How do you know you love someone, like, really<\/em> love them? Not just late-night texts and butterflies, but the real kind. The kind that feels both like fireworks and like home. You\u2019re not alone if you’re asking yourself this right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe it started as a crush, but now your chest does that thing when they smile. You start picturing them in your future, not just as a fantasy, but as a person who makes your weird feel accepted and your soul feel safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So\u2026 is it love, or are you just really into their Spotify playlists and hoodie collection? That\u2019s where we come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re about to walk you through the biggest signs, from subtle shifts in your brain to huge changes in how you care, feel, and show up. First, we\u2019ll give you a quick list of 10 biggest signs you\u2019re catching feelings<\/strong>, then dive into the science of love, and finally explore more deeper, heartfelt signs that help you actually know<\/em> if you love someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [Read: Infatuation: The Definition, How to Break Out & 47 Signs You\u2019re Deeply Infatuated<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t always realize<\/em> it\u2019s happening, sometimes it\u2019s quiet, calm, and catches you off guard. But love tends to leave little clues. These are the top signs that what you’re feeling isn’t just a crush or casual vibe\u2026 it’s something deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love isn\u2019t just fireworks, it\u2019s peace. When you’re around them, your heart might flutter, but it also slows down. You feel safe<\/em>, not just giddy. [Read: What Does Love Feel Like? 33 Signs What You\u2019re Feeling Is True & Real<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n You got a raise? You want to text them. Your day sucked? You still want to text them. When they\u2019re your emotional first responder, it\u2019s not just infatuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking about next summer, that road trip, or just chilling with them five years from now doesn\u2019t make you panic. It feels\u2026 kinda nice, actually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of trying to seem perfect, you start wondering if they ate today. You notice when they\u2019re off. You want to be their safe place. [Read: What Falling in Love Feels Like: 20 True-Love Feelings You Would Experience<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n The constant need for reassurance starts to fade. Even when they\u2019re quiet, you don\u2019t spiral. That\u2019s love\u2019s emotional security blanket working its magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love isn\u2019t about never disagreeing. It\u2019s about arguing without tearing each other down. If conflict makes you want to fix, not flee, that\u2019s a green flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re considering their feelings when you make plans. You filter your words a bit more thoughtfully. That\u2019s empathy, love\u2019s best friend. [Read: 32 Reasons Why You Love Someone, the Psychology of Love & Why It Exists<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a familiarity that doesn\u2019t make sense. Even when it\u2019s new, it feels like you\u2019ve known them forever. Like your soul sighed and said, \u201cOh, it\u2019s you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n They don\u2019t ask you to change, but somehow you\u2019re growing. Whether it\u2019s opening up more, being kinder, or wanting to eat a vegetable once in a while, you\u2019re evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flaws, quirks, weird obsessions with oat milk, and all. If you’re starting to love the real, messy human, not just their highlight reel, yeah, you\u2019re probably falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [Read: Am I in Love? 47 Fuzzy Signs of Being in Love that\u2019s Beyond Lust & Crushes<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Looking for more specific clues of falling in love? Read these features!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Love isn\u2019t just heart emojis and long stares. It\u2019s biological, emotional, and deeply psychological<\/em>. So before we dive into all the subtle and deeper signs below, let\u2019s look at what the science says is happening inside your brain and body, and why that feeling<\/em> you\u2019re wrestling with might really be love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to neuroimaging studies, falling in love activates the brain\u2019s reward system, specifically areas linked to dopamine, the same chemical that fires up when you eat chocolate or win big. You literally get high on love. The early stages of love are powered by dopamine, oxytocin (the bonding hormone), vasopressin (linked to monogamy), and even a decrease in serotonin, which ironically makes you more obsessive and anxious, that\u2019s why you can\u2019t stop thinking about them. \ud83d\udcda Source: Carter, 2012, The biochemistry of love: an oxytocin hypothesis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Aron & Aron\u2019s Self-Expansion Theory, falling in love often makes people feel like they\u2019re growing, emotionally, socially, and even intellectually. The relationship becomes part of your identity in a healthy, inspiring way. \ud83d\udcda Source: Aron & Aron, 1986, Self-expansion model of romantic love<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Passion is fun, but lasting love often shifts into emotional security and attachment. The closer you get, the more your brain starts treating this person like \u201cyour safe base\u201d, something typically seen in long-term, emotionally mature love. \ud83d\udcda Source: Mikulincer & Shaver, 2019, A behavioral systems approach to romantic love relationships<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n While early lust can make you overlook red flags, real love increases emotional awareness. You don\u2019t just idealize them, you empathize<\/em> with them. You start seeing the full picture of who they are, flaws and all, and still choose to love them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romantic and platonic love are two different things. If you are wondering if it\u2019s love this time,<\/a> there is no magic calculation. It could be different for everyone, but there are signs that it’s more than a fleeting crush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even in the best relationships, there may be a part of you that wants to keep your options open. If you are saying it loud and proud, that means that you don\u2019t want anyone else, no matter what they have to offer. [Read: 19 sure signs of falling in love to watch out for<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can look past those little things that irritate you. Those day-to-day annoyances are still going to get to you, but you know that the good outweighs the bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever had someone that you’re on the fence about reach over to try your food? That’s grounds for a breakup if you aren\u2019t in love! If you don’t mind them doing it, it’s a clear sign that you’ve developed feelings for someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find yourself wanting to do little things that you typically hate to do to make them feel good, you have most likely been shot by cupid. [Read: 25 really romantic ideas to make your lover melt<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compassionate love is when you want those you love to be happy, and you’re willing to go the extra mile just to see them smile. This is another key sign that you’re likely falling for a certain someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loving someone means that you sometimes have to let your own needs and wants take a back seat. In a loving relationship, there is no such thing as a one-way street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your family never stops asking you about the person you brought home last time, which is why you don’t bring anyone anymore. If you are willing to bring them into your family dynamics<\/a> and want them to feel welcome, it must be true love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want your spare time to be spent with that special person instead of going out for some random drinking night, then you are most likely in love. [Read: Friend to lover – are you falling for a friend?