+4Yes but your post is the most annoying.
- scubachef11, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4You think you're so smart.
caosheng, on 07/21/2008, -4/+0it is true?
viewofeverlast, on 07/21/2008, -5/+31I thought it said "Oxycontin: A Cure for Shyness...", then was immediately disappointed when I realized I was wrong.
theantirobot, on 07/21/2008, -4/+9Take our druggs, they're legal and will make you feel gooood.
- Hockey13, on 07/21/2008, -0/+7"druggs"
  
  Is that what they give out at Digg meetups?
zmigliozzi, on 07/21/2008, -1/+9You know what also is a cure? Growing up and also for a quicker solution, alcohol. Yay for prescription drug dependency.
- oMeSSiaHo, on 07/21/2008, -1/+12And alcohol dependency is better?
  
  I actually dugg you up so people can see how stupid you are.
  - rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4Though I think his view is seen as normal by most Americans.
- mrsammercer, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4Sometimes you don't just "grow out" of it.
- Wicaeed, on 07/21/2008, -1/+0That *****'s beard could knock you out cold!
Drogoganor, on 07/21/2008, -3/+8This isn't ***** months old or anything.
- MooseTaag, on 07/21/2008, -5/+3It hardly matters how old it is if no one has seen it. Years, I can maybe understand your whining, but this is only a few months. Stop being an *****.
  - Drogoganor, on 07/21/2008, -1/+3It was widely publicised on big news agencies such as the BBC and was on Digg several times. I don't particularly want to read stories dugg by people who don't follow the news and/or have just joined the internet.
  - MooseTaag, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2Ah, well then, sorry. Back to my cave...
  - chispito, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1@Drog - but people come here because they don't want to read all the stuff on real news sites they disagree with. You really think the average commenter around here is well informed?
popstation, on 07/21/2008, -3/+8Get the ***** out of the interwebz... best cure for shyness and anti-social behavior.
Pusod, on 07/21/2008, -5/+3Oxycontin... is a wonder drug that works wonders... or is that Bayer aspirin... I can never tell the difference.
M00nshield, on 07/21/2008, -1/+9I've been shy my whole life and would love to try this stuff. not saying it's the right choice for everyone, but I think, in general, outgoing people are more successful in life, based on likability.
- chispito, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1I'm shy, too, but I'd rather just have a beer.
- Onyxblaze, on 07/21/2008, -1/+2>.< sigggghhhhhhhh
- samyoungguitar, on 07/21/2008, -1/+2Those barriers are there for you to overcome yourself. These drugs just build false confidence. There is no substitute for overcoming these barriers and gaining true confidence by yourself.. but if you want to take the easy way out..
  - elipabst, on 07/21/2008, -2/+3To play devil's advocate, how do you know there isn't an underlying neurochemical explanation for why people are shy, like they just have lower levels of certain neurotransmitters that produce sensations you would describe as "confidence". If you watch very small children closely, you'll notice that some just tend to be more outgoing than others. I find it very hard to believe that it's completely explained by life experiences.
  - rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1As well, there may be situations where a person doesn't have an underlying neurochemical explanation but they do have a behavior that interferes with their quality of life.
    It's possible to use these drugs as a tool to establish a new baseline. If a person can use a drug to get "outside the box" that is their current state of feelings and experience what it's like to be in a state that feels better to them, then the feeling they are trying to achive isn't undefined. If they can experiement with new behaviors and recognize what brings them closer to the desired baseline, and what moves them away from it, the drug could be very useful.
  - gbates31, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1I'm 24 and horribly shy my whole life. My mom told me this story involving me at a no more than a few years old where we would be at the grocery store and the cashier would smile, wave, and say "Hi", but rather than me showing some positive social reaction, I would look away from them and pretend that person didn't exist.
    
    One of my earliest memories was during preschool. Some kid came up to me and asked me my name. Rather than do the normal thing like say my name then ask what his name was, I didn't speak. So he punched me in the stomach. Ahhh... Good times.
    
    As far as I'm concerned some people are born shy for whatever reason.
alimighty1, on 07/21/2008, -1/+10There's hope for us yet fellow diggers!
AlanFang, on 07/21/2008, -2/+3I think the TV show "House" disproves these trials.
0Xonox0, on 07/21/2008, -3/+15Oh it says oxyTOCIN
Seann7656, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1Until I read this comment I did too
speel, on 07/21/2008, -1/+8What about St. Johns wort?
Ransack, on 07/21/2008, -4/+7Another example of the pharmaceutical industry making $$$ while treating psychological problems with drugs. Anti-depressants are the biggest selling drug in north america despite the fact that the vast majority of studies show they dont cure depression any better than a placebo (sugar pill).

