How Kissing Someone For the First Time Changes Your Body
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Whether they are currently in a relationship or flying solo, everyone can agree on one thing: love makes you do crazy things. Making wild decisions is just one of many ways that romance can change your brain. But have you ever wondered how romance affects your body rather than your mind?
Scientists have had decades to study how different aspects of a relationship affect different parts of our bodies. And it turns out that few things get our bodies fired up like the most basic romantic act: kissing. Everyone knows that kissing feels good and relaxing, but why is that? And just what are the chemicals that determine how intense a relationship is and even whether or not you fall in love with someone?
It’s okay if you skipped a few science classes back in the day…we’re going to break this down nice and easy. Time to wet those lips and learn how kissing someone for the first time changes your body!
Getting high on pleasure
Sometimes, making out feels so good that it should be illegal. After all, those feelings inside of you are so warm and fuzzy that it can feel like you’re getting high. In this case, it’s more than a feeling…as it turns out, you really are getting high, but not on drugs.
When you kiss someone new for the first time, your body releases dopamine into your system. Dopamine is basically a feel-good neurotransmitter, one that can make you feel happy, excited, and even giddy. So, even though no recreational drugs are involved, the act of kissing can make your body feel like it’s having one heck of a high!
RELATED: 9 Surprising Ways Love Hijacks Your Brain
Addicted to love?
Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” was a catchy song, but nobody ever really took it too seriously. Most associate addictions with substances like alcohol or cigarettes, leaving them with the obvious question of how someone could become addicted to love. However, it turns out that Palmer was right, and some basic science backs up his catchy lyric.
Remember when we said that kissing someone new releases dopamine into your body? Well, your mind will naturally focus on feeling that way all the time, causing you to long for more kisses and physical affection from that same person. This is often why new couples are crazy for each other…their brains are telling both of them that they are addicted to each other.
Additionally, kissing someone new makes your body release oxytocin, which is a kind of relaxing hormone. This causes you to feel more relaxed with someone, which naturally leads to trust and bonding. Just one more way a new relationship can have you addicted to love!
Why kissing is relaxing
Kissing is exciting for all of the reasons above and then some. However, the act of kissing someone new for the first time can be more than exciting: it can also be relaxing. Why is that, exactly? When you first kiss someone, it makes your body release cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can help to relax you. Therefore, even though kissing someone can force your heart to race (more on this soon), the act can also feel supremely relaxing.
Whether they realize it or not, many pursue serious relationships because they love how their romantic partner relaxes them. Some of that relaxation comes from the other person’s words and actions, of course. But some of it comes from the fact that few things feel better or more relaxing than making out with someone that you care about.
RELATED: The Most Surprising Reasons You and Your Partner Stopped Having Sex
Heart beating like a drum
It’s an open secret that romance can make our hearts race, but have you ever wondered why? Basically, kissing someone increases your heart rate due to your body’s fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline begins pumping through your body, and your heart beats harder in response. This is part of why young love feels confusing, as the genuine excitement of making out causes some of the same reactions as extreme fear.
Some researchers feel like this is an ingrained response in our bodies due to our caveman ancestors. Back then, humans were always being hunted by predators and were very aware that sex meant lowering their guard. Therefore, sexual excitement and adrenaline went hand-in-hand as they had to be ready to both mate and fight as needed!
The chemicals between you
You’ve likely heard people describe the early part of a relationship as the “honeymoon period.” This is when the couple is most head-over-heels in love with each other. Some of this has to do with their strong bond, but much of it has to do with (as Bush once sang about) the chemicals between you.
In the early stages of romance, your body has less dopamine regulation. That means you get excited and stay excited far more easily. Eventually, your body learns to process dopamine better, which can feel like you’re coming down from the high of early romance.
Additionally, different couples may experience different amounts of oxytocin release when they first kiss. And it turns out that couples who have high levels of oxytocin early in their relationship are far likelier to stay together than those who don’t. In this way, you could say that the first kiss is enough to determine whether or not two people will become soulmates.
No pressure, then, next time you pucker up!