Falling in love can be just as powerful as sniffing a line of cocaine. In fact, studies have shown that the effect cocaine has on the brain sometimes provokes similar chemical reactions as those caused by the feeling of being in love. However, despite love sometimes being classified as a natural stimulant, it could also be harmful to human health in certain situations. And given such similarities, the neural enhancement of both these stimulants should be taken both cautiously and seriously. In the scientific and common literature, love is almost always regarded as being a benefit to a person's health. Despite studies that have shown that love can also lead to certain health risks, people often dismiss these and fall in love relentlessly, with little regard or consideration for the long-term ramifications.
Love and cocaine are so similar that the initial and often most exciting phase of love is commonly referred to as “the cocaine rush”. This rush refers to the initial period of highly pleasurable bonding between two individuals and, as such, is often compared to a classic drug-rush given the shared effects of “enhanced mood, heightened sexual interest, increased self-confidence, greater conversational prowess and intensified consciousness” (Psychology Today 2012). At first glance, the drug known as simple puppy love could just seem to be a natural enhancer of the senses, free of any harmful backlash, side effects or addiction. However, when researched in further depth, this combination seems to become more and more lethal with every additional dose. For instance, the rollercoaster of emotions one frequently experiences when falling in love has been proven to exert the same amount of stress as when one finds her/himself in a situation that leads to great fear. According to Martin Cowie, who led a research team studying this subject at London's Imperial College, the reactions are nearly similar: "Our pupils dilate, our palms become sweaty and the heart rate increases (when we are in love). We have large amounts of adrenaline running through our system and that does cause problems for the body" (Does Falling in Love Damage your Health 2007). In this regard, falling in love often could in fact be considered detrimental to health, particularly if one were to consider the negative effects related to constant increases in heart rate and the simultaneous release of adrenaline.
Of course, the body does not only release adrenaline when “falling in love.” It also releases other chemicals and hormones such as Serotonin, Dopamine and Oxytocin - many of the same chemicals that are released when taking certain type of drugs, especially cocaine. In her research on the brains of newly 'love struck' couples, Dr. Helen Fisher discovered high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that stimulates ‘desire and reward’ by triggering an intense rush of pleasure very similar to cocaine use. In fact, these “couples often show the signs of surging dopamine: increased energy, less need for sleep or food, focused attention and exquisite delight in smallest details of this novel relationship” (The Science of Love n.d.).
While the classical and even romantic notion of love and what it entails appears to have little risk and mostly favorable and acceptable outcomes, Dr. Helen Fisher has shown in her work that “love, at its best, is a wonderful addictionand at its worst, it leads to depression, suicide and even murder” (The Science of Love, n.d). For example, the concepts of rejection, stressful and even abusive relationships are all byproducts of love relationships that can ultimately incur negative health and psychological effects on both lovers. In such cases, the release of the aforementioned chemicals can cause unhealthy physical and mental attachments that could also be compared to drug addiction. Take the example of two people who find themselves engaged in an abusive relationship. In most cases, the neglected party in the relationship will not even be aware of the harm she/he is inflicting upon him or herself.
The person consequently becomes just as trapped as the cocaine addict who ignores the concerns of their friends and family and constantly dismisses the dangers of prolonged drug use (the relationship, in this case) in order to regain the feeling of the original “high”. In essence, the heightened mood caused by the release of these chemicals could very well obscure the dangers of being in an abusive relationship.
Arguing among similar lines, therapist Shauna Springer argues that while the initial almost electric excitement of a new relationship tends to decrease rather quickly, there are several 'unhealthy' ways to keep the 'buzz' going strong. "It is possible in some cases to sustain the cocaine-rush phase of a relationship for 20, 30, 40, even 50 years into a relationship. The cost of doing this, however, is that the relationship must feed on itself, consuming everything that would otherwise make it a secure, healthy, loving union." In this case, the constant threat of loss is key, resulting in a relationship where "periods of intense affection and feelings of intimacyare interspersed with destructive fighting, infidelity, and intentional flight from intimacy" (Psychology Today 2012).
All that having been said, irregular and very tumultuous relationships have also been proven to break your heart. According to Today’s Health, “Women who reported moderate to severe marital strain were 2.9 times more likely to need heart surgery, suffer heart attacks or die of heart disease than women without marital stress” (Brownstein 2015). What's more, the effects of being in a bad relationship are not solely physical. Mental health can also be greatly compromised and affected. In fact, studies have shown that relationships in which constant criticism, hostility and prolonged and protracted arguments are present “have been linked to negative impacts on mental health” (Today’s health). Of course, the mental strain does not end with every fight. More often than not, studies have shown that the constant strain of the relationship becomes all the more dangerous with the realization that the relationship will eventually have to come to an end. According to Kemper (1978), “Failed love relationships [will lead the person] to deeply felt distressful emotions such as depression, anger, shame, guilt, and anxiety. ” In fact, Kemper goes on to add that his research discovered that significant numbers of people tend to seek psychotherapy or therapeutic guidance when "romantic involvements become impaired (p.73).
