9 Must-Know Relationship Factors to Demystify Love

The moment you meet someone you're attracted to, everything shifts. You begin to experience emotions you might never have felt before, and your behavior can become a bit unusual! Understanding a few facts about dating and relationships can help you realize that you're not losing your mind.

A lot of this is actually beyond our control—it's all driven by the brain and the chemicals it releases.

These psychological insights into relationships can shed light on your feelings and actions when you form a connection with someone.

They say love is blind, but is it really? And what’s happening when you feel those butterflies in your stomach? Learning about these things is fascinating, and while it won't spoil the mystery and excitement of being in love, it will deepen your understanding of the experience!

# Love has three stages

The journey of love begins with lust, a powerful and often overwhelming feeling that's easily mistaken for love. Next, you develop an attraction, where you want to learn more about the person.

Finally, you reach the attachment phase, falling deeply in love. While this attachment doesn’t last for everyone, it doesn’t diminish the value or significance of the love experienced.

# Lust is rooted in a desire for reproduction

Whether you're aware of it or not, and regardless of your desire for children, lust is driven by an instinctive need to reproduce. It’s a deeply ingrained reaction, likely outdated, but it dates back to early humans when reproducing was essential for survival. Perhaps this is one relationship fact you don’t need to stress over!

# Attraction and obsession are closely linked

The term obsession may seem extreme, often associated with negative behaviors like stalking. However, when you’re truly attracted to someone, your brain reacts similarly to how it does during an obsession. This explains the butterflies and heightened excitement when you're first attracted to someone.

# Attraction suppresses your appetite

You’ve probably heard that when you’re falling for someone, you can’t eat, sleep, or think straight. At least the eating part holds some truth! During the attraction stage, your brain releases norepinephrine and dopamine, which can actually reduce your appetite. This dating fact may help explain why food seems less important when you’re falling in love.

# Loving chocolate feels a bit like falling in love

Ever find that one piece of chocolate isn’t enough, and you end up eating the whole bar? There’s a reason for that! The hormone phenylethylamine, released by your brain when you fall in love, is also found in chocolate. So, in a way, loving chocolate is a little like experiencing the feelings of love.

# Falling in love gives you a natural high

While drugs are off-limits, falling in love provides a similar rush! A study found that the brain patterns of someone falling in love mirror those of someone who’s taken cocaine. It turns out love can give you that same euphoric feeling without the harmful effects.

# Your brain, not your heart, is responsible for love

We often associate love with the heart, but it’s actually your brain running the show. Your brain releases hormones that control your emotions and actions. The idea that love comes from the heart is more of a romanticized image—after all, the brain isn’t as appealing to put on packaging!

# Love can make you do unusual things

People in love are often said to act a little irrationally, and science backs this up! Falling in love can impair your judgment, making you act in ways you typically wouldn’t. Rational thinking often takes a back seat, and instead, you’re driven by desire and emotion.

# Your heartbeat can sync with your partner's

After being together for some time, your heart may beat in sync with your partner’s. Just like how menstrual cycles align between close friends, it seems that hearts can harmonize between lovers too. How adorable is that?