The Love Addiction

Most of us are not even aware of the fact that we are suffering from an addiction. The LOVE addiction. The feeling of being in love, the thrill and excitement we feel at the very beginning of a relationship; when everything seems new, the world appears rosier and the way our hearts skip a beat at the mere thought of our special someone. Ah…young love!

 

It is a scientific fact that people unknowingly get addicted to dopamine, morepinephrine and serotomin, most common chemicals that are released by the brain during the initial attraction phase of a relationship. This initial stage, with time, often progresses to a further level, that of maturity, mutual understanding, compassion and friendship. This is, of course, the ideal situation. But often, it fades away and decomposes into break-ups or that stagnant stage where one or both persons long to be free but are forced to stay, owing to societal pressures or various weaknesses of their own. When stuck in situations like these, people most likely suffer from depression, anxiety, boredom and low self-esteem. The magnitude of it depends upon how intensely and deeply the person had fallen in love. The more intense the love, more chemicals triggered from the brain.

 

Yet this theory seems so cold and ruthless. Yes, our bodies are designed to work with chemicals. Its just the way the physical realms work. Everything we do is acted out through various chemical processes, but that does not make it any less interesting, or any less special, or any less real!!! The attraction love or lust part is of course the chemicals talking, that is why it fades with time, does not mean the “love” has faded away, just the intensity of the attraction. But the compassion and friendship part that slowly settles in is probably what’s most important. Just going out for a walk together, or even sitting together on the bed and being comfortable in doing your own different things- one reading a book and another fiddling with a laptop- believe it or not, it can be very cozy!

 

Science cannot solve everything. I’d say you go with what you feel. Do your heart a favor. Listen to it.