Lovesickness

Prachi Sanghvi M.Sc. Clinical Psychology

“Love is madness.” -Socrates

“Love is a serious mental disease.” -Plato,

360 BC

"Isn't what we mean by 'falling in love' a kind of sickness and craziness, an

illusion, a blindness to what the loved person is really like?”

-Sigmund Freud, 1915

Prachi Sanghvi, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology


Lovesickness is an informal syndrome

of rejected or unrequited love

or the absence of a loved one which covers physical as well as psychological symptoms.

A deep, often depressing, feeling of wanting to find love; to be longing for love; to be without a companion to share

ones life with, though it is desired deeply

Lovesickness is like homesickness. Homesick people are away from

home, but want to be at home. Lovesick people are away from love,

but want to be in love.Prachi Sanghvi, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology


Without a partner/ lover:

To be tired of love to miss being in love to be heartbroken to want someone to love to want to be loved back

With a partner/ lover:

To miss your lover to want to be with them more to want to see them to not be able to keep your mind off them

LITERARY EXAMPLE

The classic play by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

portrays the true madness of "love" and the grief that two lovers feel.

When Romeo finds his love dead (or so he believes), with the thought of living without his "true love,"

the grief and depression overcomes him and he takes his own life.

Juliet, after awakening and upon seeing his dead body is also overcome with despair

and takes her own life.Prachi Sanghvi, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology


SYMPTOMS

Dr. Frank Tallis suggests, in his 2005 article, that lovesickness should be taken seriously by professionals.

Similarly, health experts agree that lovesickness has been known to kill and the diagnosis

process should be taken gravely.

Symptoms of lovesickness are Usually misdiagnosed for various other diseases or mental health issues.

This is because love sickness is less commonly recognized as a mental health issue in itself even though it is extremely widespread.

Tallis includes a list of common symptoms of love sickness:

Mania Depression Tearfulness Acute insomnia Lack of concentration Loss of appetite or overeating Hopelessness or helplessness Stress- high blood pressure, pain in chest Obsessive-Compulsive disorder-

Preoccupation and hoarding resonant items Psychologically created physical symptoms

such as upset stomach, change in appetite, insomnia, dizziness and confusion


According to Tallis, many symptoms of being lovesick can be categorized under the DSM-IV and the ICD-10.

OCD is a symptom of lovesickness because it includes preoccupation, this would include constantly checking the cell phone, Facebook, hoarding of valueless items, etc.

A further study conducted by Italian Psychiatrist Donatella Marazitti found that when people fall in love their estimated serotonin levels drop to levels found in patients with OCD; this level is significantly lower than that of an average or healthy person.


A study has found that those in love experience a kind of high similar to that caused by illicit drugs such as cocaine.

In the brain, neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine and oxytocin, elicit the feeling of high from “love” or “falling in love” using twelve different regions of the brain. These neurotransmitters mimic the feeling of amphetamines.

Usually, a psychologist does not get referrals mentioning "lovesickness," although this can be prevalent through the language of what the patient feels.

With the common symptoms of lovesickness being related to other mental diseases, it is often misdiagnosed or it is found that with all the illnesses one could be facing, love is the underlying problem.

It is incredibly dangerous when one does not seek help or cannot cope because love has been known to be fatal (a consequence of which might be attempted suicide).


MANAGEMENT

Curing the feeling of being lovesick is about

changing the state of mind getting more active

The thoughts and actions combined can turn love sickness around and accept it for what it is while getting on with the life.

1. Identify the symptoms of love-sickness.Prachi Sanghvi, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology

2 Realize that all these feelings have a source in grief and anger.

As if something is lost or missing in the life Break up- likely to be going through the stages of

grief Even lovesick from loneliness or fear of being left

behind can also feel a sense of grief at not experiencing what others seem to have.

3 Maintain a nutritious diet. To help the person think straight and to stay strong Keep the body hydrated Avoid drowning the sorrows in alcohol or drugs

Painful after-effects and Put off thinking the way through love-sickness- prolong the pain Prachi Sanghvi, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology


4 Be kind to your body. No slouching on the couch, bemoaning the

fate and feeling sorry for oneself by tucking into tub of ice cream and sitcom reruns.

Keep up sporting activity or other physical exercise

Or choose something new like yoga, cycling, a team sport, gym workouts, martial arts, taking a walk, etc.

If it's new, one will be both mentally and physically challenged by something that needs their full attention.

5. Sleep well. Love-sickness can bring anxious

thoughts and worries that can keep one up late.

Maintain a sleeping routine by going to bed at the same time every night and waking up the same time every morning.

Clear out distractions from the bedroom such as the TV and computer but allow a few books and magazines just before falling asleep.

Ensure that the room is just the right temperature.



6 Work through the clutter. Go through the stuff given by them and clean it

up. Donate the romance novels and clean out the

romance DVDs Put away all photos that bring back the

memories (unless you're with a long-distance lover).

Moping over the images of the one who has long departed is unhealthy and won't bring back what has gone.

Keeping it has the power to make you feel rotten.

Clear out online clutter -delete the emails, updates, photos, etc., that bring love-sickness.


7 Think positive. Think of all the good things that one has – space, freedom to come and go as they please, no arguments, no budget blowouts

Think of all the good things one is– A person who thrives as an individual as much as someone in a relationship, A person with self-responsibility and A person who can run their own life without being needy.


8 Get productive.

9 Draw strength from faith. Belief in a higher power as a source of inspiration

for improving and unburdening love-sickness Meditation/prayer Inner peace- the space needed to reflect on

emotions, feelings and to question the utility of feelings of love-sickness

Also provides the space needed to start working out your own solutions

10 Spend time with other peopleBut don't push for intimate relationships

11 Use writing to move beyond love-sickness.

WARNINGIf a person does not feel that he can cope or that they don't want to live any longer, seek immediate assistance from a mental health professional.

One can't always get through love sickness on their own and there is no shame in seeking help from another person.

Being lovesick can have ramifications on long-term health. Researchers found that lovesick people who experience high levels of insecurity about relationships can suffer from cardiovascular health problems.



REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovesickness

retrieved on 28th November, 2014

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Over-Being-Lovesick retrieved on 28th November, 2014



http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Over-Being-Lovesick



Lovesickness

Healthcare

Transcript of Lovesickness