- Being in love is physically similar to the buzz of taking
drugs and also has withdrawal symptoms, an expert on addiction has said.
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- Dr John Marsden says dopamine - the drug released by
the brain when it is aroused - has similar effects on the body and mind
as cocaine or speed.
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- "Attraction and lust really is like a drug. It leaves
you wanting more," the National Addiction Centre head said.
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- His findings will appear in a BBC programme to be broadcast
next month.
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- Pounding heart
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- "Being attracted to someone sparks the same incredible
feelings no matter who you are. Love really does know no boundaries,"
he said.
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- According to Dr Marsden - a chartered psychologist -
the brain which processes emotions becomes "fired up" when talking
to someone it finds attractive.
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- The heart pounds three times faster than normal and causes
blood to be diverted to the cheeks and sexual organs, which causes the
feeling of butterflies in the stomach, he says.
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- However, as with cocaine and speed, the "hit"
is only temporary, though it can last between three and seven years, he
added.
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- Perfect partner
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- Dr Marsden's research for the BBC's Body Hits series
suggests people look for similar features to themselves in a partner as
they are searching for characteristics in their mother and father, who
have already successfully raised a child.
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- "It might look like we are all after the perfect
partner to wine and dine but underneath, our animal instincts are seeking
out an ideal mate to share our genes with."
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- "We tend to go for the smell of somebody who has
a very different immune system and that stops you fancying your family.
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- "Our biology drives us to find a perfect compromise
between sameness and difference and we strike that balance all the time
when it comes to choosing faces and smells," he said.
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- Sex trap
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- The research also suggests sex is booby-trapped to make
partners bond.
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- "Your body has evolved over millions of years with
one aim - to go forth and multiply, so while having kids may not be on
the agenda just yet your body has a few tricks up its sleeve to drag you
in that direction," he said.
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- According to the research the more two people have sex
together, the more likely they are to bond.
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- "We all know you can have sex without falling in
love but if you have enough sex with the same person there's a good chance
you will hit the body's booby-trap which is there to tip you head over
heels into love," said Dr Marsden.
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- "So your body goes all out to make you bond with
your partner and that makes love highly addictive and the withdrawal sucks."
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- © BBC MMIII
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3236328.stm
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