The early stage of romantic obsession mimics the neurological patterns of addiction
The intense early stage of romantic infatuation, known as limerence, utilizes the same dopamine-driven neural pathways as substance addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Romantic obsession, or limerence, functions neurologically like a chemical addiction rather than a standard emotional state. Coined by Dorothy Tennov in 1979 after interviewing over 500 subjects, the term describes an involuntary state where intrusive thoughts of a 'limerent object' occupy up to 85% of a person's waking hours. This phase typically lasts between 18 and 36 months and is characterized by acute sensitivity to signs of reciprocation.
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