Limerence: When Infatuation Feels Like Love, But Isn’t

A RA:WON Playbook Blog by Parita Sharma | SEVEE

What Is Limerence?

Limerence is an emotional state of overwhelming infatuation. It’s not the steady warmth of love — it’s the rush, the spark, the constant daydreaming about someone.

In limerence, your thoughts circle around one person:

• “Do they like me back?”

• “What did that message mean?”

• “If only they said yes, everything would feel perfect.”

It’s intoxicating — but it can also be exhausting, because it’s less about connection and more about obsession.

Why Does Limerence Happen?

Limerence often arises when there’s uncertainty. When the relationship isn’t stable or secure, the brain gets hooked on the highs and lows.

• A little attention feels like a spark of hope.

• A little distance feels like heartbreak.

This emotional rollercoaster tricks your nervous system into craving more — even if it hurts you.

Sometimes, limerence fills a void: loneliness, unmet needs, or even old wounds from childhood.

🚩 Signs You Might Be in Limerence

• Constantly checking your phone for their messages

• Daydreaming about a future together, even without real closeness

• Feeling anxious when they’re distant, euphoric when they respond

• Ignoring red flags because the fantasy feels too strong

• Feeling “addicted” to their presence, approval, or attention

Limerence vs Love

• Love is steady, safe, and respectful of boundaries.

• Limerence is obsessive, uncertain, and often one-sided.

Love makes you feel grounded.

Limerence makes you feel restless, desperate, or incomplete without them.

SEVEE’s Reality Check

If you recognize yourself in this, know that you’re not “crazy.” You’re human. Your brain is responding to intensity, not intimacy.

Limerence doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means you’re longing for deep connection. And that’s a very human need.

Healing begins with awareness. Naming it. Learning to fill your own cup so you don’t mistake obsession for love.

Talk with SEVEE — for online therapy sessions. To meet us in person whats app +919712777330 Amdavad, Gujarat, India. We’ll help you find the difference between fantasy and real love, and guide you back to steady ground.