#308 Understanding Limerence and Longing with Amanda McCracken

In today's expert episode, I'm joined by journalist and author Amanda McCracken to dive deep into the topics of longing and limerence—those intense, ruminating crushes or obsessions that can stick with us for years, even decades. Amanda shares her very personal journey with limerence, what it was like to struggle with it long before the term became widely known, and how it intersected with her romantic life and late-in-life virginity. We talk about the addictive pull of longing, why emotionally unavailable people can feel so magnetic, and how societal influences like rom-coms and social media can amp up these feelings. Amanda also shares practical advice and her road to recovery, including how she eventually shifted out of these patterns to find real intimacy with her now-husband. If you're going through a breakup, struggling to let go, or finding yourself stuck in obsessive thoughts about an ex, this conversation will hit home and give you hope that healing—and even real love—are possible.To find out which Break Up Bestie Course is right for you, click the link to take the quiz and get matched with the best solution for you: https://tally.so/r/Y5Z6LNTo get my course bundle Heal Your Break Up, go to https://www.breakupbestie.com/heal-your-break-up-course and use the code PODCAST for $25 off!To join Healing Hearts Club for FREE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1021288124899873Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/heartbreak.Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that followsVisit quitwithjones.com/HEARTBREAK to take the free quiz and use code HEARTBREAK to get 15% off your personalized quitting journey.Let me get you started with 20% off your first order. Visit TONETODAY.com… Promo Code HEARTBREAK.Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/heartbreak for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.