Whether it’s a new relationship, friendship, or a professional collaboration, crushing on someone can be exhilarating and thrilling. However, a crush can also be stressful and even lead to heartache. To help you navigate this tricky territory, we enlisted the help of clinical psychologist Crysta Derham to break down what exactly a crush is and how to handle it in a healthy way.
The word crush first entered English in 1398 and is believed to have come from the Middle French verb croissir, which meant to crack or crush. It was also used to describe infatuation or desire, as in, “He has a crush on Ashley.” It can also refer to a specific object, like an old train engine that is crushed by a more powerful one. The word has several figurative meanings, too, such as an overwhelming number or force, a figurative sense of infatuation, and even a type of drink, as in a fruity Crush soda.
Crush is an American carbonated soft drink brand created by Neil C. Ward and originally owned by Procter & Gamble, which sold its US rights to Cadbury Schweppes in 1989. Today, the brand is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper of Frisco, Texas. Crush is available in a variety of crowd-pleasing fruity flavors, including Orange, Grape, Strawberry, Pineapple, Watermelon, Peach, Zero Sugar Orange and others.
There is a similarity between the way a crush makes you feel and a love interest, because both can release mood-boosting hormones like dopamine and oxytocin. This can lead to feelings of euphoria and even obsessive thinking, explains psychiatry professor Stephanie Cacioppo. She says that while a crush is a form of infatuation, it’s often less intense than a romantic partner.
While there is no clinical definition of a crush, it can be defined as a lingering feeling of infatuation that doesn’t necessarily lead to a full-blown romantic relationship, New York City-based therapist Bukky Kolawole tells INSIDER. She says that while a crush may make you feel great, it’s important to take it slow and only act on the person if you know them well enough to do so safely.
In addition, it’s important to note that a crush can also be unrequited, which can leave you feeling crushed. But no matter the outcome of your crush, there are a few things you can do to make it more likely that they’ll turn out to be the right person for you.
The best thing you can do to ensure your crush is a good match is to be yourself, as outlined in this article. You should be kind, respectful, and approachable, but don’t be afraid to stand up for your values. Hopefully, your crush will return the favor and do the same for you. But if they don’t, be prepared to deal with the aftermath. You can always try again. Maybe next time it will be a match made in heaven. Or maybe it’ll just be a little crush.