25/08/2026
Let’s talk about something that gets confused all of the time: Love and lust are not the same thing. just because someone makes you weak at the knees, gives you butterflies and has you staring at your phone like you’ve suddenly forgotten how to function… doesn’t mean you’re in love. Sometimes you’re lonely. Sometimes you’re emotionally attached. Sometimes you’re traumatised. And sometimes you’re experiencing all three at once. SO… how do you know the difference? If you’re turned on from the waist down, that’s lust. If you’re fascinated by their mind, connected to their heart, attracted to their body, interested in their soul, feel safe with their character and still want them when the s*xual excitement has calmed down… Now we’re talking about something that could potentially become love. You can have incredible s*xual chemistry with someone who would be an absolute nightmare to build a life with. You can fancy someone desperately and know absolutely nothing about their emotional maturity, values, integrity, communication skills or ability to show up when life gets difficult. Chemistry is chemistry. Compatibility is something completely different.
Men and women can both experience attraction, attachment, lust and love in different ways. But traditionally, men create a deeper bond when they’re providing, protecting, doing and investing. A man becomes increasingly attached through what he does for someone. He shows up. He fixes things. He helps. He protects. He invests time. He provides. He makes plans. He takes responsibility. He starts thinking: “This is my person.” And through that investment, attachment can deepen. This is one reason why I don’t believe the old idea that “if we started as s*x, he’ll eventually fall in love.” No. Sometimes s*x becomes attachment. Sometimes attachment becomes false love. And sometimes… they were just bored. There is no magical relationship fairy that arrives after six months and upgrades “booty call” to “husband.” If the emotional foundation isn’t there, time doesn’t automatically create it.
And then we have The Madonna–whore complex, this describes a psychological split where some men unconsciously categorise women as either: “She’s respectable, pure and relationship material.”or: “She’s s*xually exciting, but she’s not someone I would respect or commit to.” It isn’t something every man experiences But it is a recognised psychological concept. Healthy s*xuality requires being able to see the same woman as both s*xually desirable and worthy of love, respect and commitment. You shouldn’t have to become less s*xual to be respected. And you shouldn’t have to perform s*xuality to be desired.
The next thing to remember is dopamine….Your brain loves newness. New person. New messages. New attention. New s*xual chemistry. New possibilities. New fantasy. Dopamine. But Danger and uncertainty can also be incredibly stimulating. So if someone is hot one minute and cold the next, disappears and comes back, gives you attention and then withdraws it… your brain can become absolutely obsessed. And you might think: “I’ve never felt chemistry like this before!” Maybe. Or maybe your nervous system has just been put on a rollercoaster. People who have experienced inconsistent affection, abandonment, rejection, chaotic relationships or emotional unpredictability can sometimes become accustomed to love feeling uncertain. So someone who is consistent can feel… dull. And someone who keeps you guessing can feel…EXCITING AF! That’s because your nervous system may have learned:
uncertainty = attention
withdrawal = panic
reconnection = relief
And that creates a cycle. They message. You feel amazing. They disappear. You panic. They come back. You feel relief, Then it happens again. And suddenly you’re convinced: “This person must be incredibly important to me because I’ve never felt anything this intense.” Limerence is that obsessive, intoxicating state where another person starts occupying far too much time inside your head. You analyse their texts. You reread conversations. You look for hidden meanings. You obsess over whether they really like you. You imagine your future together. You idealise them. You ignore obvious red flags. You wait for their messages. You feel incredible when they give you attention. And absolutely S**t when they don’t. That’s because Limerence thrives on uncertainty. When someone is inconsistent, your brain keeps looking for the next reward. Meanwhile, your friends are sitting there thinking: “get rid of him, he’s an absolute idiot”
Love isn’t necessarily the biggest rush. It isn’t necessarily the person who makes your heart explode. It isn’t the person you can’t stop thinking about. And it certainly isn’t the person who makes you spend three hours analysing a WhatsApp message. Love is what happens when the fantasy meets reality and you still like the person standing in front of you. You know their flaws. They know yours. You have the passion but you can also have conversations. You have chemistry, but you also have respect. You have excitement, but you also have safety. You don’t have to constantly wonder where you stand. Their actions match their words. They show up. They invest. They care. They choose you when it’s not convenient. And most importantly…
your nervous system doesn’t have to be in absolute meltdown for you to feel connected.
Lust says:
“I want you.”
Limerence says:
“I desperately need to know whether you want me.”
Trauma attachment can say:
“Why does your inconsistency make me want you even more?”
Healthy attachment says:
“I feel connected to you and I trust you.”
Love says:
“I see you clearly. I know who you are. And I still choose you.”
So before you call something a soul connection, ask yourself a few questions. Am I attracted to this person… or am I addicted to the attention?
Do I actually know them… or have I fallen in love with the potential? Do I feel safe… or am I constantly activated? Do they consistently show up… or am I living off crumbs? Would I still want them if the s*x disappeared tomorrow? And perhaps the most important question of all:
Do I love this person… or do I love how I feel when they finally give me the attention I’ve been desperately waiting for? Because sometimes the person who creates the biggest chemical reaction in your body… isn’t your soulmate. They’re just the person who found the exact buttons your nervous system knows how to press……And that’s not love.