We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Am I Addicted to Love?

By Alison Faria
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Those who are addicted to love have a continuous longing for the perfect romantic relationship. When a love addict does not find the kind of perfection they want in one romantic partner, they usually end the relationship quickly. Soon after, they typically find a new partner and continue the pattern. While in a relationship, love addicts become very dependent on their partners, even obsessed. People with a love addiction can also confuse love with lust, and become addicted to sex.

In some cases, people become addicted to love as a result of external factors. These factors can include emotional abuse, specifically in the form of neglect. Those who experience stress in their personal or professional life might also turn to love as a coping mechanism.

Many people who seek the ideal romantic relationship seek to control every aspect of their relationships. While they might think it is an effort to achieve a perfect relationship, it could also be a subconscious fear of being emotionally hurt. This fear is often coupled with a fear of rejection; often love addicts want to leave a relationship before someone leaves them.

Preoccupation can be an early sign of someone being addicted to love. The person might spend a considerable amount of time each day fantasizing about the ideal romantic partner and perfect romantic situations. This fantasizing can often lead to increased sexual arousal and frustration. In an effort to alleviate this frustration, the person might start requiring his or her lover to role play these fantasies.

Over time, people who are addicted to love might want to stop their actions, but feel powerless. This behavior can fuel anxiety as to whether or not they will ever be able to maintain a long-term relationship. Dependency on drugs or alcohol can also be a contributing factor.

Generally, a person who is addicted to love needs to figure out what he or she can realistically expect in a partner. A period of sexual abstinence is also sometimes recommended to enable the person to successfully separate feelings of love from sexual desire. The recovery process for people who realize that they're addicted to love often has to do with them gaining a true understanding that romantic perfection is usually unattainable. Various therapists and support groups can help with this realization, so that love addicts can start building healthy relationships.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Reminiscence — On Jan 24, 2014

I've known some people I'd say were definitely addicted to love. Every week they'd come into the office and start talking non-stop about a new person they just met online or at a party. It was always a magical experience or God brought them together or whatever. About three weeks later, they'd come in and look absolutely miserable. The relationship didn't work out and now life was unbearable.

Sometimes I'd try to cheer them up by saying the usual things like "You'll find someone else" or "there are plenty of fish in the sea", but they'd still stay depressed for days. Then suddenly, the cycle would start all over again and they'd be happy about meeting someone new. It can really be an addiction, like trying to swear off alcohol and then going back to the bar scene a week later. It drives me crazy.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.