Limerence is often triggered most when you begin to see your LO (limerence object or love object) as someone of extraordinarily high value — and you start to devalue yourself. A power dynamic begins to form as you put this magical other person on a pedestal, while you slowly begin to feel less and less empowered. The LO now has a power over you that you can’t seem to control. This often happens during the “crystallization” process - a time when you highlight all of LO’s amazing qualities and realize this is more than a “crush.” Your feelings are stronger and more uncontrollable than you may be prepared for.
It can start out as an innocent interest and attraction to someone. That quickening butterflies in the stomach feeling that flutters to your heart when you see them or they come to mind.
Then… for some of us, this feeling can crystalize (often without warning) into feelings that make the word “crush” feel too trivial and even childish. You wonder if this is what love really is or is supposed to feel like —