5 Signs You’re in a Passionate Love Affair!

Passionate love is an intensely lived romantic relationship. “This type of love catches fire quickly and is highly intertwined,” explains Sandra Barba, a psychotherapist. “It often stems from the hope of finding the perfect partner who understands you completely. In reality, it’s about projecting our desires onto another person.” Passionate love grows within the realm of fantasy, fulfilling some people’s dreams of ideal love. Here are the hallmark signs of passionate love.

1. A Constant Need to Be Together

From the moment of meeting, the other person becomes akin to an addiction that you can’t shake off. “You feel the need to be with them all the time. You’re always together because they thrill you,” Barba notes. “The couple becomes isolated from the world, completely self-sufficient.”

2. Heightened Physical Desire

In passionate love, the constant physical attraction is significant, marked by an ongoing desire to make love. “You’re drawn to each other like magnets,” adds the psychotherapist.

3. Fear of Losing the Other

Passionate love keeps the relationship in an emotional dependency. “This fear of loss is a central issue in this type of love and can further fuel anxiety,” warns Barba.

“When this romantic passion dominates everything and hinders progress, it’s unlikely to last”

4. Intense Emotions

Love is felt intensely and powerfully. Emotions are heightened, and the other person is idealized. “It can feel like you’ve found your soulmate, that you exist because of them. They act as a highly positive and affirming mirror,” emphasizes the professional.

5. Possessiveness

Since the world revolves solely around the other person, passionate love doesn’t leave much room for external activities or independence.

While the beginnings of a relationship can be passionate, typically, the intensity of emotions diminishes over time, giving way to a healthier, more constructive love. However, this isn’t always the case. When passionate love takes over and prevents moving forward or doing things independently, it’s unlikely to be sustainable. “Since the relationship is based on fantasy, it requires ongoing nurturing,” the professional notes. “Flaws are often obscured by the fantastical aspect, and when reality sets back in, the disappointment can be severe.” Sandra Barba then advises, if the pain becomes too great, to seek a mental health professional. “If there’s a need, there’s a deficiency. It might be the right time to evaluate your needs and desires and to retain the positives of the relationship: knowing that you can love and be loved in return,” concludes the psychotherapist.

Thanks to Sandra Barba, psychotherapist.