Episode 24: Love vs. Limerence — What’s Really Driving Your Heart?

In this episode of The Modern MILF Podcast, Bethany untangles love and limerence: what each is, how they feel in the brain and in daily life, how one helps—or harms—relationships, and practical steps to recognize and respond to limerence if it shows up. Includes clinical and neuroscience references for listeners who want to dive deeper. Connect with me! Instagram  TikTok  Facebook Contact me! [email protected] To access my Coaching Course on Rejection, free PDF downloads, or to schedule a coaching call with me, go to: LinkTree Credits: Writing, recording, and editing by me, Bethany Theme music by MobyGratis References Tennov D. Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love. Stein & Day; 1979.  Sternberg RJ. A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review. 1986;93(2):119–135.  Hazan C, Shaver P. Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1987;52(3):511–524. Acevedo BP, Aron A, Fisher HE, Brown LL. Neural correlates of long-term intense romantic love. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 2012;7(2):145–159. Fisher H. Lust, attraction, and attachment in mammalian reproduction. Human Nature. 1998;9(1):23–52.  Bode A, Dando O, et al. Proximate and ultimate perspectives on romantic love. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021.  Hatfield E, Rapson RL. Passionate and Companionate Love. In: Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. 2016. (On passionate love scales and overlap with limerence.)  Acevedo et al., “Does a Long-Term Relationship Kill Romantic Love?” (Review literature on romantic love across time.)  Clinical/therapy resources on intrusive thoughts and CBT approaches for rumination: standard CBT references and reviews (e.g., National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on anxiety and CBT—consult local guidance for specifics).