Infatuation vs. Love: Figuring Out What You’re Feeling
Have you ever felt that intense rush of excitement when you see your crush’s face, or that feeling of euphoria when you’re with them?
It’s definitely a high, but is it really love? Or could it be infatuation?
Let’s talk about the difference between the two and how you can tell if it’s the real deal.
Defining Infatuation: What Is It Really?
Infatuation is often characterized as that intense feeling of being swept off your feet by someone. You’re fascinated with everything they do, and you’re always trying to be around them.
However, this intense focus is often short-lived, and it’s easy to confuse it with love, especially when you’re new to romantic relationships.
Here are ten signs that will help you recognize infatuation for what it really is:
- You’re obsessed with the idea of your crush.
- You focus solely on the good things and overlook their flaws.
- You have a superficial attraction and always think about physical features.
- You’re quick to make assumptions and judgments about your crush without really knowing them well.
- You’re constantly checking their social media profiles.
- You have a delusional feeling that they’re “the one” for you.
- You’re in a one-sided relationship, where you’re the only one who’s putting in the effort.
- You have an unrealistic idea of what your relationship will be like.
- You’re not really considering their needs or wants, only yours.
- You’re ignoring common sense and gut feelings.
Infatuation often leads to a foggy vision of reality, where everything seems perfect.
But it’s important to understand that it’s not a healthy or long-lasting foundation for a relationship.
Love: The Real Deal
Now, let’s talk about love.
Love builds on a foundation of trust, care, and mutual understanding. It’s the feeling of having someone’s back, supporting them, and enjoying their company.
Here are some keywords to help you recognize real love:
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Care
Love is all about being concerned and taking care of each other.
You’re thinking about their well-being even when they’re not around.
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Emotional Connection
Love is when you feel a deep, emotional connection with your partner. You’d rather spend time with them than anyone else in the world.
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Support
Love means you’re there to support your partner through thick and thin.
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Loyalty
Love is about standing by your partner’s side, no matter what.
When you love someone, you’re committed to them, and you don’t want to be with anyone else.
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Forgiveness
When you love someone, forgiveness is a part of the package. It takes two to have a relationship, and it’s natural to make mistakes.
Infatuation can feel like love, but the truth is, it’s often superficial, one-sided, and temporary. Love is a deeper connection that lasts even after the honeymoon phase is over, and you start seeing each other’s flaws.
Can Infatuation Turn Into Love?
Infatuation can develop into love given enough time, shared experiences, and mutual interest.
The honeymoon phase of infatuation can last anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the couple. However, it’s important to note that infatuation won’t magically transform into love – it takes work and effort.
Getting Over Infatuation
If you’re going through the post-infatuation phase, you’re not alone. It’s not easy to let go of that intense fixation and focus on your crush, but there are some things you can do to help yourself move forward.
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Avoiding Triggers
Avoid what triggers you the most.
That means limiting contact with your crush on social media and in person.
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Listing Unhealthy Habits
Reflect on your own behavior when you were infatuated. What triggers you off?
What are some of your unhealthy habits? Understanding your own behavior helps you identify when you’re falling back into old habits.
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Distracting Yourself
Engage in new hobbies, learn something new, or do something that makes you happy.
Distractions can help you move on and rediscover who you are.
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Seeking Help
If you’re finding it hard to get over infatuation, it’s okay to seek out additional support. Joining support groups or seeking therapy can provide a safe space for you to express yourself.
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Allowing for New Connections
Sometimes it’s hard to accept that the person you were infatuated with won’t turn into something more.
Being open to new experiences and new people can help you find new connections and potential for real love.
In Conclusion
Understanding the difference between infatuation and love is critical for anyone looking to build a meaningful, fulfilling relationship. Infatuation can be exciting, but it’s often temporary, whereas love is an enduring connection built on trust, care, and mutual understanding.
While infatuation can turn into love with mutual interest and time, it is also essential to know when it’s time to move on. The most important thing is to be self-aware and honest with yourself about how you feel.
Remember to take things slowly and always focus on building a strong foundation for a healthy, long-lasting relationship.
Infatuation vs. Love: Symptoms, Person-to-Person, Feels Like, Effect, Time Period
Infatuation and love: the two most intense emotions that humans can experience. Although they may feel similar, they have distinct differences that set them apart.