Theres more to the brain than chemistry. If you have psychological issues, theres WAY MORE EFFECTIVE ways of dealing with them.
- Daemion, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4That's a ridiculous and dangerous over-generalization. Mood disorders can result from a wide variety of causes, both emotional and biochemical, and, depending on the individual patient, can respond very well to pharmacotherapy. True, antidepressants work better for some people than others, but they definitely have been shown to be superior to placebos. See: B. Arroll, S. MacGillivray, S. Ogston, I. Reid, F. Sullivan, B. Williams and I. Crombie, Efficacy and tolerability of tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs compared with placebo for treatment of depression in primary care: a meta-analysis, Ann. Fam. Med. 3 (2005), pp. 449–456
  - Ransack, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1You missed my post where i said the "vast majority" of studies. So you picked up one of the minority that shows a benefit. So what? The majority of studies show no benefit. http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=do ...
    
    What is ridiculous and dangerous is that you can walk into any doctors office, tell them you feel kinda "blah" and not really happy, and walk out with a prescription for powerful drugs that completely alter your psyche, increase your risk for suicide, and have zero proven benefit.
  - Daemion, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Did you notice that your own source rebuts your argument? To whit, "The problem with the polarized and absolute "antidepressant drugs don't work" reading of these results is that it is too broad of a conclusion to make." You are misinterpreting your evidence, as the article you link to so helpfully clarifies.
PSotter, on 07/21/2008, -2/+5I love that oxytocin is one of the chemicals that is implicated in mother-child bonding after childbirth. Biology is so cool.
Oh, and, sorry oxycontin fans. Go get a life.
- brainwash, on 07/21/2008, -1/+2*****, I never knew misreading things meant that someone didn't have a life....
TheTruthHurts, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1time for a refill
Owwmykneecap, on 07/21/2008, -1/+3I know a girl called Oxana whose Nickname was Oxytocin.

You can guess why.
PeckerSlap, on 07/21/2008, -4/+1***** article, misleading title
oMeSSiaHo, on 07/21/2008, -0/+20asocial
1. not sociable or gregarious; withdrawn from society.
2. indifferent to or averse to conforming to conventional standards of behavior.
3. inconsiderate of others; selfish; egocentric.

antisocial
1. unwilling or unable to associate in a normal or friendly way with other people: He's not antisocial, just shy.
2. antagonistic, hostile, or unfriendly toward others; menacing; threatening: an antisocial act.
3. opposed or detrimental to social order or the principles on which society is constituted: antisocial behavior.
4. Psychiatry. of or pertaining to a pattern of behavior in which social norms and the rights of others are persistently violated.

Because I know those terms are going to be misused in this thread.
bromanct, on 07/21/2008, -0/+5Yay, more prescriptions for everyone! Pharma $$ FTW!!!!!
- newms32, on 07/21/2008, -2/+3Do you have something against people who want to fix their problems? It ain't gonna happen with some patent-free wheatgrass.
- gplpark92, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2pharm ass?
- willynilly, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1Hey hey, spelling "WTF" backward just wasn't ever funny!
getbusyliving, on 07/21/2008, -1/+13I could definitely use some Oxytocin right now, because I think you all are a bunch of assholes.
Ne007, on 07/21/2008, -0/+15MEDICATION FOR EVERYBODY GOD DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!
- rocktopotomus, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1oh noes! stop whining and go drink some booze.
  - Ne007, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1sorry I don't drink or smoke.
  - rocktopotomus, on 07/25/2008, -0/+1i guess that makes you better than everyone?
slavery10264, on 07/21/2008, -1/+28I release gobs of something during orgasm...
- BedPost, on 07/21/2008, -0/+10Those are gobs of shame, Timmy. Back to your room.
Hoofenhoffer, on 07/21/2008, -0/+8"But if a shot of oxytocin is what you want, there are other, more natural ways to boost the hormone's production. Massage, petting a dog, even eating food with a friend can trigger the chemical's release, says Zak. So can sensorimotor or "mind-body" therapies, like breathing exercises and yoga, which help people cope with their emotions by controlling their body's physical reaction to stress and fear. "We should look at other ways to juice the system without having to put two spoons of liquid up your nose every four hours," Zak says."

I'm pretty sure masturbating works just as well.
runnernerd, on 07/21/2008, -0/+15But if you overdose you'll wanna cuddle with everything.
- SuperDominO83, on 07/21/2008, -0/+7I cuddle with my weighted companion cube.
atbnet, on 07/21/2008, -8/+4Why do we need a cure for shyness? Stop medicating us for non health problems for ***** sake. I'm somewhat shy/quiet type and it gets easier if you just go out of your comfort zone and go to clubs and bars and socialize. Throw in some liquid courage and you'll be ***** fat girls in no time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtA4KTQmiFk Viacom didn't kill this one yet.
- pennvneff, on 07/21/2008, -2/+9Liquid courage? Oh you mean some alcohol. Yes, people don't ever self-medicate with alcohol do they?
mecharabbit, on 07/21/2008, -1/+12Do they make any sort of oxytocin inhibitor? I have a couple of ex-girlfriends who are a little TOO sociable and outgoing towards the other fellas, if you know what I mean.
- desert88, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Actually an inhibitor would probably make them more outgoing. Inhibitors inhibit the chemical from being reabsorbed therefore more of the chemical is present in the brain. For example SSRIs.
  - mecharabbit, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Well, that's a re-uptake inhibitor, which I know a lot about since I'm on one. I'm talking about a production inhibitor. Man, this is getting way too technical for a comment that I intended as a joke.
- echelonist, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1What you meant was 'oxytocin antagonist' .. and there's some patent for that but no drug yet. That said it is intended for treatment of premature ejaculation, which I'm sure you don't suffer with your Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor ;)
digglet08, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1diggers flock
jimmiss, on 07/21/2008, -1/+3The military uses it to interrogate people.
- dmjarrington, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2I'd like to believe that...
  
