Location: Endorphin theory of love

Discussion: romantic endorphinReported This is a featured thread

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Posted Anonymously
romantic endorphin
May 14 2009, 1:13 PM EDT | Post edited: May 14 2009, 1:13 PM EDT
Q. If a person is madly in love 24-7, does it mean his or her brain cells will secrete endorphins all the time? If yes, what could be the adverse effects? Do you find this valuable?    
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Sadi-Carnot
Sadi-Carnot
1. RE: romantic endorphin
May 14 2009, 2:37 PM EDT | Post edited: May 14 2009, 2:37 PM EDT
A quick answer, based on the rat brain studies, seems to be yes. As such pain thresholds will be higher and the feel-good state will be set on high; subsequently, one might be prone to doing more risky things, where caution advise against in the normal state. To say whether this is an adverse affect or instead part of a natural transformation process in which bonds are transforming (breaking, forming, or reconfiguring) would require more in depth analysis. Do you find this valuable?    

Posted Anonymously
2. RE: romantic endorphin
May 15 2009, 11:56 AM EDT | Post edited: May 15 2009, 11:56 AM EDT
Thank you for your response.
As far as I know, endorphins has similar characteristics like morphines found on different drugs such as heroin or marijuana. So based on that is it appropriate to say that the effects of endorphin will be similar to that of such drugs? If so then will the body become dependant on endorphin? Will sudden withdrawal of endorphin have adverse effects on body as in case of those drugs? Do you find this valuable?    
Sadi-Carnot
Sadi-Carnot
3. RE: romantic endorphin
May 16 2009, 11:46 AM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2009, 11:46 AM EDT

What you seem to be digging at are people termed “love junkies” (or romance junkies, or attraction junkies). See Helen Fisher’s 1994 book Anatomy of Love, pg. 53, where she discusses the ealier work of psychologists Michael Liebowitz and Donald Klein who treated patients they called “attraction junkies”. See chapter 5: Romantic Difficulties of Liebowitz’ 1983 book The Chemistry of Love, where he discusses the difference between “attachment junkies” and “attachment addicts”, for further discussion.
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