Love is invisible but you can't deny it's there. You can't see it, but you can feel it near you and there are visible signs of its presence. It can be their warm hands in winter or the smile on their face. There are a thousand clues when love is in the air. Some of the feelings that love evoke can be frightening or sometimes unhealthy. Rest assured though, if you're experiencing some of the less pleasant side effects, you are far from alone. It's normal to experience them. That being said, let's take a look at 12 signs you may very well be in love with.
1. You Think About Them All the Time
Do you find your mind wandering at inopportune moments to that special someone? Fear not. You're not losing your mind. Obsessing over your partner is a natural part of falling in love. Expect your mind to be a traitor at the office when you're trying to focus on something and all you can think about is getting off at the end of the day and back into their arms.
2. Your Priorities Shift
Perhaps you've noticed your priorities have shifted recently. Maybe meeting up with your girlfriends or the boys seems to have lost its charms compared to some alone time with your partner. Congratulations, you may now know the answer to what does love feel like. When you start to fall in love, your partner becomes your priority. And if your partner feels the same way, their priorities will shift towards you as well.
3. You Adore Your Partner
If you think your partner is perfect, you're falling in love. Sadly, no one is perfect. Yet your heart will hush up your mind and not let any of those pesky thoughts get through. To you, your partner is perfect. End of story. Because that's what love is. Don't worry if it seems irrational. These thoughts will serve you well when your relationship is under strain. It will give you the strength you need to get through rocky times.
4. You Get Insecure
This one is, admittedly, one of the less pleasant parts of being in love. Someone is becoming extremely important to you and losing them is scary. This is bound to cause some insecurities to bubble up. There are healthy ways to deal with this though. Reach out to your partner and talk to them. Be honest and remember why you are having these feelings. Not speaking can make your insecurities worse. While getting them out in the open gives your partner a chance to reaffirm they are there for you and there is nothing to fear. When you consider what does it feel like to be in love, remember you'll have to take the good and work through the bad and difficult parts.
5. You Feel Invincible
If you're wondering at this point if there is any good news- this one is for you. You will find your levels of pain actually decrease. Love affects the brain through the nucleus accumbens. This is the same method used by both cocaine and chocolate to trigger your body's reward mechanism. For the ladies reading – yes, a good man is like a good chocolate bar.
6. Everything Feels Like a New Adventure
Do you wake up, yank open the curtains and look forward to what adventure the day will bring? If so, you might just be in love. If not, don't worry, – you're just not a morning person. What does love feel like? Evidently, like dopamine. Love increases dopamine levels, so you will find the mundane suddenly more exciting and full of possibilities. It's yet another reward your brain will give you for finding that perfect someone.
7. You Start Imagining the Future With Your Partner
To you, love may mean endless joy and never feeling alone. Love means settling down and thinking about the future. Maybe a family. Like it or not, this is how nature has wired you to keep the species going. Don't be surprised when love makes you start thinking of the future with that someone special and you find yourself planning accordingly.
8. You Have Endless Energy
Here's yet another time your brain may be playing Cupid. Being in love causes a release of endorphins – the body's natural painkiller, which is also associated with heightened energy levels. It is produced during sex, but also during any form of physical contact with a partner. Yes, your partner can be better than an energy drink with just a hug, some cuddling and kissing to get you motivated. Norepinephrine and dopamine are also known to elevate energy levels and are both released during sexual activity as well.
9. You Think and Feel Positive All the Time
With that heady cocktail of chemicals, your brain sends you, this should come as little surprise. If you're in love, you find yourself only focusing on the positive. What's a little setback when you have perfect love other only dreams about? If you're feeling this way, just know it is normal. Though you might want to keep one foot grounded in reality as your brain is planning out a future for you and your partner. Maybe you shouldn't move in next door to your in-laws.
10. Your Empathy Levels Increase
What does being in love feel like? It hurts sometimes, especially when your partner is hurt. Moving away from the brain for a moment, this is more about the heart. Everyone has varying degrees of empathy. Cognitive empathy is what helps us understand other people's perspectives so we understand where they are coming. But love builds emotional empathy. It is one thing to understand a person's pain, but it is another to actually feel and share it. If you're feeling the latter, it is a strong indication you may be in love.
11. You Become Possessive
Another less pleasant aspect of being in love is possessiveness. This can be caused both by chemical responses in the brain and... well, just reasonably wanting to hold onto your love and not wanting it to slip away. Clinically, being in a long-term relationship causes a lowering of serotonin levels. This same reduction in serotonin is prevalent in people suffering from obsessive-compulsive behavior. On the bright side, if you're driving your partner a bit crazy, you can at last claim the serotonin made you do it.
12. You're Suddenly Terrified of Your Relationship
When you ask yourself the question, "what does love feel like?", your first answer likely isn't going to be "terror". But this is a surprisingly common reaction. This doesn't happen all the time. If it does, something is wrong and you may have some problem in your relationship that needs resolving. However, most people in love will experience this feeling once. It usually comes when you realize how dependent your life is on the other person. You've come to expect the excitement, trust and comfort they provide and suddenly realize that could all go away. Just remember – there is no joy without risk. To love means to be vulnerable. You put yourself out there. If fear sets in, keep an unwavering eye on the rewards.
To Live Is to Love; To Love Is to Live
While love can be terrifying and confusing, always remember it is in our nature to seek out another. We were never meant to be alone. If you're unsure if you have found love, take this list of signs to heart and see how many questions you have answered yes to. If you are experiencing the signs of love, then cherish that person and share it with them.