Infidelity:Is it love or love addiction?
74Is the Affair Love or Love Addiction?
Is it Love or Love Addiction?
By Jeffrey D. Murrah
When people start a new relationship, even an affair, there is excitement. In the case of an affair, there is the excitement of learning about someone new along with the excitement that goes with engaging in activities that are seen as forbidden. The Bible even mentions that “bread eaten in secret is sweet”. There is something about engaging in the forbidden that is alluring. This double dose of excitement makes the experience very emotionally intense.
The strong intensity of emotions, besides making the person feel good, has some other effects. The extra strong intensity often triggers reactions in the brain chemistry. Modern science is finding that the ideas that have been known in addiction communities for many years does have solid biological foundations. The changes in brain chemistry begin a process where the person wants that level of stimulation again. Without a lengthy explanation of the brain chemistry involved in “falling in love”, the simple explanation is the person enjoys the sensation and wants more of it.
The Neurochemistry of Love
Love Addiction Explained
Signs & Symptoms of Love Addiction
- Confusing love and sex
- Unable to concentrate due to the power of obsessive thoughts
- Looking for someone to "fix" or take care of you
- Poor boundaries with others
- Talking seductively
- Frequent use of double meaning words
- Cosmetic surgery
- Unwanted tattoos
- Getting high from romance
- Angry outburst when threatned with abandonment
- Prefering fantasy to reality
- Frequent use of role play in sex life
- Feeling worthless without a partner
- Excessive jealousy
- Rapid weight fluctuations
Love Addiction Resources by Pia Mellody
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The desire for ‘more’, is what often leads people to develop addictions to love and affairs. Although it sounds extreme to some segments of the population, there is a phenomena known as ‘love addiction”. Those afflicted with it are often seeking the strong blast of feel good brain chemicals associated with falling in love rather than the long term commitment. When they see a perspective person, they begin fantasizing. The fantasies are often accompanied by purchases associated with a new relationship. Even before they meet the ‘love of their life’, their adrenalin and other brain chemicals are working overtime after being triggered by expectations. Their fantasies about what the new lover will be like, propels them into an emotional frenzy. These people find themselves reacting without thinking. Their thinking often becomes obsessive. While in this state, they are in a form of hypnotic trance. These love addicts are more focused on romance than sex.
With the love/romance addict, there are often periods when they will swear off relationships. This is only temporary. Soon they find the right person and they are once again in the midst of extreme behaviors. They never seem to learn from their mistakes and repeat a relationship binge and purge cycle.
The Reality of Sexual Addiction
"Addictions can only exist where there are contradictions"-Patrick Carnes
Understanding love addicts and sexual addicts is important in dealing with affairs. Often times the affair is not driven by a dislike of the spouse, but rather by the addictive processes that are going on with their spouse. Responding to such compulsive behavior as in the love addict or sex addict requires a different approach than dealing with someone who is looking to scratch a seven year itch. Although the public often jokes about sex addicts, those afflicted with sex or love addiction suffer miserably. Sexual acts are about performing and seeking a release as part of a cycle rather the enjoyment of enjoying another person in the act of love.
Help for Infidelity
- Reconnecting with life
One of the ways the trauma of an affair impact peoples lives is the “disconnection with life.” Although there is an alienation between you and your spouse, the alienation does not stop there. It often spreads to where you pull away from friends, activities, emotions, your body, self-care, spirituality, mental stimulation and in some cases [...] - 3 days ago
- The exit affair
Paul Simon’s song “50 ways to leave your lover” touched on a topic that pains many people. Leaving a lover is never easy. Leaving a spouse is not so easy either. Affairs are often easier to start than they are to end. The beginning of one relationship often means that another one will need to [...] - 4 days ago
- The Other Side of Sexual Addiction
The topic of sexual addiction is one of the issues that people are now willing to discuss in relation to infidelity. Even though couples are willing to look at sex addictions, the other side of sexual addiction and its impact on affairs is not addressed as frequently. The other side of sexual addiction is sexual [...] - 6 days ago
- The Affair Recovery System
A marriage can survive an affair, but can you? Discover what to do and when in order to salvage your marriage relationship. - Marriage Counseling
Is your marriage worth saving? Is your marriage beyond repair? Find out how and what to do in your marriage in order to turn it around. Limited Counseling Slots available with the author. - CrossRoads Counseling of the Rockies
- Houston Center for Christian Counseling
- Paraclete Counseling Center
Paraclete Counseling Center.
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