Much like weaning oneself off Cocaine, love withdrawal can be just as physically and psychologically excruciating. As Dr. Helen Fisher puts it, “when the lover can't win the beloved, or gets dumped, they experience withdrawals and relapse” (The Science of Love, n.d). Much in the same way that the center of the drug addict’s world is the drug itself, for those who believe themselves to be in love, their beloved comes to occupy the center of their universe. Because of this, it becomes nearly impossible for that person to voluntarily detach her/himself from the source of their affection and desire. In fact, detaching oneself would necessarily be considered to be an unexpected and undesired breakup.
Some studies have even demonstrated that an emotional breakup, divorce or the untimely death of the beloved could kill any healthy person. The American Heart Association has gone as far to state that one can die from a broken heart, scientifically referred to as a "stress-induced cardiomyopathy", the reaction of which could lead "to a surge of stress hormones - caused by an emotionally stressful event. It could be the death of a loved one or even a divorce, breakup or physical separation, betrayal or romantic rejection" (Brownstein 2015). However, it must also be noted that there are only a few recorded cases where the person who falls ill eventual suffers fatal consequences. That being said, even though it is extremely unlikely for this stress-induced cardiomyopathy to kill you, the possibility for physical harm is present nonetheless. Therefore, much like withdrawal symptoms can lead a drug addict to relapse and - in certain tragic cases - die, so to can an unexpected break up have detrimental effects upon the person who is caught unaware in the face of love's wrath.
Despite all this focus on the often-negative similarities between drugs and love, it must also be recognized that in those relationships where feelings of love are reciprocated, its positive effects on the lovers' minds and bodies can be extremely beneficial. Studies have found that being in a good relationship can improve self-esteem, reduce the probability of cell inflammation, decrease anxiety and depression and can even prove to be an effective pain reliever. In such cases, the love-drug comparison would appear to be beneficial for the human body. It could therefore be said in such cases that unlike most drugs - and especially one as addictive and destructive as Cocaine - love is a drug that should be consumed in healthy doses. It remains that love consumers need to be aware of both the risks and benefits associated. In this way, the consumer is fully aware of what they are getting into when searching for love. Unfortunately, the world of emotions is never so cut and dry. As D. Kemper states so eloquently to sum up his research: “There is, no single answer to the question of whether a romantic involvement is good for one's health” (Kemper, 73)
Faced with such a dichotomy, certain researchers have come to the conclusion that although love might seem dangerous and risky, it could also prove to be beneficial to all involved when dosed properly and with adequate precaution. According to the research of D. Theodore Kemper, the over usage of the love drug (that is, the frequency with which one falls in love) tends to be significantly related to the nervousness that person feels when they find themselves in similar situations. “Those who have been in love more than three times are susceptible to a nervous condition,” By the same token, those who have never experienced the feeling of being in love could find themselves suffering from pain and a somewhat deficient immune system instead (Kemper 80). While the findings of D. Theodore Kemper would seem to be contradictory on their surface, they suggest people need to strike some balance between falling in love excessively and never falling in love at all. Because both scenarios tend to be socially regarded as personal failures, each can prove to be stressful enough to engender health problems for those who fail to find a happy balance.
In conclusion, while it is clear that there are striking similarities in the brain activity of both newly initiated lovers and cocaine lovers, it is also fairly evident from the research presented in this paper that love can also provide a far more wholesome and less-destructive path to happiness if those similarities are not intentionally exploited. In other words, love is a drug that should be used both responsibly and sparingly - and, perhaps most importantly, one that should never be abused.
Works cited
Brownstein, Joe. "Heart Disease: Types, Prevention & Treatment." LiveScience. Web. 2015
http://www.livescience.com/34733-heart-disease-high-cholesterol-heart-surgery.html
"Does Falling in Love Damage your Health?" The Telegraph. Web. 2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1559672/Does-falling-in-love-damage-your- health.html
"If I Could Just Stop Loving You: Anti-Love Biotechnology and the Ethics of a Chemical Breakup." Web. http://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/neuroenhancement-of-love.pdf
Kemper, Theodore D and Wallach, Roslyn B. "What do you get when you fall in love? Some health status effects." Sociology of Health and Illness. Volume 3. No. 1 1981
"The Science of Love." Your Amazing Brain. Web. n.d. http://www.youramazingbrain.org/lovesex/sciencelove.htm
Springer, Shauna H. "How Long can we Maintain the Rush of New Love." Psychology Today. Web. Dec. 8, 2012. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-joint-adventures-well- educated-couples/201212/how-long-can-we-maintain-the-rush-new-love
