Limerence - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

shoe · 03-06-2004, 05:05 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence

This has got me so confused now. What i thought was love all my life turns out to be some sort of chemical imbalance. How do i know if i've ever been in love now ?

Just recently i've had this state of limerence die on me. I thought i was just 'over' this last person and this raised alot of questions in my mind. I dont think il be secure about my feelings in relationships anymore, this is scaring the hell out of me. How can i trust my feelings if theyre just about to die on me sometime unexpected ?

Has this ever happenned to you ? How did you differentiate love/limerence ? Have you kept a relationship after this state died ?

doncalypso · 03-06-2004, 05:20 PM

Stay away from chocolate....

Chocolate induces the release of the same neurotransmitter (dopamine, I think) that characterizes the euphoric feeling we associate with being "in love."

Biochemically speaking, love is nothing but an overdose of chocolate.

moonstrucksoul · 03-06-2004, 06:11 PM

but i LOVE chocolate

motdakasha · 03-06-2004, 06:20 PM

While limerence is a change in chemical levels, it's perfectly normal. Love is also a change in chemical levels. Emotions are caused by chemicals. So be careful when you say "imbalance" because emotions, which are a series of chemical reactions, are perfectly healthy and normal in most situations. You're not defective if you experience limerence.

*Nikki* · 03-06-2004, 07:02 PM

Hmm. This is a interesting article. Makes me think

Skettios · 03-06-2004, 07:04 PM

Holy shit. I get this all of the time. It's almost to the point where I don't ever want to think about a girl seriously, because I just get out of control. That short little article has explained quite a bit to me.

zfleebin · 03-06-2004, 07:27 PM

I will agree this is an interesting theory but I wouldnt take it as much more than that. If you read up on Tennov you will find that she never did research to prove this theory and those that did research limerence disproved her hypothesis. The research about neurotransmitters and love is just as misleading because we have found significant relationships between the two but we cannot imply causation with the current research. So, as sad as it is you can have a free flowing IV of chocolate (sounds like fun) but you still will not experience love.

motdakasha · 03-06-2004, 10:14 PM

Personally, I think it's difficult to deny that there is a physiological and scientific aspect to emotions and love. I don't buy the humanist approach. Everything we feel is a product of chemical or electrical activity in our bodies. We may not have it pinpointed yet, but there's a lot we still don't know about the human brain and body. We're working on it, though.

http://health.discovery.com/converge...inginlove.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3261309.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3236328.stm

zfleebin · 03-07-2004, 07:40 AM

Motdakasha: I agree love definitely has a physiological basis but our understanding of the brain is too primitive to make applied research of love reasonable. The relationships between chemicals active in the brain and love are very strong. Still, I think it will be a while before we develop a true causal relationship between oxytocin, dopamine, etc and what we call love. Those articles are interesting and Dr. John Marsden is a respected researcher in substance abuse. I have to admit I find it funny though that he is trying to take credit for a Freudian hypothesis:
"Dr Marsden's research for the BBC's Body Hits series suggests people look for similar features to themselves in a partner as they are searching for characteristics in their mother and father, who have already successfully raised a child"

RoboBlaster · 03-07-2004, 04:01 PM

zfleebin, you always beat me to the point. Now, how am I supposed to sound smart if you are always doing it first. Anyway, I totally agree, it's hard to say if chemicals cause feelings, or the feelings cause the chemicals. I know what will make me sound smart!:

post hoc, ergo propter hoc

03-06-2004, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
shoe Crazy Location: Montreal , Quebec	Limerence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence This has got me so confused now. What i thought was love all my life turns out to be some sort of chemical imbalance. How do i know if i've ever been in love now ? Just recently i've had this state of limerence die on me. I thought i was just 'over' this last person and this raised alot of questions in my mind. I dont think il be secure about my feelings in relationships anymore, this is scaring the hell out of me. How can i trust my feelings if theyre just about to die on me sometime unexpected ? Has this ever happenned to you ? How did you differentiate love/limerence ? Have you kept a relationship after this state died ?

03-06-2004, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
doncalypso TFP Mad Scientist Location: Philadelphia, PA	Stay away from chocolate.... Chocolate induces the release of the same neurotransmitter (dopamine, I think) that characterizes the euphoric feeling we associate with being "in love." Biochemically speaking, love is nothing but an overdose of chocolate. __________________ Doncalypso... the one and only Haitian Sensation

03-06-2004, 06:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
moonstrucksoul hovering in the distance Location: the land of milk and honey	but i LOVE chocolate __________________ no signature required

03-06-2004, 06:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
motdakasha Hiya Puddin'! Miss me? Location: Silicon Valley, CA	While limerence is a change in chemical levels, it's perfectly normal. Love is also a change in chemical levels. Emotions are caused by chemicals. So be careful when you say "imbalance" because emotions, which are a series of chemical reactions, are perfectly healthy and normal in most situations. You're not defective if you experience limerence. __________________ =^-^= motdakasha =^-^= Just Google It. BA Psychology & Photography (I'm not going psychoanalyze you nor will I let you cry on my shoulder. Have a nice day.)

03-06-2004, 07:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Skettios Condition: Stable and Improving Location: Finger on the little red button.	Holy shit. I get this all of the time. It's almost to the point where I don't ever want to think about a girl seriously, because I just get out of control. That short little article has explained quite a bit to me. __________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies. Frederich Nietzsche

03-06-2004, 07:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	Hmm. This is a interesting article. Makes me think

03-06-2004, 07:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
zfleebin Addict	I will agree this is an interesting theory but I wouldnt take it as much more than that. If you read up on Tennov you will find that she never did research to prove this theory and those that did research limerence disproved her hypothesis. The research about neurotransmitters and love is just as misleading because we have found significant relationships between the two but we cannot imply causation with the current research. So, as sad as it is you can have a free flowing IV of chocolate (sounds like fun) but you still will not experience love.

03-06-2004, 10:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
motdakasha Hiya Puddin'! Miss me? Location: Silicon Valley, CA	Personally, I think it's difficult to deny that there is a physiological and scientific aspect to emotions and love. I don't buy the humanist approach. Everything we feel is a product of chemical or electrical activity in our bodies. We may not have it pinpointed yet, but there's a lot we still don't know about the human brain and body. We're working on it, though. http://health.discovery.com/converge...inginlove.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3261309.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3236328.stm __________________ =^-^= motdakasha =^-^= Just Google It. BA Psychology & Photography (I'm not going psychoanalyze you nor will I let you cry on my shoulder. Have a nice day.)

03-07-2004, 07:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
zfleebin Addict	Motdakasha: I agree love definitely has a physiological basis but our understanding of the brain is too primitive to make applied research of love reasonable. The relationships between chemicals active in the brain and love are very strong. Still, I think it will be a while before we develop a true causal relationship between oxytocin, dopamine, etc and what we call love. Those articles are interesting and Dr. John Marsden is a respected researcher in substance abuse. I have to admit I find it funny though that he is trying to take credit for a Freudian hypothesis: "Dr Marsden's research for the BBC's Body Hits series suggests people look for similar features to themselves in a partner as they are searching for characteristics in their mother and father, who have already successfully raised a child"

03-07-2004, 04:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
RoboBlaster Psycho Location: Ouuuterrrr Spaaaaacccceeee	zfleebin, you always beat me to the point. Now, how am I supposed to sound smart if you are always doing it first. Anyway, I totally agree, it's hard to say if chemicals cause feelings, or the feelings cause the chemicals. I know what will make me sound smart!: post hoc, ergo propter hoc