A crush is one of the most euphoric feelings, but it’s also one of the most confusing. If you feel giddy when you see someone you like, or have an overwhelming urge to text them “I miss you,” it’s likely that you have a crush on them. The good news is that this is totally normal, and it can even be beneficial for your mental health. A crush can help you get in touch with your sexual and romantic desires, but it’s important to remember that it is not love.
According to therapist Dr. Bukky Kolawole, a New York City-based clinical psychologist, there are several characteristics that distinguish a crush from a more serious romantic engagement. Essentially, crushes tend to be rooted in fantasy, while love is based on the person’s actions and behaviors. For example, if you imagine your crush is kind and caring, it’s possible that you may be projecting those values onto them. However, when you begin to have shared, in-person experiences with your crush, you can back up those suppositions with real-life evidence. In addition, if you are crushed by a person, it is likely that you will experience emotional distance — you may feel sad or lonely when they are not around. In contrast, when you love a person, you feel bonded to them, and they will often make you happy.
While crushing is a normal, natural part of the human experience, it can also be difficult for people who are in relationships. In fact, a recent study by researchers at the University of California Berkeley found that people who are in committed relationships often find it difficult to express their feelings for their crushes because they fear it will jeopardize their monogamous relationship. “When you’re in a committed relationship and have a crush, it can take a lot of energy to sustain your emotions and feelings for this person,” Dr. Kolawole told INSIDER. “You have to go through the same euphoric highs and lows that you’d be going through with your primary partner.”
This article was originally published on June 30, 2018, on INSIDER.
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Crush is an American soft drink company that makes and distributes carbonated beverages. It is currently owned by Keurig Dr Pepper and has been a staple of the United States soft drink market since the 1940s. Historically, Crush offered many different flavors of soda such as blue raspberry, chocolate, and banana. Its trademark orange soda is still a popular choice among consumers today.
In the 19th century, crushed meant to mash or bruise something. By 1870, it was common to use crush to describe a flirtatious or head-over-heels love feeling for a person. In fact, it was very common for men to have a crush on a woman they worked with or socialized with. In many cases, a man would try to entice his crush with a crafty glance or smooth line of conversation.