Ok, so it’s not really romantic to talk about love in chemical terms like oxytocin, vasopressin and dopamine, but hey – we’re scientists and want to understand why our stomachs go ‘rollercoastering’ when we see the girl or guy we fancy (And maybe understanding will stop us from turning into blundering idiots at the mere sight of them!). So, let’s explore the first stage…

In the brain, romantic love shows similarities to going mildly insane or suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (Makes you feel much better, doesn’t it?!).

When you first fall in love, your serotonin (important for regulating anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, vomiting, sexuality, and appetite) levels plummet and the brain’s reward centres are flooded with dopamine. No wonder you’re getting heart palpitations, sweating and nauseas all at once!

Dopamine gives a high similar to an addictive drug, creating powerful links in our minds between pleasure and the object of our affection. In short: We basically become ‘addicted’ to our love interest.
 
Stay tuned for the next rush of chemicals that get released when you enter that scary thing people call The Long-Term Relationship…