Is It Puppy Love or the Real Deal?
We've likely all been there—when we're attracted to someone, we instantly feel butterflies around them. We might trip over our words or think about them all the time. But how can you differentiate between whether you're simply infatuated or it's something deeper? Here are 10 telltale signs it's just a crush—and 10 signs you're actually in love.
1. You Think About Them Constantly
When you have a crush on someone, they're on your mind constantly. You might write their name over and over in a notebook, dream about them, and talk to your friends about them. There's probably not a single moment where you're not thinking about them.
2. You're Always Nervous Around Them
Whether it's exchanging a simple smile or a greeting, your heart rate spikes up whenever you're around them. Your hands might feel clammy, your knees weak, and all the words coming out of your mouth will sound like gibberish because of your nerves.
3. You Plan Out Conversations in Your Head
Because you refuse to stutter in front of them again, you may start planning out conversations in your head. You might write out entire scripts—what you'll say when you bump into them, what you'll ask, and how to continue the conversation so you don't have to stop talking to them.
4. You Want to Look Your Best
When you like someone, it's obvious you always want to look your best whenever you're around them. Aside from just dressing well, like picking out your favorite shirt or pair of pants, you might also subconsciously groom yourself, such as fixing your hair or tying it back.
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5. You Stalk Their Socials
If you're always refreshing their social media pages to see if they've updated or made a post, that's a clear sign you have a major crush. You may even scroll through their profile to see all their old posts and photos, and find yourself getting more endeared and enamored.
6. You Daydream About Them
Not only do you think about them constantly and plan out conversations in your head, you also play out these scenarios. You may fantasize about the chats you'll have, what would happen if you asked them out, or even daydream about how your first date with them might go.
7. You Get Excited Just Hearing Their Name
When you overhear your friends saying their name, you're immediately dialled in, turning your attention to their conversation. You might start noticing their name everywhere and get excited just seeing it. It's like the entire world suddenly revolves around them.
8. You Laugh at All Their Jokes
Your crush might tell the worst jokes of all time, but you'll still find them hilarious. Honestly, you think everything that comes out of their mouth is amusing and worth listening to, even when everyone else doesn't think the same.
9. You Overanalyze Everything They Say
Did they just ask you how your weekend was? Why do they want to know that? Is it because they wanted to know what you were doing or who you were with? Or maybe they're seeing if you're free next weekend to hang out? No matter what your crush says or asks, you're overanalyzing every single word.
10. You Try to Run into Them
Because you always want to be near them, you may find ways to run into them. You might hear that they visit the library or volunteer on certain days, and you try to make excuses to be around those places during specific times to see if you can bump into them "coincidentally."
Now that we've covered some ways to know if you're crushing on someone, let's jump in deeper: here are 10 signs you're in love instead.
1. You Can Be Yourself
When you're with this person, you can be exactly who you are. You don't feel the need to look your best all the time, you don't have to act a certain way, and you're comfortable with them the way you only get with extremely close friends and family.
2. You Can Tell Them Everything
Whether you have exciting news to share or you're having a bad day, you know you can turn to this person and spill your guts to them. They might even be the first person you call. At this point, they know almost everything about you.
3. You Feel Safe with Them
Not only do you feel extremely comfortable with this person, you also feel safe when you're around them. You trust them with everything you have, and you know that they'll be there for you whenever you need someone to hear you out.
4. You Can Picture a Future with Them
When you can picture a future with them—and not in the fantasizing, daydreaming way you might when you're just crushing on someone—you know you're likely in love with this person. After all, there's a part of you that can imagine what it'd be like to live the rest of your life with them.
5. You Accept Them Exactly As They Are
Just as you can truly be yourself around them, you also accept them exactly as they are. All their imperfections, faults, and scars—they're all traits that make them uniquely their own person and, in some ways, all the more charming.
6. Your Feelings Don't Fade
Unlike a crush where you may feel intensely for someone before it fades off, these feelings stay when you're in love. They may build gradually, too, and don't waver as much as they might when you're only in love with the thought of someone, rather than the actual person.
7. You Want to Do Everything Together—Even the Mundane
Forget the pulse-racing first dates where you're constantly on edge and feeling the sparks fly—when you're in love, no matter what activity you're doing together, it feels just as thrilling. You could be simply running errands and there will still be nowhere else you'd rather be. After all, you just want to spend time with this person.
8. You Want to Introduce Them to Your Family
You can already picture a future with this person, but before you get to that, you want to introduce them to your family and all your close friends. You want everyone to be swept off their feet just as you feel like you've been.
9. You've Lost Interest in Dating Other People
You no longer think about dating or being with anyone else. This person feels like the perfect one already, because there's no one else you'll feel so comfortable with or trust so much or can be so honest with. Why spend time going on dates with other potential romantic partners when you're already happy where you are?
10. They Feel Like Home
When you're around this person, they give you a sense of security and warmth like no other. At this point, aside from maybe your close friends and family, there's probably no one else that you'll feel this way with. Just their presence alone makes you feel at ease.
