Limerence enters your life when someone takes on a special meaning. Tennov describes this term as an unconscious state of mind which results from a romantic attraction to another person. When Limerence sneaks up on someone, this overwhelming, obsessive need to have one’s feelings reciprocated comes upon them. This is said to happen when one experiences “being in love.” All of the examples of Limerence showed a deep infatuation towards another person. It reminded me of what happens in our mind when one sees someone either for the first time or many times, where out of nowhere we develop a crush on that person. It could have been a smile, eye contact, or nothing at all that just triggers these sudden intrusive feelings of Limerence inside of us. Limerence has different levels of arousal and intensity on each person. When Limerence is in control, the person has a strong desire to feel in return one’s feelings in order to provide emotional assurance in that person’s mind. I remember when I first met my boyfriend, I felt like I was on a cloud that was making its way up to heaven. I was so happy and I could not stop thinking about him. At that point, my life was transformed. Limerence made my perceptions grow stronger and my passion for him blossom. Everyone has experienced the works of Limerence at least once in their life.
Limerence is what drives us to want to know more about the people that spark an interest in us. I felt the exact same way when meeting my boyfriend as you did and being able to put a term to the way I was feeling makes me understand my emotions better. Limerence is important but what we do about the feelings is what really makes a difference. We may wonder why we are feeling the way we are but then learn its in some sort of way "natural". If we feel like someone notices us then in turn we may want to know more about them.
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