Most of us think that we can only get addicted to substances like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. But we can actually get addicted to other things like habits, such as gambling, or even to love or to loving someone.
What is addictive love?
Addictive love or addiction to love is when we experience an obsession over someone we used to have a romantic relationship with. In severe instances, when this addiction hinders us from moving on and growing as a person, it becomes detrimental to our social and even mental health.
What are its symptoms?
Just like being addicted to substances, addictive love can have physical symptoms, such as inability to sleep and eat properly, and being consumed by the need to have the object (the person) we are addicted to.
What is the solution?
It might sound cheesy, but the cure to addictive love is to find real, nourishing love. Being in a relationship with this kind of love means that while you and your partner are devoted to each other, your behavior, the choices you make and your personal development are not entirely dependent on each other.
How do you know if you have a healthy relationship?
A simple way to know that you’re in a nourishing relationship is that you and your partner allow each other to grow, be your true self, and make the choices that make you happy.
How do you move on from an addiction to love?
Just like other forms of addiction, the first step to treatment is to recognize that you have a problem and realize that you have to overcome it to become healthy. The next steps are to learn to love yourself and then to learn to open your heart again to loving someone who will love you back.