Attachment and its implications in emotional development and regulation have always been fascinating to me . Therefore, I think it is fundamental to learn about how this basic psychological phenomenon affects our lives and development.

Several years ago I was lucky enough to meet Sue Carter and Stephen Porges at a neurofeedback conference in Venice. Sue is one of the first researchers in the field of oxytocin and Stephen, on the other hand, is the creator of the polyvagal theory, a theory that develops and explains how the activation of the social connection system makes us feel physiologically calm, safe and socially connected.

I took the visions and contributions of both as a treasure that has helped me to organize and understand attachment, security and body-mind interrelationship.

This mind/body interaction is observed from the beginning of the gestation , organizing both biology and psychology to provide the most appropriate environment where the fetus and then the future baby will develop.

The link between oxytocin and attachment

From the beginning of gestation, oxytocin, the hormone of love, bonding or also called the shy hormone, is secreted (because it requires security to manifest itself, as well as the motivation to become socially involved).

Oxytocin, among other functions, prepares the mother’s brain to become involved and fall in love with the future baby . These oxytocin levels will peak in the hours following delivery and during breastfeeding. The mere presence of a baby leads us to secrete oxytocin, propitiating this state of calm, where time stops and we seek the baby’s gaze and delight in it.

In those looks, in those words intoned as caresses, in that gestural involvement, we get socially involved with the baby, and thus the dance of attachment is fostered that favours emotional regulation . Breathing and heart are calmed, smiles illuminate the faces and we enter the space of coherence between baby and mother or father or carer, where time dilates and we simply enjoy the mutual delight.

The therapeutic implications of this process

This very mammalian and human characteristic of the tendency to establish deep emotional connections from birth is what has been missing in early trauma or traumatic developments .

As a therapist who seeks to repair attachment, among my objectives are to propitiate those states to activate the system of social connection and to favor the behaviors that generate oxytocin, so that both processes help us to approach that connection, and above all to facilitate the perception of security so that all of the above is viable.

To learn more…

On May 8 and 9, 2020, Sue Carter and Stephen Porges will give a seminar in Sitges , focusing on the theme of how oxytocin and polyvagal theory reflect processes for understanding connection, security and social bonding. It is an opportunity to listen to them directly and learn from them. Understanding the neurobiology of attachment and bonding becomes a therapeutic advantage.

If you are interested in learning more about the seminar, please contact the Instituto Cuatro Ciclos, the organizer of this event.

Author: Cristina Cortés, specialist in trauma and attachment and director of Vitaliza.