How to Get Over Infatuation: 15
Psychological Tricks
Most of us experience some form of infatuation during our lives, whether we
crushed over the new boy at school or simply had an obsession with a hot
celebrity.
While some degree of infatuation may be normal, sometimes, we become so
extremely infatuated that we cannot focus on anything else but the source of our
infatuation. When you feel overwhelmed, it is time for you to figure out how to get
over infatuation.
Maybe you’re experiencing signs of infatuation with someone you have a crush on,
or perhaps you’re in a new relationship and are so infatuated that you have
neglected other areas of life. You can learn about infatuation and how to get over
it, with tips mentioned here.
What is infatuation?
Before moving into strategies for dealing with infatuation, it is helpful to have an
infatuation definition in mind.
Infatuation can be defined as passionate love or overwhelming feelings of love for
another person. In the initial stages of a relationship, people may experience some
degree of infatuated love. They are so enamored with their new partner that they
think about them constantly and experience intense emotions toward that person.
One thing to keep in mind about being infatuated with someone is that it comes
with both positive and negative emotions.
We probably think about the positive aspects of infatuation more so than the
negatives. Still, someone looking for advice on how to stop infatuation is probably
all too familiar with the dark side of infatuation.
The lows of infatuation can include anxiety and nervousness. When you have an
intense infatuation with someone, you can have significant anxiety as you wonder
whether they feel the same way about you.
You may be nervous in their presence because you desperately want them to like
you. You might find yourself anxiously awaiting a return text from them or some
other indication that they are just as interested in you as you are them.
On the other hand, the highs of infatuation include feelings of intense euphoria.
The strong attraction and obsession you feel for the object of your infatuation can
leave you delighted, as your brain is flooded with the feel-good
chemical dopamine in response to them.
Causes of infatuation
So, what causes infatuation? As noted above, in the early stages of romance, our
brains are flooded with the brain’s chemical dopamine, which creates feelings of
intense pleasure.
The flooding of dopamine leads to feelings of euphoria that make us crazy for the
object of our infatuation. In this sense, the cause of infatuation is a chemical or
physiological reaction in the body.
Beyond a chemical reaction, you may become infatuated for the following reasons:

You see a person as perfect before you even get to know them.

You’re lonely.

You are addicted to romance and the thought of falling in love.

You are exceptionally sexually attracted to someone.

