Grit and Glitter

I love chocolate. Like really love chocolate!

Especially dark chocolate. 

I’m always in the mood for chocolate. And in fact, chocolate can change my mood. 

It’s a scientifically proven fact,actually, that chocolate makes you happy. 

According to multiple studies (that I found on Google🤪) Chocolate releases multiple hormones in the brain that elevate your mood, aka make you happy. Such hormones as endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. 

These are considered to be “happy hormones.” 

That’s why we tend to crave chocolate and carbs when we’re stressed. We are seeking to fulfill the oxytocin surge and relieve that stress. 

But did you know that your husband and chocolate can do the same thing for your mood? 

According to multiple studies (that I found on Google🤪) a hug from someone you love releases oxytocin into your brain as well causing an elevation in your mood, aka “making you happy.”

So what could this mean for us?

This knowledge actually has the power to strengthen our marriage and protect our waistline. 

Working as a health and wellness coach over the last few years, I’ve discovered that one of the top causes of weight gain is stress eating and stress snacking. 

So what if we were super intentional about coping with our stress?

Learning to involve our spouse—Not in ranting, but in relieving our stress. 

What if we started asking our husbands for a tight hug and cuddle each time we’re feeling stressed instead of grabbing snacks and chocolate? And guess what, if it “leads to more”…even better. Higher levels of the “happy hormone” is released during intimacy. And in multiple studies (found, you guessed it, on Google🤪), couples who have sex frequently experience less stress, not just in their relationship, but in processing environmental stress and anxiety. 

I personally believe that this brings a new perspective to stress. It provides us with an opportunity to communicate with our spouse what we are feeling burdened with and allows them to then help bear the burden with you. The Bible instructs us to bear one another’s burdens—so why not with our spouse?

Many times I hear women say, “I just don’t want to tell him because he is already stressed out and I don’t want to burden him more.” 

But honestly that’s not fair to your husband. 

Here’s why. 

When we are stressed we react differently to things and are naturally more tense. Therefore, your stressed husband who is tense is approaching you perhaps not as his normal self and now you aren’t responding as your normal self and he has no context why and so it feels as if you’re just slighting him. 

So when both of you are stressed, that’s the prime time for you both to share what your personal burden is and then relieve each other of it with words and physical affection. 

Chocolate is great. And still something we can indulge in. But it shouldn’t be what we turn to when we are stressed. 

Turn to your helpmate. Let LOVE relieve your stress and allow it to strengthen your marriage rather than weaken it.