This article was co-authored by Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Kelli Miller is a Psychotherapist based in Los Angeles, California. Kelli specializes in individual and couples therapy focusing on relationships, depression, anxiety, sexuality, communication, parenting, and more. She is the author of “Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues” which details the top 15 relationship issues and 3 quick solutions to each. She is also the award-winning and best-selling author of “Thriving with ADHD”. Kelli co-hosted an advice show on LA Talk Radio and was a relationship expert for The Examiner. She received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Sociology/Health from the University of Florida.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 60,787 times.
You’re hanging out with your best friend, and your chest warms as they laugh—is this because you love them or because you’re in love with them? Love is a complex emotion, and the feelings of “loving” and “being in love” are two different things. One identifies platonic or romantic emotions, while the other is strictly romantic. So, which is which and what are you feeling? Keep reading to find out!
Things You Should Know
- Loving someone is a feeling of compassion, care, and respect and can be romantic or platonic.
- Being in love is an emotional and romantic infatuation that’s best compared to a crush.
- The feeling of loving someone can last forever, whereas being in love is a fleeting feeling that can fade or grow.
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 love, check out our in-depth interview with Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW.
References
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/the-psychology-of-love
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/complicated-love/201806/in-love-versus-loving
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/how-to-maintain-love-in-healthy-relationships
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/complicated-love/201806/in-love-versus-loving
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthy-boundaries/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201312/what-it-really-means-be-in-love
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthy-boundaries/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201206/adolescence-and-falling-in-love
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/the-psychology-of-love