When you are attracted to someone, you may begin to show signs that you like that person. This means there is something in that person that strikes your fancy or catches your attention. It may be as simple as liking his eyes or being smitten by the way he smiles. You may like someone way older or even younger than you are and that’s okay. Everyone goes through these feelings of liking someone and being liked in return.
Falling in Love is a Chemical Reaction
Falling in love is a marvelous feeling. When one falls in love, the feeling seems to last forever. The love interest becomes the center of one’s life. Reason and logic are brushed aside in the name of love.
When one falls in love, it is likely that one is infatuated. Infatuation happens when we begin to admire someone. Infatuation has been associated with the term “eros” which is romantic or physical love. When you start “falling in love” you are actually beginning to be infatuated with the other person. During this time, you feel like you can do anything for your beloved. You would want the feelings to last forever and actually believe that it will.
These feelings of “high” that come with infatuation may be explained by chemicals being released by the brain. This may not sound very romantic but your brain is really the seat of all your feelings and emotions. It is your brain that sends signals to your body making you feel those really exciting and bittersweet feelings of being “in love”.
Chemicals in the brain explain our behavior once we start falling in love. These chemicals travel to parts of the brain that tune in to our emotions and memories:
- Dopamine Says I am Crazy about You
During the first few months of being attracted to someone, a part of your brain releases this chemical. Small amounts of this chemical can give you the feeling of high that comes with being in love. It makes you stay awake all night thinking romantic thoughts. With dopamine, you also start losing your appetite. You begin to skip meals yet even if you’re hungry, you stay happy and a little crazy despite the empty stomach. Dopamine also makes you feel so energetic, you feel like you can do anything. It is a wonderful chemical. It makes the words “crazily in love” ring true.
- Serotonin says I am Obsessed with You
Low levels of this chemical in the brain is the reason why you feel so obsessed with the other person when you are in love. Low serotonin levels can make you think of your love interest frequently. Spying on your crush and keeping some pictures of him in your wallet become a part of your daily routine. There is no reason to see a psychiatrist just yet. In fact, you are just behaving naturally according to what your low serotonin levels dictate. When you tell someone that you can’t get him out of your head, it is your low serotonin levels speaking.
- Oxytocin says I am Staying with You
If you have got yourself into a relationship by now and as your love grows, you start thinking you cannot imagine life without this person. You start getting attached to the other person. Wherever he goes, you are there too. This is where the chemical oxytocin comes in. This chemical is released by the brain when the craziness and romance of being in love starts to fade and a more serious relationship takes its place.
Signs that you may be infatuated:
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You start thinking of that person more often than usual. A picture of him seems to be pasted in your mind.
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You can’t seem to sleep well. He is the last thing on your mind at night and the first thing on your mind when you wake up. .
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You suddenly don’t feel like eating. Even your favorite dish appears bland to you.
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You are always excited to see him. You feel happy and energetic just thinking about meeting him. .
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You begin following him, copying his schedule and trying to get his phone number… secretly of course. .
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You suddenly become an expert on love poems and love songs. You begin to swoon over romantic movies when you have only been watching sci-fi movies all your life. .
Is he attracted to me? Here are some signs that he may actually be taking a second look:
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He may start a conversation. A guy may show that he likes you by striking up a conversation.
He may sound truly interested by asking you about your day and he may even value your opinion of that new boss in his department.
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He may spend more time with you. He may start inviting you to join him for coffee or lunch. You will know that things are getting better between you when he starts doing this more often.
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He shares secrets with you. Most guys share very little of themselves even with close friends and family members. When he starts telling you how he feels about his work or starts bringing you to one of those quiet places he usually visits when he wants to rest, then he may really like you a lot.
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He may start doing things for you. It may be little things but if these small gestures of kindness are unexpected and come more frequently, then it is likely that he is attracted to you.
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You begin to start seeing more of him in places you never expected. Suddenly he joins your yoga class when he has never been interested in yoga before.
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He may start avoiding you. Some guys are just plain shy. It is not unusual for them to appear like they dislike you when they are just trembling inside. Guys can be scared of their feelings too. Don’t get hurt when they do this. It may take some time for them to realize what they truly feel for you.
Is there such a thing as love at first sight?
Love at first sight may be true for some people. This may be an instant attraction a person feels the moment he or she sets sight on another person. This may happen several times in one’s life. However, only a few of these instant attractions may actually develop into a truly mature and loving relationship. A person’s wonderful personality or talent can be attractive to someone and this could make someone else fall in love with him or her the first time they meet. However, you should know that loving someone does not really start in the first meeting. Although, it may seem this way because of how our bodies and our brains respond. The early part of attraction may actually be infatuation rather than love. As you grow older and start having relationships, then you start to realize that love comes with good communication and much responsibility. So just enjoy life and try to take things one step at a time. Learn from your parents and friends. Their experiences can tell you a lot about relationships!