You enjoy the excitement and passion in the early stages of a relationship.
5 signs of infatuation
If you think you might have developed an intense infatuation for someone,
consider the signs below, which can point toward infatuated love:
1. You think of them nonstop
Being infatuated with someone means that they’re always on your mind. You may
find that thoughts of them creep into your head, even when you’re doing
something else, such as working or spending time with friends, and you can’t help
but think about them.
2. You’re overly jealous
Whether you’re actually in a relationship with the person you’re infatuated with or
simply crushing on them, you’ll notice that you start to become extremely jealous.
If they so much as look at another member of the opposite sex, you’ll feel enraged
with jealousy. Or, if they don’t text you back immediately, you’ll worry that
they’re not into you.
3. You have mood swings
Infatuation comes with highs and lows, so you may find that your mood shifts
rapidly when you’re feeling infatuated with someone.
When they seem to be showing you positive attention, you’ll feel elated. On the
other hand, when they ignore you or otherwise don’t reciprocate your feelings,
you’ll feel anxious and depressed.
4. You view them as perfect
When you’re infatuated with someone, you wear rose-colored glasses. You’ll fail
to see their flaws and instead view them as a perfect person, and you’ll obsess over
how wonderful they are.
If they show imperfections or red flags, you’ll ignore them because you’re so
convinced they can do no wrong.
5. You’re not functioning well
A strong infatuation can get in the way of living life to the fullest in other areas.
You may make so many sacrifices for the object of your infatuation that others
things start to fall by the wayside.
You may find that you’re too distracted to do your best at work or school, and you
may be neglecting your friendships. You may even be worn out from the highs and
lows of infatuation and your constant obsessive thoughts of the other person.
Do we all fall victim to infatuation?
In some respects, infatuation is a normal part of starting a new relationship.
When two people are in love and get to know each other, excitement is high,
hormones are raging, and life seems good. You may have a passionate desire for
your new partner and want to be close to them at all times.
On the other hand, an infatuation that interferes with happiness in other areas is not
necessarily normal. If you become obsessed and deeply infatuated with every new
partner or crush, you may struggle with a romance addiction.
You like the excitement of the chase, and you view infatuation as true love when in
reality, healthy, lasting love is characterized by a strong bond and feelings of
happiness, calmness, and security.
How long does it take to overcome infatuation?
If you’re looking for tips for how to stop infatuation, you might be wondering how
long it will take to move past your feelings.
Suppose you’re in the early stages of a relationship and experiencing the passion
and intensity of falling in love. In that case, you will naturally settle into a stable
relationship after an extended period of time together.
On the other hand, if you have an infatuation surrounding a crush and can’t seem
to get over it, it will vary the length of time it takes to move on.
If you’re willing to make the effort to learn how to stop being infatuated with
someone, you may be able to move on relatively quickly.
The good news is that infatuation doesn’t last forever. Eventually, reality sets in,
and you either realize that the infatuation isn’t healthy, or you settle down if you’re
in a committed relationship. You feel comfortable as a deep bond forms between
you and your significant other.
15 psychological tricks to get over infatuation
If you are in a healthy relationship, infatuation will naturally pass as you and your
significant other become more comfortable with each other and the newness of the
relationship fades away.
On the other hand, infatuation isn’t always healthy. If your relationship is toxic, or
if you’re longing for someone who doesn’t feel the same about you, infatuation can
take over your life.
Unhealthy infatuation can lead you to spend most of your time obsessing over the
other person.
Thoughts of them constantly creep into your mind, and the infatuation can take
over your entire life. You may have difficulty sleeping, and you’ll find that you
cannot focus on anything but the other person.
If things have reached an unhealthy point, the 15 tips below can help you learn
how to get over infatuation:
1. Actually talk to them
When you’re infatuated with someone, you’ll view them as a perfect, majestical
person, even if you don’t know much about them. In learning how to get over
infatuation
Coming to view them as human beings who have both strengths and flaws will
give you a more balanced perspective. Once you actually talk to your crush, you’ll
learn that they weren’t as perfect as you thought.
2. Avoid things you associate with them
If you want to make an effort at getting over infatuation truly, you need to stop
reminding yourself of your crush.
Please don’t go to their favorite hangout or scroll through their social media
profile. Any sight or reminder of them will quickly lead you back to obsessing
about them.
3. Focus on something else
Infatuation can take over your entire life, but you can make a conscious effort to
focus on something else. Set a new goal and work toward achieving it when trying
to learn how to get over infatuation.
When you’re focused on your aspirations, you’ll have less time to obsess about
your crush. When you meet your goals and start making forward progress in life,
you may be so happy with life that you won’t even think of your crush any longer.
4. Reach out to friends
When you have decided to figure out how to end an infatuation, you will benefit
from the support of friends.
Tell them that you’re trying to move on from your crush, so they will understand
what you’re going through and be there to support you.
5. Distract yourself with a hobby
Being infatuated with someone can consume all of your time, so learning how to
get over infatuation requires filling your time with something else.
Now is the time to keep yourself busy with your hobbies or commit to taking that
cooking class or joining that gym.
6. Practice self-care
The dark side of infatuation can take its toll on you. You may feel anxious,
depressed, or downright rejected. Be kind to yourself, and take time for self-care
when trying to learn how to get over infatuation.
Set aside time for things you enjoy, and make an effort to care for yourself with
healthy foods, regular exercise, and plenty of rest.
7. Create a bedtime routine
It may seem silly, but your obsessive thoughts over your crush can interfere with
your sleep when you develop an infatuation.
You may lie awake at night thinking of them and wondering how they feel about
you, leaving you exhausted in the morning. Instead of falling victim to this, create
a calming nighttime routine.
Take a hot bath, and then unwind with some stretching or relaxing medication to
calm the body for sleep. These are some things you can do to learn how to get over
infatuation.
8. Be honest with them
Not knowing whether or not your crush feels the same way about you can make
your feelings of infatuation stronger. Instead of remaining in a state of uncertainty,
share your feelings with them.
Ultimately, the worst thing that can happen is they will reject you. Once the
uncertainty passes and you realize that they aren’t into you the way you’re into
them, the infatuation may pass rather quickly.
9. Look at the negative aspects of infatuation
The highs of infatuation can lead to euphoria, but the longing and obsession you
feel toward your crush can lead to anxiety and sleeplessness.
If your crush rejects you, you may be left with feelings of despair, and you might
even find that you have physical symptoms like chest pains.
Take the time to list the negative side of your infatuation, and you’ll likely be more
ready to move on.
10. Get real about their flaws
This will require you to take a step back and be honest with yourself, but accepting
the reality that your crush has flaws can help you move past infatuation.
If you’re caught up in your belief that the object of your infatuation is perfect,
remind yourself that everyone has flaws.
You may have to ask for your friends’ perspectives to help you recognize flaws in
your crush, but becoming aware of them can play an important role in dealing with
infatuation.
11. Stop the cycle
During a stage of infatuation, your thoughts will seem as if they are out of control.
If you want to learn how to get over infatuation, you have to figure out a way to
stop the cycle of obsessive thoughts.
As soon as you notice yourself thinking of your crush, please find a way to stop the
thought process before going down a rabbit trail of obsessing over them.
You might recite a mantra to yourself, such as, “You have better things to think
about!” Or, as soon as your thoughts turn to your crush, do something to distract
yourself, like texting a friend, going for a walk, or turning on your favorite TV
show.
12. Read some books
Picking up a good book about the ins and outs of infatuation can be helpful. Not
only will you learn just how the process of infatuation works, but reading will also
serve as a form of distraction to take your mind off of your crush.
13. Consider an alternative perspective
The obsession and euphoria that come along with infatuation can lead you to
believe that this person is your perfect partner and that you’re involved in a
fairytale love story. If this is the narrative you’ve convinced yourself is true, now is
the time to rewrite the story.
Consider the fact that this is just a phase, and it’s not some indication of a once-ina-lifetime romance.
14. Accept rejection
Sometimes rejection happens, but we can get through it. If your crush rarely talks
to you or ignores your attempts to connect, the chances are that they aren’t
interested; instead of holding out hope that they will fall for you, accept their
silence as rejection, so you can begin moving on.
15. Seek therapy
If you have ongoing issues with infatuation and you can’t find ways to deal with
them on your own, it might be time to seek out professional intervention.
A therapist can help you process your emotions and find different ways of
thinking, so you are not experiencing obsessive thoughts and irrational beliefs,
such as the belief that your crush is your soulmate.
A therapist can also help you uncover any psychological issues that may contribute
to your ongoing infatuations.
Conclusion
Being extremely infatuated with another person may feel good at times, but the
dark side of infatuation cannot be ignored.
Being infatuated with someone can interfere with your life and lead to feelings of
depression and anxiety. Fortunately, you can learn how to get over infatuation and
enjoy life again.
Psychological strategies like focusing your attention elsewhere, reaching out to
supportive friends, and changing your viewpoint to be more realistic can all help
you overcome an infatuation. Working with a therapist is a wise option if these
strategies are not effective.
References