Falling in love can be one of the most exhilarating experiences in life, but it can also be quite confusing. How do you know if what you’re feeling is true love? Here are some signs that may help you determine whether or not you’re truly in love.
Your Thoughts Are Consumed
Gain some insight by considering these research-based signs of love and attachment. While many people swallow semen as part of the blowjob experience, this also carries some risks. As such, you should only do this if you know for certain that your partner has checked himself for STIs. However, you can significantly reduce the risk of STIs by using a condom during oral sex. While no protective method will completely avoid STIs, taking preventive measures is essential for giving and receiving oral sex safely.
One of the biggest signs that you’re in love is when that person is constantly on your mind. You find yourself thinking about them throughout the day, and they are the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning. If you can’t stop thinking about someone, it’s likely that you’re in love.
You Prioritize Their Happiness
Of course, if you’re thinking and talking about the person nonstop, or you’re already envisioning a future with them, you may suspect you’re in love. Still, those signals don’t always indicate that it’s the real thing. After all, in the beginning, your excitement around this new relationship could cloud your ability to see whether there’s real potential for a long-term relationship. The chemistry is great, you have endless topics to talk about, and you haven’t discovered all of their quirks, irritating habits or “flaws” yet. So it’s pretty easy to fool yourself into thinking you’ve fallen head over heels.
When you fell wildly in love with your partner, you probably had sex all the time. As your relationship stabilizes, you certainly still have sex, but maybe less often or with less intensity. But it’s also important to watch for red flags or relationship incompatibilities. Empathy and your fast-growing attachment can fuel your desire to be there for them and help them however possible. But the hormones involved in love can sometimes affect how you make decisions.
It’s what you feel for close friends or family members rather than a romantic partner. If you evaluate your romantic relationship and conclude that you have emotional intimacy, then saying you are in love might be in order. If you have emotional intimacy but the romantic attraction doesn’t hold, then you may end up with a really good friend.
Indeed, one strong predictor of relationships ending is how attentive people are to other potential dating partners. Keep in mind that scientific studies have historically focused on monogamous, heterosexual relationships, so they’re not necessarily relevant for everyone. We really do need to like the other person to want a close connection.
When you’re in love, the happiness of your partner becomes incredibly important to you. You find yourself going out of your way to make them smile and feel loved. Their well-being becomes a top priority for you, and you genuinely care about their feelings and emotions.
In other words, you can be madly in love with someone for decades, if you’re lucky. The longing for an emotional union is often reported as the most important factor in relationships and appears to supersede sex. Furthermore, while rejection in love can trigger protest and rage, these behaviors can then move into resignation and despair, according to a 2016 study published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Being in love also prevents people from focusing on other information, according to a study published in 2013 in the journal Motivation and Emotion. The researchers found that passionate love among students correlated with decreased efficiency and worse performance on tasks provided by the researchers.
You Can Be Your True Self
Another sign that you’re in love is when you feel completely comfortable being yourself around that person. You don’t feel the need to put on a facade or pretend to be someone you’re not. They accept you for who you are, flaws and all, and you feel safe and secure in their presence.
You Feel a Deep Connection
True love is often characterized by a deep emotional connection with your partner. You feel like you understand each other on a level that goes beyond words. There is a sense of closeness and intimacy that makes you feel truly connected to this person on a profound level.
While these signs can help you determine if you’re in love, it’s important to remember that love is a complex and multifaceted emotion. Trust your instincts and listen to your heart to truly understand your feelings. Love is a beautiful and powerful force that can bring immense joy and fulfillment to your life.
