Several studies find that love can stimulate the same areas of the brain as drugs and be just as addictive
US tabloids have spent weeks speculating about the reasons for a potential split between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Among the strangest of these explanations was “love addiction”. In fact, at TMZ, they took this theory so seriously that they even interviewed psychologists and neurologists.
The chemicals released by the body when falling in love can be more addictive than a drug. So says award-winning anthropologist Helen Fisher, who has spent decades researching love.
According to Fisher, between 12 and 15 months after a romance begins, this hormonal flood subsides. “Romantic love, at its best, is a wonderful addiction. In the worst cases, it leads to depression, suicide, and even murder. In fact, our studies show that when a person falls in love, the same areas of the brain are stimulated as those of drug addicts.”.
According to the expert, it is possible to get sick after a breakup and this is due to the release of hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, which leave the brain wanting more…
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While it’s normal to equate love addiction with emotional dependence, author and psychologist Lara G. Ferreiro reports that—in fact—such dependence is not necessarily toxic unlike addiction.
“It is not naive to be emotionally dependent on the people we love. Healthy interdependence between adults is wonderful. Dependency means connection, but it’s a problem when emotional addiction comes into play. That’s the hook”says the psychologist.
Addiction is positive when one’s love is mutual, healthy, and appropriate (that is, when neither person involved is in a relationship with another person or has other significant problems). And it is negative when feelings of romantic love are inappropriate, toxic, unrequited or even formally rejected.
On the question of why some people experience the romantic relationship in a much more dangerous and toxic way, the psychologist points out that the development of an addiction is multifaceted and can be influenced by various variables.
During the first phase of falling in love, the presence of dopamine (the hormone associated with pleasure and well-being) plays an important role. This hormone, she says, can serve as the “doorway” through which other factors enter, such as a person’s personal history, experiences, self-esteem, mental health and attachment style.
The combination of these factors will largely determine the decisions a person makes and how they experience emotions. For example, if a person developed an insecure attachment style in childhood, this can affect how they relate to a partner. If you have suffered from anxiety, depression or other mental health related problems, you may be more likely to develop this type of addiction. In addition, on a genetic level, there are people who may be predisposed to develop addictive behaviors.
Jennifer Lopez’s song “Can’t Get Enough” is itself a parody of love addiction. “Jennifer Lopez Satires Her Own Love Addiction in ‘Can’t Get Enough’ – What Does Ben Affleck Think?”, wonders in an article in “People”. The couple has yet to make any public statement on the matter.
Since love addicts often bounce from relationship to relationship, experts say, it’s important to reflect to better understand where they want to go and who they could be if they beat their addiction.
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