  Source?
  - jimmiss, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1Okay.
    
    "Some may worry about the prospect that political operators will generously spray the crowd with oxytocin at rallies of their candidates," said neurologist Antonio R. Damasio of the University of Iowa, who has long studied the neurobiology of human emotions and who wrote a commentary accompanying the study.
    
    and
    
    Oxytocin might be a useful tool in interrogations of terrorists. By engendering trust it might be a useful component in a truth serum. On the other hand, slow release and long half life oxytocin blockers embedded in a person's body could be used by spies and others at risk of capture and prolonged interrogation.
    
    All Googleable.
pennvneff, on 07/21/2008, -8/+3Isn't Oxy what Rush Limbaugh is addicted to? I think I remember him getting his maid to order it for him or something.
- pintomp3, on 07/21/2008, -0/+4that was oxycontin. he was doctor shopping in order to get it. the ACLU came to his aid, because florida prosecutors wanted to talk to his doctors. yes, the same ACLU he considers evil.
waynechng, on 07/21/2008, -8/+3So Rush Limbaugh's excuses for his addiction was that he was anxious, unfeeling, and shy?
- newms32, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0you might want to double-check how you arrived at that conclusion, bro
phillykid162, on 07/21/2008, -1/+8Oh my god, they've discovered soma!

"All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects."
s4forum18, on 07/21/2008, -5/+2This it NOT Oxycontin but rather Oxytocin...SOOO not as cool..
- KillsTheWeak, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0Ya Oxycontin is the good *****, melt some down, slap it in a syringe and kiss your evening goodbye.
PosedMagnet, on 07/21/2008, -5/+0I highly doubt Oxycontin does that.
xadious, on 07/21/2008, -2/+5The answer: when you're amongst a crowd and you feel a bout of shyness coming on - masturbate! The orgasm/oxytocin will fix you in no time.
- mrsammercer, on 07/21/2008, -1/+4I've been doing that for years. Sunday mass used to make me so anxious.
  
  Sike, I never go to church.
  - xigxag, on 07/21/2008, -0/+2Dug for sike
serend, on 07/21/2008, -2/+2;)
- willynilly, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Because "emoticons" are so cutting-edge.
- serend, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1actually i was editing that comment and had nothing to say.
  
  blame digg for not allowing to delete a comment.
homerowedasdf, on 07/21/2008, -1/+5so we have a drug that is basically a less potent version of ecstasy. soon it will be joining e in the list of Schedule 1.
mikebb79, on 07/21/2008, -3/+1Oh my god! I was so confused! I thought it was oxycontin! That is so weird. Because that is a pill, not what they were talking about in the story. Crazy!
algaeturd, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0If you're not on some kind of regular medication, you are very un-American.
Pills for all, addiction for all and dependency on big pharma for ALL.
When will people realize that what makes us unique, crazy and strange is what makes us interesting and individual?
And ps: The fact that people (diggers) can't discern the difference between this and OxycONTIN is utterly ridiculous.
Opiates have been used in studies to treat depression but everyone knows that you might cure shyness with Oxycontin but then you'd be in rehab within 6 months as your tolerance goes sky high and you quit wanting it and start needing it.
- rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1If you're not on some kind of regular medication, you are very un-American.
  I'm not sure that's the case. I grew up in a family where every illness was treated as psychosomatic, and every cure was to be stoic. I think a high percentage of men are socialized to feel that way. I should google the research, but I'm hoping to go have a beer and a cigarette soon and would like to move things along...
  I still have problems communicating with my doctor b/c I find myself trying to decide if something is wrong or if I just think something is wrong. I still have to work hard to get over those feelings and just let the doctors do their job.
  I appreciate your point, but I do think that the flip side of it can be dysfunctional too.
sandman979, on 07/21/2008, -1/+4This is a "Brave New World" indeed....

BTW, LSD can actually do the same
- mrsammercer, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1Yeah and it can also make you trip out and hate life for a few hours, especially if you are an anxious person to begin with. Might want to rethink that miracle cure.
crimsoneye, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Buried for being old. Post some new stuff ppl, I getting tried of seeing recycled articles.
- rearlgrant, on 07/21/2008, -0/+1Don't read them... Move along.
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Oxytocin: A Cure for Shyness and Anti-Social Behavior?

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