What is Love Addiction? Love Has a Complexity, Diversity and Multiplicity of Expression

There are many different kinds of love and love is a good thing. On the other hand, love addiction has its own distinct pros and cons. Love addiction in a positive, constructive light, can be a good thing. When love addiction turns sour and becomes negative and destructive as an obsessive-compulsive, abusive or harmful kind of love, it is not a good thing, Love that is destructive or an adverse in any way, usually indicates that there are serious, emotional relationship problems that need resolution.  

The website, “About Love Addiction”, in an article entitled, “Love addiction consists of three components: Romance, relationship and sexual addiction” suggests that “Our culture has traditionally glorified love addiction with the notion that we fall in love and live "happily ever after…."

If only, that was true. Have you ever really been in love? How do you feel about being in love? Was your experience one that was positive and constructive? Perhaps it was for you and yours. Are you obsessed now to the extent that you want to be in love like that all of the time? Maybe you wonder what is wrong with you, when you are not madly in love.      

“Do you know someone that seems to be in love with the idea of being in love? They constantly chase the ‘true love’ fantasy… find themselves taken advantage of and eventually, quite bitter, hurt or afraid.”

The state of being in love depends in part upon the kind of love that one is referring to, but also its degree of intensity. There is a difference between new, puppy love and more mature, romantic love leading to marriage; then of course, there is passionate love as a temporary or permanent state of being in love.

Ideally, being in love should lead one into a happy and healthy emotional frame of mind. When it does not, then being in love is not a good thing. This may not signify being in love at all. For example, it may merely be a state of dependency upon one another or the means of acquiring a higher social status by maintaining the appearance of being in love. 

There is a true state of being in love, as opposed to a pseudo or false state of being in love. Perhaps it is only those in a true state of being in love, who know the real meaning of love. The other is fleeting, like a feather spiraling fatally downwards in the wind.

Addictions of all kinds tend to lead the one becoming addicted towards harming himself or herself. At times, it means allowing or even encouraging the abuse of a supposed lover, who may not be in love. There is high degree of vulnerability associated with being in love and thus, it is always important to be wary.

True love does not die, as it is forever in one’s heart, whereas false love or pseudo-love cannot live. It is destined to die.

Are you addicted to love or to the idea of being in love? Everyone loves love, so being addicted to love comes easily. Being addicted to the idea of being in love is different. If it makes one happy, then fine, but otherwise, it is not good.

Love addiction in a positive or negative light is like any other addiction. You can be addicted to chocolate and enjoy every tasty morsel or overindulge and suffer the consequences. The nature of addiction is such that the addict always craves more and more. Controlling any addiction is vital to human survival, including an addiction to love.