Do you have that feeling where you can barely sit still because the thought of someone makes your heart race? That is a crush. Whether it is the boy in your chemistry class or the girl next door, having a crush can be exciting and scary at the same time. This feeling can make you want to hang out with them more, tease them, or even text them all the time. However, a crush can also be draining and stressful, especially if it is unrequited. This article will discuss the different types of crushes, why they can cause anxiety, and what you can do about it.
Having a crush can feel like a rollercoaster ride, and that’s because it is. When you have a crush, your body releases chemicals called endorphins and serotonin. These are known as happy hormones, and they can make you feel euphoric and giddy. They can also cause a fight or flight response, which can include a rapid pulse, increased oxygen intake to the brain and the muscles, pale skin, dilated pupils, and an increase in adrenaline. This is why it is important to be careful not to go overboard with a crush and remember that they may not feel the same way about you.
A crush is usually unilateral, which means that it is not reciprocated by the person being crushed on. This type of attraction is often compared to “play-flighting” among juvenile animals, where they fly toward each other but do not engage in actual combat or injury. Similarly, a crush can lead to feelings of insecurity and self-criticism. The crushee may question their own sense of self or wonder if they are worthy of love, which can be a destructive spiral if it is not addressed quickly.
In teen movies, the climax of the crush is typically followed by the denouement, which is when everything settles down and the character goes on to find happiness in a loving relationship. This can be as simple as a kiss in the rain in Mean Girls, an apology in Titanic, or a rekindled friendship in Lady Bird.
Crush is a film about Paige (Rowan Blanchard), a gay high school student who has a crush on Gabriela (Isabella Ferreira). As a student applying to a summer program, she is asked to write an essay about her most memorable experience with love. When she thinks of Gabriela, her eyes fill with tears and her heart palpitates.
The story follows Paige and her three best friends as they navigate the complications of a teenage crush. While many aspects of the movie are cliche and predictable, it does have one artistic flourish that is unique to the genre: when Gabriela enters the room, Paige’s line of vision is filled with sprays of water colors. This is the only moment in the film that feels authentic to a teenage crush and it is the only element of the movie that is not forced or contrived.