Will You Be With The Same Valentine Next Year?

Will You Be With The Same Valentine Next Year?

Mangalore Today News Network

Feb 11, 2016: The countdown has begun to the most important day in the lives of lovers/couples. We all know how big Valentine’s Day is and how much bigger the business of it is. Lovers spend thousands, some even lakhs to woo or reaffirm their love for their existing, future or probable partners. So, the big question is will your Valentine this year be the same even next year.

 

What is Love?

When in love, at first it appears deeply satisfying; our existence becomes more meaningful and the person becomes our raison d’etre. The entire Universe fades into oblivion. He/She becomes THE Universe. You become addicted to that person and the effect that person has on you is almost drug-like as it gives you a high. Sometimes you encounter a person and almost immediately feel a connection of being made for each other. It is believed that within the first three minutes of a meeting, we come to know whether the person is made for us or not. So for people saying that no sparks flew at first meeting, scientists have this to say-  A part of the brain called putamen gets engaged when people are in love, but it also activates when people feel contempt or disgust. So don’t fret if the person you oh-so-love hates you; it may signal the beginning of a new love! Complicated? Of course, human beings are the most complex of all living creatures.

The Chemical Locha.

Lust most certainly precedes love and and in both men and women, it is driven by sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen.

Adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin are the culprits in this chemical locha of love. During the initial stages of falling in love, the increased adrenaline pumping makes our hearts race! New lovers have increased energy despite sleepless nights, and hunger is satisfied not by food but by the feeling of love. Dopamine is making you do all that; it helps sustain romantic love. Last but not the least is serotonin - the happiness hormone. It is the same chemical which goes into anti-depressant medicines  to pull a person out of depression. So if you are in love, you don’t need any drug. Love is the drug.

Oxytocin or the hormone which causes bonding is also called the “love” hormone. Hugging, touching and physical intimacy all cause a release of oxytocin which causes attachment and bonding between two people.

Then the final stage of love is commitment. But which is the chemical that keeps one going from one Valentine’s Day to another? In recent times, studies were done on the role of vasopressin in long-term commitment and it was found that this chemical plays a major role.

There was a study done to establish its role in long-term commitment and devotion. The prarie vole, a native of North America,  is known for being a single mate animal and for its special bonding with its partner. Studies found that the uniqueness in this animal species was primarily due to two hormones- oxytocin and vasopressin. In an experiment, male prairie voles were given a drug that suppresses the effect of vasopressin. The bond with their partner deteriorated immediately thereafter.

Though the chemical release is not in our hands, there are some things you could do to keep the love alive.

Show affection every day in one form or the other.

Do new things often, together.

Travel together periodically.

If despite all this, you are single next year, don’t fret, there’s Singles Day just the day after Valentine’s. And if you are with another person, blame the chemical locha.

But why worry about next Valentine, when you can make the most of the day this year.  After all, all you need is love…