That's because feelings of a crush and feelings of love release the mood-boosting hormones dopamine and oxytocin to the brain, Stephanie Cacioppo, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at The University of Chicago, told INSIDER.
Your feelings don't fade
One sign that this is more than a crush: "Your feelings don't dissipate over time but get stronger and deeper," says Irina Firstein, LCSW. So basically, if you've been feeling this way about your special person for a looong time, it's definitely possible that you're in love.
According to psychologists, crushes often last a few months, with a minor percentage developing into a relationship. This statistic may stem from the fact that many crushes are founded in infatuation instead of an attachment.
Someone with a crush will look for reasons to touch the other person, often in a playful and flirty way. They may seem fidgety or nervous, and may subconsciously begin to copy the movements of their crush. Someone who is in love with you will seem very comfortable and secure around you.
There are five components to attraction and developing a crush: physical attractiveness, proximity, similarity, reciprocity, and familiarity. We are often drawn to people who are similar to us as well as people who remind us of loved ones whether that be parents, past partners, or friends.
Psychologically speaking, crushes occur when a person of any age projects their ideas and values onto another person whom they believe possesses certain attributes and with whom they want to be associated. Then, the person with the crush attaches strong positive feelings to this magical image that they have created.
Catching her staring at you is the biggest sign she has a crush. Look for other telltale cues like blushing, giggling, or making excuses to be together. Listen carefully to what she says—if she asks you about your crushes or talks about how she wants a boyfriend, she's dropping you some hints.
First crushes may occur at any time, but generally start at around 10-13 years of age. They are an important step in developing normal and healthy romantic relationships, and provide opportunities to learn how to compromise and communicate.
Interest is the initial stage of having a crush. It starts with the locking of eyes and ends with butterflies in your stomach. You feel giddy as soon as you see them, and you are eager to know their name.
Be honest, open, and direct, and let them know that you're interested in them. 5. Use a mutual friend: If you're too nervous to confess your feelings directly, you can ask a mutual friend to help you out. Ask them to talk to your crush and see if they feel the same way, or to pass on a message from you.
Tennov suggests that limerence can last a few weeks to several decades, the average ranging from 18 months to three years. The length can depend on whether feelings are reciprocated, which can make limerence linger.
The reason why crushes feel so intense is that the person with the crush craves deep intimacy with their object. It's the kind of closeness that is difficult (but not impossible) to come by in friendship. Imagining that intimacy is euphoric. But with true intimacy, you get to see the best and worst in someone.
If they blush around you, laugh uncontrollably for almost no reason, can't look you in the eye, or fidgets a lot, then you have your answer. These are all tell-tale signs of someone who is crushing. See if they mirror your behavior. A common sign of attraction can be shown through imitation.
There's no need to delay. Once you're alone and have made your crush comfortable, you should just tell them how you feel. The sooner you do it, the better, and the less likely you'll be to make yourself more nervous or likely to ramble on about something unrelated. Just be simple and direct.
If you're hoping confessing will lead to a relationship, it's probably a good idea to confess. However, crushes do not have to go anywhere. If you would rather not pursue a relationship with this person for any reason, it may be best to keep your crush to yourself.
How Long Does It Take to Get Over a Crush? Mild crushes can fade within a few weeks. Serious crushes are generally limited to the early stages of a relationship, or two years if no relationship develops. If your crush lingers for longer than two years, it's technically classified as limerence.
While some crushes dissipate within days or hours even, others can last a lifetime too. So, yes, a crush can last for years, 7 or even lesser.