<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they still give you butterflies even when the honeymoon phase has worn off, you are in love. That’s the best kind of love – the one that continues to rekindle itself over and over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you start to evaluate how good your mate would be at parenting, you’re most likely thinking that you would like to give a partnership with them a try – the kids, the house, and the white picket fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you’re in it only for sex, you don\u2019t want them to hang out the next day and chit-chat. If you find that you kind of like laying around with them the morning after, love is in the air. [Read: The rules of spending the first night together<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you see a hottie and you don\u2019t dream of getting naked with them, it’s a telltale sign that you might be falling in love with the person you’re with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have dreams or fantasies about other people, you feel guilty. This means that you feel committed to another person and know that sex with someone else isn\u2019t worth losing what you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Telling someone your fears makes you vulnerable<\/a>. You only tell the people you trust what scares you the most. If you’re sharing those types of tidbits with someone, you know they have your best interests at heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are the first person that pops into your head, and you feel like you want to tell them everything, even the smallest details of your day. [Read: Signs your guy means it when he says, “I love you.”<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have naturally made you and them into \u201cwe,\u201d it’s true love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If being with them takes priority over where you reside, they are the most important part of your world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t mind when they kiss you with bad breath, hug you after working out, or miss a shower every once in a while, then you accept them completely. [Read: What are you feeling? Is it love or lust?<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you find out they drove drunk or walked home drunk by themselves, you are angry that they jeopardized themselves. That’s because you don\u2019t ever want to be without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re okay adding them to your credit card or going in on a major purchase together, such as a car or a house, it means that you want to build a life together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pet ownership<\/a> is the beginning of starting a life together. If you are willing to share the responsibility of another living creature, you’re in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find that you are jealous when someone hits on them, but you aren\u2019t usually a jealous person, they may be the first person that you feel is worth holding onto. [Read: How to deal with jealousy in a relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When they need a ride at two in the morning, you’re up and out the door. That is love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They irritate you beyond belief, but that’s part of their endearing charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re willing to tell the world, then you know that you\u2019re in a relationship that is going somewhere. You don\u2019t want anyone else. [Read: Dos and don’ts of adding your date on Facebook<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are trusting enough to let them come and go as they please, you’re in love with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are always things you learn in a relationship that are deal-breakers. If they do the one thing you can\u2019t stand and you can look past it, that’s unconditional love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are comfortable enough to sit next to someone and not have to say a word, you’re meant to be together forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know what they are going to say before they say it, you’re in sync. When someone becomes an extension of you, it’s love. [Read: The signs of a good relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holidays are difficult times full of stress. If you’re bringing them to Grandma\u2019s and carting them to your parent’s house, you’re ready to commit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want them to know that you value their opinion, so you check with them before you make major life decisions. This means that they’re important to your future, and you’ve already worked them into your plans, so it’s no surprise that their opinion becomes important to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If being around them is like wearing an old pair of jeans, then it’s love. There aren\u2019t many people in this world that we can completely and fully be ourselves with. When you find someone that you can be that comfortable with, hang on to them. [Read: Signs you’re getting too comfortable with each other<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you talk in unison, you’re meant for each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will defend the people you love to death. If you get offended when you hear someone talk about them, you are in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it feels like you’re home when you are with them, you’re in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the thought of sleeping with the same person for the rest of your life doesn\u2019t scare you, you have been bitten by the love bug. [Read: Hard challenges of being in a committed relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know that they will love you and your imperfections, you not only love them, but you know it’s mutual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they are balding, gaining a couple of pounds, or starting to age, and it doesn’t change the way you feel about them, you love them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has some crazy that they keep in the closet. If you’ve seen it and aren\u2019t running, you’re in love. [Read: 29 things women do that will make you think they’re crazy<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t care whether you’re at a basketball game or out shopping, then you love being with them no matter where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The person you love makes your life and your bed complete. You always want to spend plenty of time with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you often feel worried that you’re going to lose them, then you have something to lose. [Read: Ways to overcome the fear of losing