This Is What Falling In Love Feels Like

I’m not sure there’s much that beats the feels you get when you start falling for someone new. There’s the excitement every time you think about them; the flutters you get when you kiss; the crazy arousal when you figure out a new thing they like in bed. In fact, a 2010 study from researchers at Syracuse University found that the dopaminergic subcortical system in people’s brains lit up when they were shown pictures of their romantic partners. That part of the brain also lights up when people do coke, so being in love is literally like doing drugs. And everyone knows that those love feelings are the craziest when you have a new partner.

But, to be honest, I didn’t feel that euphoric thrill when I very first met my boyfriend. In fact, I thought he was kind of a jerk — he’s a confident guy, I’m a confident woman, and we definitely clashed the first time we hung out. But all it took was one night out when I found myself only wanting to talk to him, even though we were surrounded by friends, for me to realize that this dude was something special. After a very respectful drunken makeout session, I asked him out on a date "like grown-ups" and that's when the new boo feelings started. From then on, I was preoccupied with everything from anxiety about when he was going to text back to a physical shiver every time we touched to crazy orgasms when we started having sex.

And while I wouldn’t trade our three and a half years for anything, I do find myself thinking wistfully about what polyamorous people call “new relationship energy” sometimes. Who doesn’t? Falling for a new person is the best. In fact, it’s so awesome that I decided I needed these 11 GIFs to fully express the greatness.

1. Love Is A Hell Of A Drug

Please see the study above.

2. Never Let Me Go

That eye contact tho.

3. Feeling Yourself

Because you always feel fine as hell when you've got a new boo.

4. Like You Wanna Do A Happy Dance...

5. And Keep Dancing...

6. You Even Wanna Dance While You Make Breakfast!

7. This Is How You Feel After Sex

8. You Definitely Feel The Way This Little Boy Feels About His Snack...

9. And For Sure The Way This Pug Is Feeling

10. This Is What It Feels Like To Wait For A Text

11. And This Is You When It Finally Comes

Images: Giphy (11); Priscilla Westa/Unsplash