In this article, we’ll dive into the symptoms, person-to-person aspects, the way it feels, the effect it has, and their time periods so that you can better understand the distinction between the two.
Symptoms: How Infatuation and Love Differ
Infatuation is intense and often fueled by sexual desire.
It’s a rush of emotions that dominate all other thoughts. It can often feel reckless and irrational and can lead to undesirable behavior.
Symptoms of infatuation include intense feelings, butterflies in the stomach, obsessive thoughts, and a desire for sexual interaction. On the other hand, love is characterized by enduring faithfulness, loyalty, and compromise.
While sexual desire can be a part of love, it’s only a small piece of the puzzle. Love is a deep connection with someone that goes beyond physical intimacy.
Symptoms of love include a strong connection, happiness with intimacy, mutual support, and respect.
Person-to-Person: How Infatuation and Love Affect Relationships
Infatuation is often rooted in lust, and it’s often a one-sided attraction.
It can lead to a distorted view of the other person, and the focus is solely on physical attraction. This can lead to a lack of genuine commitment and mutual consideration.
Infatuation often makes people ignore their own values and preferences as they are more focused on getting the other person’s approval and attention. It can be confusing to decipher when the attraction is mutual or one-sided as the intensity of feelings can cloud your judgment.
In relationships based on love, there exists a mutual understanding and consideration of each other’s needs and wants. It’s rooted in trust and genuine love for the other person, which means that both individuals prioritize each other in their lives.
People in love relationships have a deep connection and a willingness to put in the work necessary to keep the relationship going.
Feels Like: How Infatuation and Love Differ in Our Perception
Infatuation often starts with an all-consuming euphoria that can be similar to drug use.
People experiencing infatuation are often lost in the feeling of being in love with the other person. This kind of emotion is powerful and can lead to a skewed perception of reality.
People often have difficulty guessing their own motives and decisions. A relationship based purely on infatuation can be dangerous as people may overlook the red flags and warning signs.
Love, on the other hand, gives a sense of deep affection, contentment, and emotional connection. People who are in love feel secure and supported in their relationships, and they know that they are loved for who they are.
Love is about finding ways to compromise, adapt and grow, not just remain unchanged.
Effect: How Infatuation and Love Affect Our Life
Infatuation is generally a phase of strong emotions that is primarily brain chemistry-controlled.
People lose themselves in the euphoria of emotions that control their behavior and thinking patterns. It can lead to making bad decisions, harmful behavior, and disrupted relationships.
Infatuation often doesn’t last long – after an intense phase of a few months, it can die out, leaving the individual feeling empty. Love has a profoundly positive effect on people.
It provides a sense of stability, contentment, and emotional security. People who are in love feel connected to their partners and find that the relationship improves other aspects of their lives as well.
Time Period: How Infatuation and Love Differ Over Time
Infatuation is brief and intense. It usually lasts for a few months, with the extreme emotions typically subsiding with time.
The infatuation period can start with intense attraction and euphoria, but this can die down fairly quickly, leaving the couple to face the reality of the relationship. Love deepens over time as couples share experiences, build trust, and grow together.
Love evolves into an enduring relationship that can last a lifetime. The deep emotional attachment that comes with love increases with time.
Bottom Line: Infatuation is Fleeting, Love is Long-Lasting
Infatuation is a powerful emotion that can take over a person’s thoughts and behavior.
It’s often rooted in physical attraction and can lead to an unrealistic view of the person. Love, on the other hand, takes time to develop.
It’s based on trust, connection, and mutual commitment, not just temporary emotions. While infatuation is brief and fleeting, love deepens over time and can last a lifetime.
It’s essential to understand the difference between the two, as this can help you make better decisions when it comes to relationships.
In conclusion, understanding the difference between infatuation and love is crucial for building strong and long-lasting relationships.
Infatuation’s intense and temporary emotions rooted in physical attraction can lead one to overlook important red flags. On the other hand, love involves trust, mutual commitment, and deep emotional attachment that grows over time, providing stability and contentment.
Knowing the signs of infatuation and love, how they affect relationship dynamics and life, and their time periods helps people make wise decisions about their romantic relationships. Relationships based on genuine love are fulfilling and contribute positively to our wellbeing.
Therefore, understanding the difference between infatuation and love is essential in building meaningful relationships in life.
