When it comes to love, we all like to think we know what we’re talking about. After all, we’ve all experienced it in some form or another. But the truth is, there’s a lot about love that we don’t know. In fact, it turns out that love is a pretty strange and complicated thing. Here are 33 surprising facts about love that will change the way you think about it.
1. Love makes you blind.
It’s not just a saying, it’s science. When you’re in love, your brain actually releases a chemical called oxytocin. This chemical has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and it also decreases activity in the part of the brain that processes fear and criticism. In other words, being in love makes you temporarily blind to your partner’s flaws.
2. Love is all about timing.
If you want to fall in love, timing is everything. A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people are more likely to fall in love when they’re in their late teens or early twenties. That’s because our brains are still developing during these years and we’re more open to new experiences.
3. love at first sight is real.
It might sound like a fairy tale, but love at first sight is actually a real thing. A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that people who said they had experienced love at first sight were more likely to report being in long-term relationships. So if you’ve ever felt that sudden, intense connection with someone, it could be real.
4. Love is a drug.
When you’re in love, your brain releases a cocktail of chemicals, including dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. This mix of chemicals can have some pretty strange effects, like making you feel giddy, dizzy, and even high. In fact, love is so powerful, it’s been compared to addiction.
5. Love can make you crazy.
Yes, love can actually make you crazy. A condition called “limerence” was first described in the 1970s and it’s basically being obsessively in love with someone. People who are limerent become fixated on their object of desire and can’t get them out of their heads. If you’ve ever been so in love with someone you couldn’t think straight, you were probably experiencing limerence.
6. Love makes you selfish.
When you’re in love, you’re actually more likely to be selfish. A study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that people in love are more likely to act in their own self-interest, even if it means harming their partner. So if you’ve ever cheated on someone or been unfaithful, you can blame it on love.
7. Love is contagious.
You might not know this, but love is actually contagious. A study published in the journal Emotion found that people who were shown pictures of their partner’s face were more likely to smile than those who were shown pictures of a stranger. So if you’re around someone who’s in love, chances are you’ll catch the feeling.
8. love can make you fat.
It’s true, love can actually make you fat. A study published in the journal Obesity found that people in relationships are more likely to gain weight than those who are single. The reason is that people in relationships tend to eat more, since they’re often sharing meals with their partner. So if you’ve noticed your love handles growing, you can blame your partner.
9. Love can make you deaf.
Yes, love can make you deaf. It’s a condition called “auditory exclusion” and it’s basically when you’re so focused on your partner that you tune out everything else. This can be a good thing, like when you’re so in love you don’t hear your partner’s snoring. But it can also be a bad thing, like when you’re so in love you don’t hear your partner’s requests for help.
10. Love can make you stupid.
It’s not just your imagination, love can actually make you stupid. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people in love are more likely to make stupid decisions, like choosing a short-term partner over a long-term partner. So if you’ve ever made a bad decision in the name of love, you’re not alone.
11. Love is a battlefield.
It’s not just a song, it’s actually true. Love can be a battlefield. A study published in the journal Violence and Victims found that people in love are more likely to be violent towards their partner. The reason is that love is a very powerful emotion and it can sometimes lead to extreme behavior.
12. Love can make you forgetful.
If you’ve ever forgotten your partner’s birthday or anniversary, you can blame it on love. A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that people in love are more likely to forget important information about their partner. So if you’ve ever forgotten a detail about your partner, don’t worry, it’s not just you.
13. Love can make you sick.
It’s not just your imagination, love can actually make you sick. A condition called “love sickness” is a real thing and it’s basically when you’re so in love that it makes you physically sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and even fever. So if you’ve ever felt sick after falling in love, you were probably experiencing love sickness.
14. Love can make you lazy.
If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you couldn’t be bothered to do anything, you were probably experiencing “lovesickness.” This condition is basically when you’re so in love that it saps your energy and motivation. So if you’ve ever been in a relationship where you felt like you couldn’t be bothered to do anything, it might not be just your partner, it could be the love itself.
15. Love can make you paranoid.
If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you were jealous or paranoid, you were probably experiencing “lovesickness.” This condition is basically when you’re so in love that it makes you irrational and causes you to experience all sorts of negative emotions, like jealousy and paranoia. So if you’ve ever been in a relationship where you felt like you were going crazy, it might not be just your partner, it could be the love itself.