someone you love<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they have the ability to make you crazy, you care a lot about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re trying to figure out whether or not you love someone, see if you imagine them in every plan you make for your future. If it includes them, you know it’s a sign that you intend to love them forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you aren\u2019t brushing away people that are pushing you to marry, you are in love. That’s because you know your romantic partner is the real deal, and you’re ready to make big plans and spend the rest of your life with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t get freaked out when they tell you that they love you or talk about kids, you\u2019re smitten. [Read: How to stay in love forever with your lover<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to kill them and make love to them at the same time, you\u2019re in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t have to work them into your life but are happy to do so, you’re in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two of you are comfortable talking about the future because you don’t have plans to let them go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If happily ever after wouldn\u2019t be happy without them, you’re head over heels. [Read: Real signs of true love in a relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you find yourself kissing pillows, jumping up and down with excitement and joy for no apparent reason, and giving your lover funny little pet names? You may just be in love. This is because the reward centers of the brain that are responsible for feel-good compounds, like norepinephrine and dopamine, are activated when we’re in love. [Read: Cute pet names<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcda Source: Bartels, A. & Zeki, S., 2000, The neural basis of romantic love<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Want to decode your feelings for a special someone? Read these features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research on people in the early stages of romantic love shows that their serotonin levels shift in ways similar to people experiencing obsession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One classic study found that couples newly in love had lower serotonin transporter binding, which helps explain why you can\u2019t stop thinking about them and why your sexual desire feels unusually intense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcda Source: Marazziti, D. et al., 1999, Altered serotonin transporter binding in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you get upset easily if the person you like upsets you in any manner? You may be in love. While the drop in serotonin levels makes you hornier, it also makes you depressed and anxious! [Read: Little things in love<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might be minding your own business and hear their name *even if it\u2019s not them someone\u2019s talking about* and you can\u2019t help but get excited. If that sounds like you, chances are that you\u2019re with someone you\u2019re in love with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you fall for someone, your brain actually becomes addicted to the person. If you feel like you hit a low whenever you leave their presence and a high when they\u2019re around, you\u2019re addicted and in love. [Read: 23 facts about love that will definitely blow your mind<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcda Source: Fisher, H. E., et al., 2005, Reward, motivation and emotion systems associated with early-stage intense romantic love<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is such a hard feeling to describe if you\u2019ve never felt it before. If you can be around someone and feel completely calm but also like you\u2019re on the best thrill ride of your life, then you\u2019re truly in love with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to dating experts, when you start feeling as though someone else\u2019s accomplishments are your own, you\u2019re in love with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you would rather skip every other plan you\u2019ve made just to sit and do nothing with someone, you\u2019re in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone teaches you important life lessons by just being with them, and you\u2019re willing to listen to those lessons and implement them, you\u2019re in love with them. [Read: Reasons why empathy is important in a relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you’re in love with someone, you start to notice that they\u2019re teaching you things about your own feelings and the way you operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you happen to find someone that makes you feel complete, but you don\u2019t depend on them for that purpose, you may be in love with them. [Read: You-complete-me relationships and why you need your space<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people are with someone they like and find attractive, but they don\u2019t actually get along well or enjoy each other\u2019s company for long periods of time. If you can be with them for hours on end and not seriously fight, you could be in love. [Read: The signs you\u2019re dating your best friend and don\u2019t know it<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the person you\u2019re with makes you want to work harder to be a kinder, healthier, and an all-around better person without actually telling you to, you are 100% in love with them. [Read: Real soulmates – 20 signs you\u2019ve met the love of your life<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcda Source: Aron, A., & Aron, E. N., 1986, Self-expansion model of romantic love<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s normal to feel upset or angry when you look back on past romantic relationships and the things your ex might have done to hurt you. When those things don\u2019t bother you as much anymore, it could be a sign that you’re falling in love. [Read: The stages of love all couples have to go through<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning, it\u2019s all about ripping each other\u2019s clothes off and loving every second you spend between the sheets. However, to know whether or not you’re actually in love might be figured out by how you feel about the cuddles instead of the sex. [Read: How to cuddle with all the best cuddle positions you should know<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n A cuddle from your beau eases your upset and makes you feel calmer. They have a habit of knowing just what to say to you to ease your worries or concerns, and it feels like home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When wondering, “how do you know you love someone?” it’s about how you feel. While it\u2019s normal to have the odd moment of worry, the initial panic stages of what to wear and why they\u2019ve not texted you back<\/a> immediately have eased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your partner is having a bad day, feeling under the weather, or just not on top of their game, you want to make them feel better. [Read: Little habits that bring couples closer together<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making them smile makes you smile, and it makes you feel good to know that you did that for them. You don\u2019t mind showing your weird self or telling bad jokes to make them grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re in love, you trust your partner. It\u2019s not possible to have a healthy relationship without trust. Assuming