Limerence: How It Affects Relationships and Strategies for Recovery

Have you been a victim of this one-sided dynamic?

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Chances are that, if you’re here, you’ve probably heard the term limerence a time or two. There’s also a pretty good chance that you don’t quite know what this means. Limerence? Is that some kind of liminal space? It’s not. It’s a one-sided type of unhealthy infatuation that can derail your entire life if you’re not careful.

If you’ve ever felt a completely unhinged, uncontrollable, and completely detrimental attraction to someone (who probably didn’t feel the same) then chances are you have some idea of what limerence is.

This is a common experience in people with a history of childhood trauma and those who are neurodivergent. Far from being the tragically romantic story it’s often painted as, when someone is in a state of limerence they can end up in a state of obsession that leaves them both hurt and in the process of hurting others. Breaking the cycle with compassion is a must.