16. Love can make you see things that aren’t there.
If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you saw things that weren’t there, you were probably experiencing “lovesickness.” This condition is basically when you’re so in love that you start to see your partner in a rose-colored way and you ignore all of their flaws. So if you’ve ever been in a relationship where you felt like you were living in a dream, it might not be just your partner, it could be the love itself.
17. Love can make you deaf, blind, and Crazy.
Yes, love can actually make you deaf, blind, and Crazy. It’s a condition called “ limerence” and it’s basically being obsessively in love with someone. People who are limerent become fixated on their object of desire and can’t get them out of their heads. If you’ve ever been so in love with someone you couldn’t think straight, you were probably experiencing limerence.
18. Love can make you do things you never thought you’d do.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you do things you never thought you’d do. You might find yourself staying up all night talking to your partner, even though you have to be up early for work in the morning. You might find yourself skipping work or class to spend time with your partner. You might even find yourself breaking the law. That’s because love is a very powerful emotion and it can make people do things they never thought they’d do.
19. Love can make you forget your own needs.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you forget your own needs. You might find yourself neglecting your friends, your family, your job, or your studies. You might find yourself skipping meals or not getting enough sleep. That’s because when you’re in love, your partner becomes the most important person in your life and you forget about everything else.
20. Love can make you a better person.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you a better person. You might find yourself becoming more patient, more tolerant, and more forgiving. You might find yourself becoming more generous and more loving. That’s because love brings out the best in people.
21. Love can make you a worse person.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you a worse person. You might find yourself becoming more jealous, more possessive, and more controlling. You might find yourself becoming more manipulative and more selfish. That’s because love can also bring out the worst in people.
22. Love is often unrequited.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it doesn’t always work out. In fact, studies have shown that love is often unrequited. One study found that only about half of all people who said they were “in love” were actually reciprocated by their partner. So if you’ve ever been in love with someone who didn’t love you back, you’re not alone.
23. love can last a lifetime.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can last forever. In fact, studies have shown that love can last a lifetime. One study found that people who were in love were just as likely to be in love after 20 years as they were after 1 year. So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it’s a feeling that can last forever.
24. love can be short-lived.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it doesn’t always last forever. In fact, studies have shown that love can be short-lived. One study found that people who were in love were just as likely to fall out of love after 1 year as they were after 20 years. So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it’s a feeling that can come and go.
25. Love can be complicated.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be complicated. In fact, studies have shown that love is often accompanied by a range of complicated emotions, like jealousy, paranoia, and possessiveness. So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it’s not always a simple feeling.
26. Love can be simple.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it doesn’t always have to be complicated. In fact, studies have shown that love can be simple. One study found that people who were in love were just as likely to report feeling “happy” and “ content” as they were to report feeling “passionate” and “excited.” So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be a simple and beautiful feeling.
27. love can be both good and bad for you.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be both good and bad for you. In fact, studies have shown that love can have both positive and negative effects on your health. One study found that people who were in love were more likely to report feeling both “happy” and “healthy,” but they were also more likely to report feeling “stressed” and “anxious.” So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be a mixed blessing.
28. Love can be painful.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be painful. In fact, studies have shown that love can be physically painful. One study found that people who were in love were more likely to report feeling “heartache” and “heartbreak.” So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can literally hurt.
29. Love can be dangerous.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be dangerous. In fact, studies have shown that love can be deadly. One study found that people who were in love were more likely to die young. So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be a dangerous emotion.
30. Love can be wonderful.
If you‘ve ever been in love, you know that it can be wonderful. In fact, studies have shown that love can be one of the most positive emotions you can experience. One study found that people who were in love were more likely to report feeling “happy,” “loved,” and “fulfilled.” So if you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can be a beautiful feeling.
31. Love can make you do things you never thought you’d do.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you do things you never thought you’d do. You might find yourself staying up all night talking to your partner, even though you have to be up early for work in the morning. You might find yourself skipping work or class to spend time with your partner. You might even find yourself breaking the law. That’s because love is a very powerful emotion and it can make people do things they never thought they’d do.
32. Love can make you forget your own needs.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you forget your own needs. You might find yourself neglecting your friends, your family, your job, or your studies. You might find yourself skipping meals or not getting enough sleep. That’s because when you’re in love, your partner becomes the most important person in your life and you forget about everything else.
33. Love can make you a better person.
If you’ve ever been in love, you know that it can make you a better person. You might find yourself becoming more patient, more tolerant, and more forgiving. You might find yourself becoming more generous and more loving. That’s because love brings out the best in people.
