Understanding the Transition of Love: When Your Heart No Longer Beats Fast
Understanding the Transition of Love: When Your Heart No Longer Beats Fast
Are you someone whom you have loved for a long time, and do you still feel the excitement when you see them, even though your heart no longer races?
Firstly, accept that your feelings are a natural part of the love journey. Often, the initial thrills and excitement can fade, while deep and lasting love remains. It signifies that you have made it through the initial brain-on-a-chemical-high phase and moved into a more mature, stable form of love. Let's delve into this process and understand its implications.
The Chemistry of Love
When you first fell for someone, your brain was bombarded with feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones. Norepinephrine or adrenaline made your heart beat faster, while dopamine made you feel excited and happy. Oxytocin nurtured a deep sense of connection and bonding. However, over time, your body adjusts to these chemicals, leading to a less pronounced reaction. This period of adjustment is natural and signifies that you have transitioned to a more intellectual love.
Passing the Initial Stages
It is entirely normal for the initial excitement to wane. You have passed the initial stages that were fun and exciting. The initial high caused by neurochemicals has subsided, allowing you to think more clearly. This is a positive sign, as you can now form a more mature and stable love. Don't worry – there will still be moments when they catch your breath or make your heart race. These moments are a natural part of the relationship and prove that you truly do love them.
The Brain-on-a-Chemical-High Stage
When we first fall for someone, we go through a brain-on-a-chemical-high stage. Our brain releases a significant amount of hormones, leading to intense feelings of obsession, craving, and extreme excitement. This stage is reminiscent of being on recreational drugs and can make us prone to hasty and irrational decisions. This phase typically lasts between 6 months to 2 years.
What comes after this initial stage is a deeper, more stable, and long-lasting form of love. This period is marked by a more mature connection where you begin to love them for who they are, beyond the initial fantasy. If you still love them after this transition, congratulations! You have successfully navigated the initial high and can now build a solid and strong relationship.
Conclusion
When your heart no longer beats fast for someone, it is not a sign of something bad. It simply means that you have grown more accustomed to the chemicals that fueled your initial feelings. This is a natural transition that signifies a more mature and stable love. Embrace the new form of love and look forward to the best bits of your relationship.