Love floods your brain with good chemicals, hate floods it with stress — but the science is more nuanced than it sounds.

There’s no direct research found to confirm that love triggers dopamine and oxytocin in the way the post suggests, so that part remains unverified. But when it comes to hate — especially in the form of persistent discrimination — other research shows that people who face it regularly, like many LGBTQ+ individuals, often have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It’s not that hate itself directly causes cortisol, but the constant emotional toll of being targeted can trigger a physical stress response. That’s a powerful reminder that how we treat each other doesn’t just hurt feelings — it can show up in our bodies.