Entry #4 (Self-generated)

Is Love Only Chemicals?

A very interesting topic that has been clouding my mind is the research of the mind and personality when it comes to "love". Many research studies have shown that the concept of love comes mainly from the chemicals in the brain. The chemical is called Dopamine. This chemical makes someone feel happy or excited. In the early stages of a romantic relationship dopamine is usually the most noticeable chemical active in the brain. It floods the brain in a matter described as fireworks. 

 Attraction happens often in life, but once you get attached to the person the brain then starts to get addicted to the dopamine that floods in. 

Once you have "fallen" for your significant other, your brain becomes more relaxed and starts to control the doses of dopamine. 

After attraction and connection, the brain starts to release oxytocin. Oxytocin is shown to be key to fostering trust and commitment. This is released into our brains during times of intimacy, such as when mothers breastfeed their babies or an orgasm during sex. Unlike dopamine, oxytocin is more subtle and sticks around longer, leaving a deeper attachment with your significant other.

This is ultimately why relationships are unable to last a lifetime. The reason for cheating and divorce isn't because couples just became unhappy, it is because the chemicals in their brains became overused and either stopped producing or became numb. Lastly, I found that the stages after a harsh breakup can even physically pain you. While it's all not real physical pain, the emotional pain you are overwhelmed with in your brain causes your brain to make it feel like physical pain. Research has shown that while it can be hard to recall how much something hurt a year ago physically, for example scrape on the knee, emotional pain can be recalled and re-experienced for a long time. 

What do you think about these studies and the chemicals that activate in the brain during intimacy? Do you believe physical pain is worse than emotional? Comment your thoughts below and thanks for reading my blog!