how similar are relationships (the romantic ones) and drugs?

[_Minsk]

when i got into my first relationship with someone i felt like being high in some way. like on a cocktail of various drugs. but like with most things in life, the fun did end very soon and i just wanted to die, just like now haha. it was really painful, kinda like drug withdrawals.

i know you cant compare drugs to a human being, but just for curiosity sake, what are your thoughts?

 

[catalepsy]

Depends on the drug. The first time I took MDMA was like the first week of the best relationship I ever had, cranked up to 11. Opiates are like the warm comfort of a stable relationship. Opiates work on the same parts of the brain as familial bonding (so I've been told), so it makes sense there would be some carry-over. When I'm knocked over on that stuff, I could easily go without talking to anyone for weeks, or I could socialize like an extroverted butterfly. Just depends on where my head's at.

 

[Brick In The Wall]

There have been studies that show romantic relationships are similar to drug use. Especially the early stage of relationships. The effect seems to wear down/off and is part of the reason people move on.

 

[XYZ]

I believe it is a proven scientific fact that when you are in love, dopamine floods your brain. Dopamine is responsible for that euphoric, "walking on clouds" type of feeling you get when you meet or think of the person you are attracted to. Drugs also activate the production of dopamine. So being in love has some similarities to taking drugs.

Check out Survivor's awesome song about brain chemistry. It is called High on you.