that your relationship feels healthy, when they tell you where they\u2019ve been, you believe them and don\u2019t need to question it. [Read: The sure signs of falling in love everyone should know<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you shouldn\u2019t go around making sacrifices just for the sake of it, especially if you\u2019re always putting yourself second, you know you\u2019re in love if you don\u2019t mind doing so at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re in the early stages of dating<\/a>, and you have an argument, it\u2019s normal to worry that everything is over. When you fall in love, you know that you\u2019re going to have arguments occasionally. You also know that it\u2019s not the end of the line. [Read: Steps that\u2019ll lead you to better love and better communication<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sign that you’re in love is when you feel calm and safe. You feel like everything has fallen into place. It won\u2019t always be perfect because nothing is, but you don\u2019t always feel on edge or worried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re out and about and you see something that you know they\u2019d love, you\u2019ll probably want to surprise them with it, and you\u2019ll feel excited to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no need to force anything, and you don\u2019t feel the need to try to impress them by being someone you\u2019re not. You feel accepted for who you are, and you accept your partner for who they are, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If they\u2019re feeling down about something, their sadness becomes yours and you really feel their hurt. That means you\u2019ll want to help and support them as much as you can. [Read: The many reasons why empathy is so important in a relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you first fall in love, just a day apart can be agonizing. You just want to be together all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some reason, it doesn\u2019t matter if you do the most mundane activity in the world. When you’re doing it with them, it\u2019s electrifying. You also find yourself willing to try new things as long as they’ll be around to go with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you fall in love and are in a long-term relationship with someone, you tend to become closer to them than anyone else. You share stuff with them that\u2019s private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being vulnerable is important. If they see you cry and comfort you, it plays a big part in helping you feel that it\u2019s okay to be vulnerable around them. [Read: When a woman is crying – the gentleman’s do’s and don’ts<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n They need to see all sides of you, and you’re ready and happy to show them. When you’re past the point that you always have to be the best version of yourself and can loosen up instead, you might be in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are dying for them to meet your friends, family, work colleagues, and whomever else. Basically, you just want the whole world to know you are together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you keep reading over the texts they\u2019ve sent you? This is a sign that you could be in love. [Read: 300+ most romantic text messages for her that will make her melt<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re apart, you feel the urge to keep checking out their photos, particularly ones of you together. You can’t wait to see one another again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Falling in love often includes a feeling of wanting to know them inside out – the good, the bad, and the ugly. You want to be their person and know that they are yours. [Read: How to give space in a relationship and become closer<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hours seem to fly by when you are with them because you love the time you spend together so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love is all about the details. You have no trouble remembering the things they like or knowing exactly how to cheer them up and make them smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever happens, you feel as though you only want the best for them, and you know they\u2019ll be your biggest cheerleader no matter what. [Read: Real signs of true love in a relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your eyes, your partner is perfect and can do no wrong. This is because you tend to focus on their positive qualities, treating them as precious artifacts that you put at your altar of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s like you’re in a romcom. You hear a song on your morning commute, and it brings that silly smile to your face. It reminds you of the apple of your eye. Every line in the song feels like it\u2019s written just for your budding story, and you feel like everything\u2019s right in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While people aren\u2019t generally open to change, it\u2019s no problem for you when it\u2019s in the name of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you are in love with someone, you can\u2019t help but absorb many of their traits. This includes picking up their interests, and you have no qualms about it. [Read: Uncanny little things couples in love start doing alike<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n You find yourself trying hard to please not only them but also their friends and family. Even if there’s a slight dislike, you don’t let it show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being around your beloved makes you feel good and makes you do good, too. It’s likely that you smile a lot, greet the people you pass on the street, and feel like giving everyone flowers. [Read: Cheerful ways to be the fun partner in the relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you\u2019re in a crowded place and your beloved is in the middle of all these attractive people, you barely notice them because your eyes are fixated on one person alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can thank your dopamine for this! It\u2019s the culprit in making you feel this way. This is due to the delayed reward. Dopamine production increases during this time. We’re not just talking about physical attraction but also the hard-to-describe, deeper, romantic attraction. [Read: Absolutely dreamy signs of love at first sight<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re in love, you’ll start feeling a sense of empathy toward the person you\u2019re in love with. You feel their pain as if it was your own, and you would sacrifice many things to make them happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcda Source: Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R., 2019, A behavioral systems approach to romantic love relationships<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be very quiet and shy. Others simply stand in stunned, awkward silence without knowing what to say. [Read: Does true love exist? Signs that might make you a believer<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember back when you first met, and they told you things about themselves that you didn’t think much of at the time? If you find yourself actually caring about those things now, and they bother you, you’re probably falling in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is just something that happens as if by magic. You could already take pride in your appearance, but when you fall in love, it\u2019s worse. [Read: Loving someone you can\u2019t have \u2013 15 ways to handle the pain<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n This person makes you feel safe and capable of opening up about things that you may not share with someone else. Whether it\u2019s your insecurities, doubts, or life history, they\u2019ll know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you love someone, it’s more certain. You’re probably dying to tell this person that you love them. The words “I love you” are on the tip of your tongue, and you aren\u2019t questioning telling them. You’re just waiting on the right time to tell them. [Read: When to say \u201cI love you\u201d for the first time in a new relationship<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a big one. If you have close friends and family, they will pick up on the fact that you love someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you know you love someone? You just know. You don’t need a relationship expert, a couple’s therapist, or a licensed clinical psychologist to tell you if you love someone or not. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as knowing. [Read: 20 downright strange but true phobias about love<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Love can feel like chaos wrapped in comfort. One moment, you’re catching your breath at the sound of their laugh, and the next, you’re picturing them in your future, completely uninvited, like your heart made plans before your head even approved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you’re still asking, how do you know you love someone?, maybe the answer isn\u2019t just in the fireworks or the butterflies, but in the calm that follows. In the way they feel like home, even on your worst days. In the way you show up, softer, braver, more you, just by loving them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you saw yourself in five signs or all these signs we’ve shared here, one thing\u2019s for sure: when it\u2019s real love, it doesn\u2019t just change how you feel about them\u2026 it changes how you see yourself. And that\u2019s how you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [Read: Why do we fall in love? 15 reasons, some fate & a mix of science<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re still wondering how do you know you love someone, here\u2019s the truth, it doesn\u2019t come with a label, but it shows up in how you feel, grow, and care. These signs don\u2019t give you a perfect answer, but they\u2019ll bring you closer to knowing if it\u2019s real love or just another passing spark.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Read these features next, to understand your feelings better.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you know if you love someone or you’re just crushing hard? These science-backed signs and subtle clues will help you know if it\u2019s the real deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":106747,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sweet-love"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 10 Biggest Signs You\u2019re Falling in Love (Not Just Catching Feelings)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. You feel calm and excited at the same time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. They’re your first thought when something happens, good or bad<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. You imagine a future with them, and it doesn\u2019t freak you out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. You want to care for them, not impress them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. You\u2019re not obsessed with hearing from them every second, you trust them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. You argue\u2026 and still feel connected<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. You think about how things affect them<\/em>, not just you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. You feel a weird sense of \u2018home\u2019 with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. You’re becoming the best version of yourself, naturally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. You\u2019re not just in love with the idea of them, you love who they are<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Psychology of Love: What the Science Says<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Your brain is literally rewiring itself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udcda Source: A Bartels, et al., 2000, The neural basis of romantic love<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Love triggers a cocktail of feel-good hormones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Self-expansion: you grow as a person<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. It\u2019s not just passion, it\u2019s attachment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Love isn\u2019t blind, it\u2019s deeply intuitive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to know you love someone: the frequent signs all of us see<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. When someone asks if you’re seeing someone, you say yes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. You never get sick of having them around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. You don’t mind it when they try your food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. You want to do things for them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. You find yourself thinking about their happiness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. You put their wants ahead of your own<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. You want them to meet your family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. You choose them over a night out with friends<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. The honeymoon phase has passed, but you still get butterflies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. You think about what type of parent they would be<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
11. You don’t mind staying the next day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. You can’t think about sex with anyone else<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
13. You have dreams that you cheat on them and wake up in a cold sweat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14. You tell them your fears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
15. When something happens, you want to pick up the phone to call them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
16. When talking about them, you use the phrase ‘we’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
17. You would consider moving for them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18. You don’t mind when they smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
19. When they engage in risky behavior, you get angry with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
20. You make major purchases with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
21. You pick out a pet together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
22. You’re not a jealous person, but you get jealous when it comes to them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
23. You would do just about anything for them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
24. They get on your nerves, and you’re okay with it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
25. You change your Facebook relationship status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
26. You give them a key<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
27. Even a deal-breaker can’t break the deal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
