A new study of the effects of stress on social behavior in male rats finds that moderate stress makes them more prosocial, raising oxytocin levels that are known to encourage bonding, which in turn leads to resilience in the face of stress and better health. Life-threatening stress, however, makes male rats avoid socializing and lowers oxytocin levels, akin to the effects of PTSD, leading to a spiraling decrease in bonding and resilience to stress.