05/10/2026
Love isn't just a feeling — it's a biological event.
This Mother's Day, Sonja Stilp, M.D. dives into the science of connection, maternal warmth, and why the women in your life are part of your healing team.
🔬 Love accelerates healing. A 2025 clinical trial in JAMA Psychiatry found that oxytocin combined with affectionate touch and kind words literally made wounds heal faster. The body repairs itself better when it feels connected.
💛 Connection adds years to your life. A landmark study of over 72,000 women found that socially connected women lived 10% longer — and were 41% more likely to reach age 85.
🧠 A mother's warmth shapes health for decades. Research tracking children from age 3 to 17 found that early maternal warmth predicted better physical and mental health over a decade later — no matter what motherhood looks like for you.
👉 [Read the full Mother's Day blog from RISE →]
Not every one of us got the mother we needed. Some of us became her instead. That's regenerative medicine of the soul. Sonja Stilp, M.D. reflects on the science behind connection, healing, and women who lift each other up.
