Love is in the air. It seems that a lot of people around me lately have found happiness with that special one. Lucky little shits.
For only God knows what reason, I was reminded today of the first man I fell in love with. It's been awhile, yes, but I haven't forgotten much about how utterly insane it made me. And you can see it in others. I decided to probe a little deeper and read more on what's actually happening in our bods when we find someone so pants-droppingly irresistible that our minds can think of no one else.
I was surprised to learn almost immediately that the physiological signs of falling in love closely parallel those of mental illness.
That certainly explains a lot.
The Frisky elaborates that when the human brain is high on love, it exhibits tendencies similar to mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.
So, ladies, don't be merely paranoid that you've lost your mind--you have.
People in love also experience a surge of feel-good neurotransmitters that are responsible for rapid heartbeat, increased energy, and feelings of euphoria and greater sociability--namely noradrenaline, dopamine, oxytocin, and phenylethylamine, says Quality Health. The greater the attachment becomes, the more the neurotransmitters go batshit crazy. You're literally at their mercy.
And if you think you can hide your feelings, wrong-o! It's written all over your face, no joke. Cosmo says that our pupils are sensitive not only to light, but positive emotions as well. Thus, when you're looking at the one you love, your pupils can begin to narrow.
As we all know, these feelings will simmer down eventually. But why, and how long do you have until the euphoria dissipates? The Frisky continues on to claim that those feelings of being crazy in love usually make their exit at about the two-year mark. Why? Because that's how long our bodies think it takes to "produce and wean one child." Those feelings aren't needed beyond that point because reproduction has occurred, leading us to believe that the need to pass our genes on dictates our feelings of love more than we may have suspected.
Reliable resources? Probably not. Interesting nonetheless.
That does certainly explain a lot. Also why the ex and I only ever lasted to the 18 month mark each time. I will be honest, I'm tired of our bodies going crazy. When will evolution kick in and settle this down?
ReplyDeleteLong after we're good and dead.
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