How long does falling in love last?

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We have all fallen in love at some point, and there is no doubt that it is an incredible feeling, as well as distressing. Here we explain what happens when we fall in love following a line shared by the majority of published studies.

Falling in love is an emotional state characterized by the feeling of joy, fullness and satisfaction that is preceded by attraction to another person. This stage takes us to an altered state of consciousness, influencing our body to the point of promoting erroneous decisions.

Sexual attraction would be the phase prior to falling in love. This desire for the other is determined, among other factors, by the activation of certain brain areas. due to substances emitted by the other, pheromones, or biological changes in oneself.

sexual attraction

Our body secretes various substances when we are faced with a stimulus that attracts us (the person, or the idea of having them nearby). So, there is an increase in testosterone or estrogen, increasing desire. In turn, this desire leads to an increase in adrenaline, glucose and phenylethylamine.

These neurotransmitters cause our body to activate when we feel sexual attraction, increasing heart rate, sweating, preparing our organs for a sexual response and to feel pleasure.

According to some authors, This feeling of uncontrollable desire for the other can last about two years. It is around that time that a decrease in desire hormones is observed. However, it overlaps with the increase in another hormone, known as the love hormone, oxytocin.

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Fall in love

The act of falling in love leads to tremors, turning pale or blushing, feelings of discomfort, stuttering, and loss of emotional control. But why does this happen?

Numerous studies support that Falling in love is, a priori, like an addictionwhich includes withdrawal syndrome and even tolerance.

Neurobiology

When you feel desire for someone, the nervous system activates the endocrine system to prepare you for sex. However, the absence of the person and the impossibility of satisfying desires leads to their inhibition.

The prefrontal regions inhibit the impulse and due to the increase in phenylethylamine, vasopressin and other hormones, dopamine is produced in large quantities until endorphin is secreted.

All of this produces an imbalance in different systems, such as the dopaminergic system. This inability to fulfill the desire leads to a decrease in serotonin that produces a lack of interest in activities, insomnia, decreased appetite, concentration…

For its part, The increase in acetylcholine leads to obsessive and recurring thoughts about the desired person. We are talking about compulsive behaviors, such as constantly looking at his photo or checking if he has written to us.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the brain, specifically in the hypothalamus. Although men and women produce oxytocin, its production is greater in women, and increases during orgasm, childbirth and lactation.

In both humans and other animals, this substance is related to care. So, The more oxytocin, the more tendency to protect.

This is when, in addition to attraction, a component of tenderness and care is added.. A need appears to be together for a long time, to watch over the other and to feel reciprocated, so that both feel very good with the mere presence of the other.

How long does it last?

Taking into account all the processes underlying falling in love, It is estimated that the common infatuation has a short duration, ranging from weeks to a year. Curiously, there seems to be a relationship between the age of the lovers and the duration of the infatuation: the younger they are, the shorter the infatuation lasts, but the more intense it is.

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Despite this, falling in love can spread. Considering that it is composed of sexual desire and positive affect and care, These aspects can, and should, be kept alive for as long as possible.. Moving to a more established phase of love does not mean that our body cannot continue reacting and providing us with “all those aphrodisiacs that we feel at the beginning.”

The act of falling in love It is a combo between high sexual attraction and the imbalance of the body, which as contacts increase gives way to a more intimate bond.. You begin to get to know the other person and consider whether you want to continue with them or not.

Attachment has been added to sexual attraction, resulting in falling in love. But it is After this stage when you begin to consider the possibility of going further. According to experts, if at this point, it is considered that the other person has values and a personality compatible with their own, that is when the love bond occurs.