Unexpected sadness: exploring the phenomenon of nipple-triggered distress

Those who experience this phenomenon describe a range of feelings, including sadness, discomfort, anxiety, guilt, irritability, and loneliness. The episodes typically last only a few minutes but can be disruptive and confusing.

Although it can affect anyone, the condition appears to be more prevalent among women.

The underlying cause remains unknown due to a lack of formal scientific studies. However, some experts speculate a connection to oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and released during physical touch, such as hugging, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Dr. Vladimír Kraus, of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, suggests oxytocin’s involvement, stating, “We can assume that the hormone oxytocin is somehow involved, since nipple stimulation leads to its release.”

Another potential link is to dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER), a condition affecting approximately 9 per cent of breastfeeding women, according to a 2019 US study. D-MER involves a sudden feeling of shame, guilt, and loss of hope as milk is released. Alia Macrina Heise, a lactation consultant specializing in D-MER, notes the similarities between “sad nipple syndrome,” D-MER, and post-coital dysphoria—a feeling of sadness following an orgasm.

Online forums, such as a Reddit thread titled “nipple touch of doom,” provide a space for individuals to share their experiences and realize they are not alone. One user described feeling “hopelessness and despair” when their nipple is touched, expressing embarrassment over the reaction.