Is love an addiction?
Addiction places people into a cycle of desire, obsession, and reward. While this cycle has a negative image in society, epic narratives of love (in which advanced forms of obsession are displayed) are glorified in most cultures. So at what point does love, which can release more happiness hormones that the strongest drugs, become devastating?
Some people feel the need to have authority over their partners in order to feel safe in their relationships. This condition, where a lack of self-confidence is reflected onto a partner and the characteristic features of pathological addiction is exhibited, is called immature love. Immature “lovers” can only “love” when their significant other lives according to their requests.
When this situation becomes a pathological addiction, medical intervention can be appropriate. In the personal dimension, being aware of certain things can prevent love from becoming an addiction. One should keep in mind that mature love does not manifest through a motivation to be possessive, but is rather based on mutual respect, is unconditional, and is aware of the fact that its livelihood is acquired through effort.
Here is a song and a movie that handles the relationship between love and addiction:
The movie: Candy
Based on Luke Davies’ novel of the same name, Candy is about two lovers’ addiction to each other and to heroin. The inseparable couple has a burning passion to feel the love flow through every inch of their bodies and live life to the fullest. As this desire transforms into heroin addiction, their relationship takes a dark turn.
Featuring Abbie Cornish opposite the renowned actor Heath Ledger, known for his leading role as the Joker in The Dark Knight Trilogy, this movie, with its engaging plot and cinematography, is a masterpiece of Australian cinema.
The song: Billie Holiday — You Go To My Head
Originally composed in 1938, “You Go To My Head” has taken its place in music folklore as a household jazz standard. Surely, one of the most vivid and colorful covers of the song belongs to one of the most vibrant voices in jazz: Billie Holiday. Our sonic journey attests to the similarities between the addicting and intoxicating effects of alcohol and falling in love.
Source: Sanches, M., & John, V. P. (2019). Treatment of love addiction: Current status and perspectives. European Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 38–44.