28. You can sit together and say nothing at all<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
29. You know how they feel before they say a word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
30. You want to spend holidays with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
31. You don’t make decisions without asking about their opinion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
32. They feel like an old pair of jeans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
33. You find yourself talking in sync<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
34. You’re offended if someone says something negative about them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
35. You feel settled in a way you haven’t felt before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
36. You aren’t afraid to commit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
37. You aren’t worried about them seeing you naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
38. Those love handles don’t bother you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
39. You see their crazy and stay anyway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
40. You just want to be around them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
41. The bed feels empty when they aren’t around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
42. You fear losing them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
43. They drive you absolutely crazy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
44. When you think about your future, you can’t imagine them not being in it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
45. When people ask when you’re getting married, you don’t get nervous and avoid the question but consider it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
46. There isn’t anything they can say to scare you away<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
47. You can talk about things that elicit anger and work through it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
48. They don’t complicate your life – they complement it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
49. You dream about a future together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
50. You have this euphoric feeling and can’t explain why<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
51. You experience frequent sexual attraction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
52. You get depressed easily<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
53. The mention of their name makes you excited<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
54. You’re addicted to them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
55. Their presence is calming and thrilling at the same time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
56. You feel their accomplishments as your own<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
57. You’d rather be doing nothing with them than something amazing without them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
58. You learn new things about life through them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
59. You learn new things about yourself through them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
60. They make you feel complete but not dependent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
61. You get along really well with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
62. They make you want to be a better person<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
63. The antics of your ex don’t bother you anymore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
64. Sex is great, but you love the cuddles more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
65. They’re the ones who just make you feel better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
66. The worry stage has eased<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
67. You want to make them feel better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
68. Making them smile becomes your hobby of choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
69. You’re not always second-guessing them when they tell you where they’ve been<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
70. You don’t mind compromising or sacrificing things for them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
71. Arguments don’t make you automatically worry that it’s over<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
72. You have a general feeling of contentment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
73. You see things they would like and want to treat them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
74. Being yourself is easy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
75. Their sadness becomes your sadness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
76. You miss them after the tiniest amount of time apart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
77. Things you’d usually find tedious or annoying are fun to do with them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
78. You share secrets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
79. They’ve seen you cry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
80. You’ve been at your weirdest\/ugliest\/meanest self<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
81. You want to show them off to everyone you know<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
82. You re-read their messages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
83. You keep looking at their photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
84. You want to know everything about them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
85. You lose track of time when you’re together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
86. You remember all the little things they like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
87. You want the best for them and vice versa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
88. Your partner is perfection in your eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
89. There are reminders of them everywhere<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
90. You don’t mind a little change for them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
91. You pick up some of their interests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
92. You try hard to get along with their friends and family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
93. You want to do random acts of service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
94. In a crowd, your attention is only on them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
95. Intensified attraction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
96. You feel empathetic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
97. You sometimes have trouble controlling your words<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
98. You went from caring to really caring without realizing it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
99. You start caring a lot more about how you look<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
100. It’s easier to open up to them than it is to anyone else<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
101. You want to tell them you love them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
102. Your friends and family see it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
103. You know<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Love can be scary, but it’s the greatest experience of all<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n