Limerence: The Psychology of Romantic Obsession with Brandy Wyant
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson · Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
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Show Notes
Forrest and therapist Brandy Wyant discuss limerence, an intense and often one-sided state of romantic obsession. They explore how limerence differs from both love and ordinary crushes, why uncertainty fuels it, and how it can take over a person’s inner world. Brandy shares both clinical insights and her own lived experience, describing the obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and shame that often accompany limerence. They examine its overlap with OCD and addiction, and discuss practical strategies from CBT and ACT.
Key Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:00: What is limerence?
5:26: Limerence vs. a crush
11:28: Why research and treatment lag behind
13:38: Treatment approaches and practical strategies
24:47: Attachment, susceptibility, and shame
29:05: How limerence shapes relationships
38:12: Online communities and reinforcing obsession
49:18: Self-worth and validation
53:41: Recap
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