Have you ever found yourself completely consumed by thoughts of someone, to the point where it feels less like a crush and more like an overwhelming, permanent presence in your mind?

In this episode, we are doing a deep, nuanced dive into the concept of limerence - a state of profound romantic infatuation, obsessive thoughts, and an intense desire for emotional reciprocation. If you have ever felt trapped by these intense feelings, or wondered why your brain seems to latch onto a specific person with such intensity, this episode is a compassionate space to understand the psychology behind it.

We break down the core ingredients that allow limerence to take root and explore why the object of our affection is referred to psychologically as a "limerent object." We also examine the science behind attachment and love, contrasting limerence with Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love and look at the neurobiology and brain chemistry driving these loops. Finally, we discuss actionable, realistic steps to help you move through these feelings and find clarity on the other side.

00:00 Introducing Limerence: What It Is and Signs 
03:15 An Example of Limerence in Pop Culture
07:20 The Two Main Ingredients for Limerence to Grow 
10:05 A Test to Ask Yourself and Ways Limerence Can Play Out 
11:30 Why Are They Called a Limerent Object? 
14:08 How Limerence Feels: The Emotional Experience 
14:55 How We Choose Who to Be Limerent For 
16:28 Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love (Different Types of Love) 
19:44 The Neurobiology of Love, Attachment, and Brain Chemistry 
21:20 Why Do We Become Limerent? (Root Causes) 
23:52 Steps to Move Through and to the Other Side of Limerent Feelings

Resources: 
2 Videos by Heidi Priebe on Limerence: 
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l5ALCPEBkc 
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_jzKWiLdE0
Blog on Limerence mentioned
- https://livingwithlimerence.com/blog/ 
- Book by Dorothy Tennov Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love
- SLAA: https://slaafws.org/meetings/ 
- Sternberg's triangular theory of love - the second image has it more filled out if you scroll down a little: https://www.simplypsychology.org/types-of-love-we-experience.html
- You Reclaimed - I cannot find the video I saw by her but some of her other videos may be helpful too: https://www.youtube.com/@YouReclaimedProject/videos

Part 2 on Limerence: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318937/episodes/19445097

Part 1 of Self-worth Series can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318937/episodes/19265696

Full Self-worth series playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPJBR0a3Yz6vsH5TkuPFtd2b7YgbL11OG

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