Are your romantic attractions causing you problems?Do you fall in love at the drop of a hat or at least believe you are in love after only a few dates? Do you feel empty and bereft without a partner in your life? Then the chances are you are just a little (or even completely) Addicted to Love.

And I’m not talking about sex addiction here. I’m talking about being addicted to falling in love, being in love, losing yourself in love, or giving it all up for love, type addiction.

This kind of addiction includes a compelling desire for romantic attachments, a need for constant attention from the opposite sex and premature dependency on any one who you perceive will fill that empty place inside you that hurts when its not being filled.

Emotional dependency has consequences on so many levels and if you don’t understand it, then you’ll stay in relationships that don’t serve you, flit from one to another, keep several going at one time and never experience safety and peace in any of them.

Here’s what can happen when you are addicted to love:

• You might stay in a violent or emotionally damaging relationship

• You might keep leaving and then coming back to a relationship that isn’t working
• You might get so distracted that you miss appointments, deadlines or activities because your mind is reserved for your relationship
• You may get jealous and over anxious about whom your partner speaks to, spends time with or even works with
• You may lose patience with your children, friends or family because their needs interrupt your thoughts about your partner
• You may be scared that your partner will leave you and that you will not be able to cope alone or function in your life

Being addicted to love and romance creates a compulsion to experience the euphoria of heightened emotions. These emotions release neurotransmitters in our brains called monoamines made up of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are responsible for ‘puppy love’ feelings. When combined, these chemicals are almost like a drug cocktail, which produces romantic feelings of love. And, you’ve guessed it, the feeling is addictive.

Romance and love addiction is much more about fantasy than reality. It also can stand in the way of real intimacy because the obsessive-compulsive behaviour that accompanies it can cut short a relationship before it even gets started. And Love Addiction can negatively impact every aspect of your everyday life, your work, your family and your friends.

Most of all its unempowering for your own identity. In fact Love Addiction invites and allows the other person to be the sole provider of your happiness. Without them, (and it could be one or several ‘them’s'), you are bereft, alone and powerless.

If the above resonates with you, (even slightly), in the words of the song ‘You might as well accept it, you’re Addicted to Love”. (From just a little to rather a lot).

I can help, I promise. Call me and lets find you some new ways of ‘making love’ that will enhance and enrich your life instead of robbing you of the person you could be loving the most – You!

Love Francine