Monday, June 29, 2026 Sign In
Voices

Madly We Love and Sharply We Fall

Although we don’t tend to think of romantic love as addictive, an emerging body of neurobiological and psychological research suggests that it can be.

Madly We Love and Sharply We Fall
Credit: Bruno Ribeiro/Pexels

The difference between passion and addiction is that between a divine spark and a flame that incinerates. —Gabor Maté

Falling in love is one of the most euphoric natural experiences we can have as humans. If you’ve ever been madly in love, you know the captivating sensation all too well. You meet a special someone and they catch your attention — there’s a spark, a chemistry, something that intrigues you. As you get to know them, you find yourself obsessively thinking about them and yearning to talk to them, touch them, and be around them as much as possible because you feel incredible when they’re near. Over time, this person becomes the focal point of your life — this is the addictive high of falling in love.

What’s Love Addiction?