This article was co-authored by Julianne Cantarella and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Julianne Cantarella is a Dating Coach, Certified Life Coach, Licensed Social Worker, and the CEO and President of New Jersey's Matchmaker. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in helping women heal from a heartbreak and create healthy long-term relationships. Julianne created a comprehensive transformational date coaching program From First Date to Soulmate™ that has helped hundreds of women find love. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Fordham University. Julianne has contributed to numerous media such as Your Tango Online Magazine, 24Seven Wellness Magazine, and Talk of The Town Magazine. She has also been featured as a relationship expert on CBS, iHeartRadio, and PBS “This Emotional Life Project.”
There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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You've been dating this guy for a while and you've really hit it off—but do you truly love him? Sometimes it's hard to tell if what you're feeling is love or just infatuation or lust. Before you drop the "L" bomb, you definitely want to be sure. We interviewed dating and relationship expert Julianne Cantarella to find out some of the best ways you can tell if you're really in love.
Things You Should Know
- If he's always on your mind and you see reminders of him everywhere, you're likely in love with him.
- When you're in love, you typically want to spend as much time as possible with him and learn everything about him.
- Because you love him, you're willing to overlook his small flaws. You think he's unique and special and probably idealize him to some extent.
Steps
How Do You Know If You Love Someone?
Expert Q&A
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dating, check out our in-depth interview with Julianne Cantarella.
References
- ↑ https://www.helenfisher.com/downloads/love-addiction.pdf
- ↑ https://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/05/five-signs-of-true-love/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/couples-thrive/202309/true-signs-of-true-love
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-the-honeymoon-phase/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/couples-thrive/202309/true-signs-of-true-love
- ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-01707-007
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/feeling-our-way/201504/10-signs-true-love
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201507/how-do-you-really-know-if-youre-falling-in-love
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-playing-field/201402/flow-states-and-creativity
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-freedom-to-change/202308/how-to-know-if-youre-in-love-and-why-it-might-not-matter
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-freedom-to-change/202308/how-to-know-if-youre-in-love-and-why-it-might-not-matter
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201406/how-do-you-know-if-youre-in-love
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/life-in-transition/202310/how-to-turn-an-awkward-silence-into-a-moment-of-comfort
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201406/how-do-you-know-if-youre-in-love
- ↑ https://www.helenfisher.com/downloads/love-addiction.pdf
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-freedom-to-change/202308/how-to-know-if-youre-in-love-and-why-it-might-not-matter
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514525086
- ↑ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/02/scientists-find-a-few-surprises-in-their-study-of-love/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/feeling-our-way/201504/10-signs-true-love
- ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-017-1071-9
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201406/how-do-you-know-if-youre-in-love