“love sickness”

What Is Love?

In the past, languages helped better understand the nuances of love. Words in languages like Ancient Greek for example, help distinguish between the different meanings of love better than they are described in modern languages like English. In Ancient Greek words like filia, eros, agape and storge describe different types; love between friends, romantic, sexual, unconditional and familiar love. Similarly in Latin, cupiditas (same as eros) signifies sexual desire while caritas signifies empathetic love (agape in Greek). In conclusion, love is always present in our lives in many different ways and although it brings with it much complexity, it is something that we cannot live without.

Love is not only beautiful or complicated. It can be many different things including volatile and dangerous. In some cases, the lack of love in one’s past, emotional, verbal or physical abuse, and even emotional deficiency can cause someone to become “love sick”. This happens when one demonstrates love without receiving it in return or unknowingly sacrifices themselves and puts the needs of their loved one above their own in order to improve the relationship. This is usually the prelude to emotional distress; when they realize that the object of their affection is not responding in the way they had predetermined or that the loved one does not appreciate their efforts and demands something else.

This extreme type of love, where one sacrifices their own needs for another, happens for many because they believe that “sacrifice” is the true meaning of love. They are so obsessed with being loved with the same intensity in which they operate themselves and when this does not occur, they can become very frustrated, beyond the point of being able to effectively resolve it on their own. Many times the only way out for these “love sick” individuals is to resort to violence.

To prevent such “love sickness” or complexity, pay close attention to your feelings and be aware of how your actions impact your loved ones. Try to keep a healthy balance between the love you exude and the love you receive across all forms of love in your life.

In conclusion, whether love is a feeling or a necessity, you choose whichever makes more sense for you—it cannot function without equilibrium and equality between both parties in the relationship. If you can achieve that equality you can ensure that life will stay rosy between you, your “better half” and all the other love relationships in your life.

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Ps. Martin Alvarez / Terra USA