When you have a crush, that person takes your breath away. It’s the boy or girl in your chemistry class, the guy or gal living next door, the coworker on your team, or even a celebrity you follow on Instagram. Your heart pounds, your hands become sweaty, and you’re constantly thinking of them. You fantasize about spending time with them and dream about what it would be like if you could. The only problem is, your crush isn’t going to be your soulmate, so you have to put a stop to the fantasy before it becomes an obsession.
Crush, a new Hulu comedy starring Rowan Blanchard as sapphic protagonist Paige, examines the way that crushes can interfere with your life in a variety of ways. When the film opens, Paige is passionately clinging to her fifth-grade crush on Gabriela “Gabby” Campos while juggling an admissions essay for the art school of her dreams and trying to find her platonic love, the graffiti artist known only as KingPun. Paige’s open-minded, supportive mother Angie (played by Megan Mullally) helps pave the way by casting a spell on Gabby and gifting her cool intimacy swag.
But no one knows exactly what a crush is, and it can be very difficult to define. One encapsulating lay definition describes it as “a secret, deep feeling of desire for someone whom you find very attractive and extremely special but with whom you have low or no chance at all of being a couple.”
There are also more scientifically accurate explanations, including the idea that when you have a crush, your hormone levels change. Your body produces serotonin, which is a mood stabilizing chemical, and the more you interact with your crush, the higher your serotonin levels will be. When your crush sees you, they can tell by your expression, the way you move your hands, and the sound of your voice that you like them.
The reason that a crush is so hard to define is because it can be fleeting. You might not have a crush for very long, or maybe you’ll have several throughout your life at different stages. But regardless of when or how you develop a crush, it’s important to remember that it is only a small part of your life and should be enjoyed for the momentary excitement and self-esteem boost that it provides.
Ultimately, having a crush is fun because it allows you to take a step back from your real-world problems and imagine what it might be like to be with that person. You’ll still have to do your homework, show up for work, and clean your house — but that is the price you pay for allowing yourself to get lost in your own little crush bubble. As for those romantic or sexual feelings, that’s another story altogether. In fact, studies have shown that having a crush is often linked to negative outcomes in your primary relationship.