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SALimerence activates the same reward circuits in the brain as addiction. In the early stages, when you feel seen, desired or hopeful, your brain releases dopamine, norepinephrine & phenylethylamine - chemicals linked to excitement, focus & motivation. It’s quite literally a neurological high, thats why it feels so good. It also wakes up the inner child that has longed for so long to feel chosen. Every scrap of attention becomes a hit of reward
But unlike healthy Love, which is more grounded in oxytocin (bonding, safety, consistency) limerence is built on intermittent reinforcement, the most powerful mechanism in addiction.
You get just enough to stay hooked, but never enough to feel secure. Your brain starts chasing the next dopamine spike, while your nervous system slides between euphoria and panic....
Being stuck in the limerence loop, with time, can lead to a slow burnout of sorts. It becomes both habitual and depleting. What once felt like a rush now feels like a compulsion you wish you could release, but don’t know how... It consumes your focus and drains your life force.
How might you slowly practice redirecting that life force?
See my other content on the topic for more tools/insights @sashablossom
— note that there isn’t a lot of clinical research on this topic (yet!) so much of this is based on anecdotal evidence & observations
#healing #attachment #limerence #cptsd #dopamine #viral #oxytocin
@sashablossom
