When You're In Love, This Is What Happens To Your Body

Love is a drug, love is a battlefield. Love is bad medicine, an eternal flame; it leaves us breathless, all shook up, and shot through the heart. Love hurts.

Falling in love has always been a fascinating phenomenon. The emotion has inspired countless stories, songs, plays, and films over the centuries. True love is often viewed as a magical, mystical thing mired in mystery, but is it? These days love is not as much of an enigma as it was for most of history. In fact, we even know how love affects the brain.

With so many matchmaking shows to indulge in on Netflix, from Indian Matchmaking to Dating Around, we wondered if there's anything to the cliché of finding love at first sight. Is it really possible? In one study, researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands analyzed surveys completed by nearly 400 women and men about potential dating partners they recently met. While participants tended to report experiencing love at first sight, researchers discovered that this had more to do with physical attraction rather than actual feelings of love. Interestingly, there were no reports of love at first sight being reciprocated (via Discover). Sorry, hopeless romantics!

Your partner can have obvious effects on your mental health. You may feel like you're on a high when the relationship is going well, or you may feel down in the dumps when conflicts inevitably arise or plans go awry. Yes, it's no secret that falling in love or getting your heart broken makes you feel a certain way. But did you know that in addition to your relationship causing changes in your brain that transform how you feel, your partner can actually have palpable effects on your physical health, too?

Looking for a sign that proves your crush likes you back? How about a physical one? Sometimes, a simple smile or a laugh from your date could mean they totally dig you. Nevertheless, there's also those nights out that seem like they're going really well, only to end in being ghosted. Ugh. If you find that your love language is lacking, it might be helpful to take a deeper look into body language. Actions speak louder than words, after all.