The Difference Between Love And Lust

Even though they are close relations, there is an enormous gulf separating these two emotions, and you confuse them at your peril.

But as people discover every day, confusion is easy because they both trigger the pleasure centers in your brain. A chemical called dopamine is released producing euphoria, extra energy, sleeplessness, and avid attention on your loved one. Physiologically it's a lot like taking opium. But there's a difference ...

Lust generally steals away like a thief in the night after sex and might, or might not, return sometime later. What's more you can lust after several people at the same time. But when you're in love, you are completely focused on just one person, and your feelings for them don't evaporate after sex. They often become even stronger.

But you do have to be careful during sex, because you might think you've fallen in love! The reason is that after orgasm dopamine activity reaches its peak, and people can mistake the intense physical pleasure they're experiencing for actual emotional connection and love, which as many people have found out the hard way, can lead to tears further down the track.

That's one very good reason why in our new guide to everything you need to know about finding true love called First Date Magic' we strongly advise a 'no sex' policy on first dates. No matter how great the date has been, or how gorgeous he or she may be, don't jump into bed on the first night - and probably not the second or third either. It will cloud your judgment at a time when you need to be seeing 20/20.

Remember when you're dating you need to keep control of the situation - and passion and control are two completely conflicting things. Anyway, if they are right for you, a little sweet anticipation will only improve the fireworks to come.

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