What is the difference between love and limerence?

The main difference here is that love requires a real, meaningful connection with another person, while limerence is all about the chase and lusting after someone.

Is limerence the same as love addiction?

The basic difference between love addiction and limerence is that while love addiction leads people towards wanting to replicate the feeling of falling in love again and again, limerence is focused on feelings for a specific individual. With limerence, the focus is on a particular person.

What type of love is limerence?

Limerence is a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing. The experience can range from euphoria to despair. "Limerence is a term that was coined by [psychologist] Dorothy Tennov in the '70s," relationship therapist Eliza Boquin, LMFT, tells mbg.

Is limerence the same as a crush?

“Limerence is not love. It's not a crush. It's a crushing obsession with another person — an intense romantic infatuation,” says Barrett. “A person in a state of limerence is primarily focused on the reciprocation of emotions.

What does limerence feel like?

Limerence is characterized by intrusive thinking and pronounced sensitivity to external events that reflect the disposition of the limerent object towards the individual. It can be experienced as intense joy or as extreme despair, depending on whether the feelings are reciprocated.

Difference Between Love

What are the 3 stages of limerence?

What makes limerence end?

It could be caused by something that LO does that is so objectionable that it overwhelms even a determined limerent's best efforts at idealisation. Or maybe it's a flat out row with LO that is so explosive you can't forgive them. Or, something changes that abruptly removes the uncertainty that fuels limerence reverie.

How do you break limerence?

Who is prone to limerence?

Your Outer World Is a Reflection of Your Beliefs

The trouble is, people prone to limerence are typically intelligent, thoughtful and have insecure attachment styles. While the former two traits allow for great empathy, the latter leaves them believing that they are unworthy of a real relationship.

How does limerence deal with limerence in relationships?

In terms of limerence, this means being honest about your motives when making decisions about LO. Recognise when you are doing something because it might give you a fix, rather than because it is the right thing to do. Then forgive yourself for being human, but do the right thing, with purpose.

Is limerence unrequited love?

Oftentimes, limerence is unrequited. It may be that LO is not interested, it may be that one or other of you are unavailable. Regardless of the cause, with one sided limerence that isn't resolved, a likely emotional assault that the limerent will face is seeing LO with a partner.

What causes limerence?

What Causes Limerence and ROCD? The intrusive thinking involved in limerence and OCD and has been associated with low levels of serotonin and elevated levels of dopamine and norepinephrine—all neurotransmitters, or chemicals that act as messengers between brain cells.

Can limerence be mutual?

Tennov says that “probably the most prevalent” type of limerence interaction is “between a limerent person and an LO who does not reciprocate with limerence”—unrequited love. But mutual limerence, Romeo and Juliet-style, is possible.

Can limerence cause love?

However, no matter how hard you stare, limerence and love are not the same concepts. The main difference here is that love requires a real, meaningful connection with another person, while limerence is all about the chase and lusting after someone.

Does everyone get limerence?

Again, though, that doesn't mean that only 4-5% of the total population can ever experience limerence; only that those people are the most vulnerable to falling into the toxic state of person addiction.

What's it called when you fall in love with someone who saves you?

It's called “transference” where one begins to attaché romantic feelings to a person in a professional protector role such as a doctor, therapist, policeman and such.

Is limerence a mental illness?

Tennov describes limerence as “an involuntary interpersonal state that involves an acute longing for emotional reciprocation, obsessive-compulsive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and emotional dependence on another person.” In layperson's terms, limerence refers to a near-obsessive form of romantic love that is ...

Do narcissists experience limerence?

It's an important topic, and a real danger for limerents. Anyone who feeds the limerence cycle is a threat, but narcissists can combine the worst excesses of both early reciprocation and uncertainty due to mixed messages. However, there are, of course, degrees of narcissism.

Can a marriage survive limerence?

Limerence Will End~Eventually

No one could live with this level of emotional intensity for a lifetime. Just like infatuation, the early stage of romantic love. It is great for a time, then reality sets in. The bad news is that limerence may last several years, which in many cases is too late to save your marriage.

Does limerence end suddenly?

Though limerence by its very nature is relatively short-lived (typically lasting somewhere between 3 months and 36 months) it is a very real and intense emotion/feeling. When a person decides to leave a limerent relationship, or if they are the one abandoned by the other, the emotions don't immediately disappear.

How long does limerence last after no contact?

On average, limerence lasts somewhere between three months and 36 months. If you were with your lover more often, likely your limerence would be ebbing already.

How do you know if someone is limerent for you?

Do all affairs have limerence?

In conclusion, not all affairs are based on limerence, yet the long-term affairs have limerence as a foundation. Remember that people leave what they have only when they believe they can have better. At the end, you can't control the other persons' actions, even if you do your best for the relationship.

Will wife come back after limerence?

Because of its life span, it is unlikely that limerence towards a person will come back. If it does, it is because the relationship has not properly ended. Even though you stopped all contact with your LO, no phone calls or meetings anymore, you can't stop the feelings that you have for them.

How do you know if its love or infatuation?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions of love and infatuation are pretty distinct: love is "a warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion to another person," while infatuation is "a feeling of foolish or obsessively strong love for, admiration for, or interest in someone or something." Basically, love is a deep, ...