“Girl Talk” Reduces Stress

I recall hearing a clinical research study which found health benefits when women get together for “girl talk”.  Seriously!

“The 2000 study found that when women are stressed, they feel an urge to “tend-and-befriend,” which means that women want to talk with, or take care of, someone. When they do so, a hormone called oxytocin is released that has a strong de-stressing effect, and, when combined with estrogen naturally found in women’s bodies, is ‘potent.’”

A week ago, we had a GNO (Girl’s Night Out) (actually a weekend at that beach) for lots of catching up, eating, drinking wine, laughing and shopping!  As life gets more busy, we’ve found its much more difficult to coordinate our schedules for this outing.  This was the first time since May 2003 where all the core group could make it, which called for updating our group photo.  With us all loaded up with oxytocin (and I think mingling it with a little vino will have an exponential effect), we are ready to face all the challenges of 2010!