love?

I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with anxiety or panic?

SC has said it all so well that I can only add my own feelings.  I was a teen at one time and I will always remember my first love but thinking back to when I met my husband of 39 years I knew that I was truly in love for life. My teen love was a young boy who caused me much anxiety and played with my emotions. He said he loved me but his actions did not show this.  I was confused and anxious as you are.  So know that with time and keeping an open heart true love will be yours someday.

Most people have this feeling inside them but are not sure whether it is simple affection, a crush or maybe love. Well love is a lot more stronger word than simple affection and attraction towards someone. Love involves much more than what you find in simple attraction towards someone. Love is all about feeling one with your partner therefore you tend to enjoy all joys, lovely moments, moments of satisfaction with your partner.

Kindly,

Kitt

Not to downplay the anxiety that comes from what Brizzums is describing, but I have to say that after reading through some of the painful experiences of others it is nice to read a question about the beauty that love can be.

I think Scaredy Cat put it well. You can't rush it. You can't define it. Somehow you just know. If you're unsure then that may mean you're rushing things. Love is a beautiful thing and it's only natural to want to find it. I think of each person we date until we find that special someone as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, the things we're looking for in a partner, the things that we'd like vs. the things we need in someone else, as well as what kind of partner we'll make for the other person. We'll make mistakes just as they will and the best thing to do is learn from them and grow. As SC put it, true love will be willing to wait until you're both sure. There are no pressures, no judgment, just acceptance and comfort in your being able to be completely yourself (faults and all).

Not that love is an academic thing (it's the most beautiful emotion that we as humans can experience), but there is an academic way to look at love. For what it's worth there's a theory by a man named Robert J. Sternberg who identified three "types" of love. There's passion, intimacy, and commitment. Passion by itself is a totally emotionless lustful experience (like a one-night stand). Intimacy without passion is a friendship and intimacy without commitment is liking a person (like a coworker). Commitment by itself may be an older couple who don't really care for each other anymore but are so comfortable and familiar with each other as is that they don't bother to work on making their relationship strong again. But when you have all three then you have a complete love that he calls consummate (an all consuming) love. Sorry if this is too academic sounding, but something about me likes the concept.