Addiction And Romantic Relationships: What Do They Have In Common?
We have all experienced that feeling of being in love at some point. Those moments that are associated with nerves, butterflies in the stomach and an uncontrollable desire to continually be with that person we like so much.
When we are in love and we are also in love, our mood changes radically We feel happier, more relaxed. Furthermore, we fall into a certain idealization of the other person, whom we perceive as that soul mate without defects.
Love is a human need, although we never cease to be surprised by the way in which it can transform people. When we start a romantic relationship with someone, we experience what is known as the honeymoon phase. At this moment, we feel that nothing bad can happen and we want to be forever with that partner who seems to be made to measure for us. An attachment occurs through which we feel that we cannot remain separated from the other for too long.
You’ve probably heard that love is addictive. And it is that addictions and romantic relationships may have commonalities In this article we will talk precisely about them.
Love has been talked about countless times since the beginning of our existence. However, the truth is that there is still no complete certainty about why we fall in love and what happens when this happens.
In general, it seems that falling in love involves not only psychological and cultural variables, but also biological ones. Behind the serenity, joy and hope that love for someone awakens in us, there seem to be some important physiological correlates. Perhaps this could explain why we can get hooked on another person as if it were a powerful drug.
Some hormones and neurotransmitters come into play when we feel attracted to someone In particular, the protagonists of this whirlwind are:
It should be noted that this whirlwind in our body is something purely temporary. Although at the beginning of a relationship we may feel that way, it is a matter of time before we get used to it and gain trust with the other. Thus, finally falling in love ends up giving way to calmer feelings that are adjusted to reality.
What happens in our body when we develop an addiction?
When a person uses drugs, they directly affect the brain’s reward circuit Dopamine is the main neurotransmitter, which, as we mentioned above, is associated with the pleasure response. When we find something pleasurable, our desire to repeat it in the future increases.
This pleasure circuit can be stimulated naturally when we eat, spend time with family or fall in love. However, when this circuit is overstimulated through the use of substances, the person experiences an unusual state of euphoria. This excess of dopamine forces the body to seek homeostasis through the natural reduction of dopamine or the reduction of the ability of some of the cells to react to this neurotransmitter. This results in an increasing tolerance to the drug, forcing the person to increase their dose to achieve the same effects as at the beginning.
What addiction and romantic relationships have in common
We are going to discuss some common points that exist between addictions and romantic relationships.
1. Stimulation of the pleasure circuit
Based on what we have discussed, a point of coincidence between love and addictions lies in that feeling of pleasure related to increased dopamine levels
When we fall in love, we have that “shot” of energy that makes us believe that we can do anything, that things will go well and that that person is the right one.
When someone uses a drug, that high is much more intense because it results from an artificial process, but it is there.
2. Search for pleasurable stimulation
When we feel attracted to someone we look for a way to spend time with that person, to find them and repeat dates with them.
When someone uses a drug, they also experience that desire to repeat to look for that substance again and do whatever it takes to achieve it.
3. Obsessive thinking about the pleasurable element
Regarding our thinking, in the phase of falling in love we have all experienced that feeling of not being able to get that person out of our mind. Everything revolves around her and the rest of the world seems to have ceased to exist.
When someone starts using drugs, that substance also gradually becomes the center of the person’s life Progressively, he abandons other spheres of his life because consumption is positioned as the top priority.
4. Impulsivity
Impulsivity plays an important role in addictions. This It is considered a risk factor for falling into substance use Furthermore, when someone is a user, their impulsivity may increase due to the effects of the drug itself. This explains many decisions that are incomprehensible to the environment, as well as behaviors that the person would never perform otherwise.
In the case of love, people can also commit impulsive and apparently “crazy” acts. When we love someone, we do the unthinkable to preserve that bond with the person and show our feelings.
