Love Drug

February 8th, 2010 | By Persia

The Chemistry Behind the Ultimate Natural High

Few experiences in life can compare with the feeling of being newly in love. In that juicy, adrenaline-laden stage of the relationship, the mere thought of your new-found lover creates feelings so intense and passionate that it’s nearly impossible to concentrate on anything else. Seemingly every minute of the day is preoccupied with fantasies and daydreams about your loved one and your desire to be near him or her is all-consuming. Sensations are heightened. Life seems surreal. Every cell feels alive and your spirit’s vibration is lifted to a higher frequency. In other words, you’re buzzed!

In fact, you are buzzed. Research shows that, chemically speaking, when you’re in love, your brain acts like it’s intoxicated. Specifically, thinking of, seeing a picture of, or interacting with your honey triggers the release of certain hormones that create feelings of elation and pleasure. These hormones include Oxytocin, which can create feelings of sexual arousal and emotional bonding, Dopamine and Vasopressin, which act on the brain’s reward center, Testosterone, which correlates with lust and sex drive and even Cortisol, a stress hormone that creates the “fight or flight” response. Many of these hormones are also triggered under the influence of intoxicants such as cocaine, heroin, and alcohol.

Surprisingly, researchers have found that being in love also correlated with a drop in Serotonin. This hormone helps regulate mood and is thought to play a role in the development of many mental illnesses. An Italian study found that participants who were newly in love presented with lower levels of Serotonin than the control group. Low levels of Serotonin are also associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a condition marked by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. A person with OCD may be plagued by repetitive, intrusive thoughts, similar to the experience of someone who obsessively thinks about his partner.

So what can one take away from the facts about the chemistry of the love buzz? It’s important to recognize your feelings for what they are: Love is a genuine care for another person’s well-being. Being in love is essentially an addiction and like other addictions, it can cause people to become dependent, to suffer from uncontrollable cravings and intolerable withdrawal symptoms and ultimately to develop an increased tolerance and experience diminished intoxication over time. On the other hand, it feels damn good! So enjoy your love buzz, but love responsibly.

For more information about brain chemistry as it pertains to your love life, check out the Science of Sex series at http://dsc.discovery.com. To learn about mental health disorders like OCD, visit www.webmd.com. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have a love addiction, go to http//loveaddicts.org or talk to your doctor.

Photography by Mike Bechner, Black Ice Studios

Model: Samantha  Novak