At a first glance, limerence and Christmas have very little in common. Limerence is a psychological state of intense romantic desire, while Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated by many people around the world.
However, the holidays add extra emotional intensity to limerence.
The symptoms of limerence include the following:
- Intense feelings of euphoria and excitement when thinking about your limerent object (LO)
- Obsessive thoughts about the other person, including constant daydreaming and fantasising
- A strong craving for the other person’s attention and validation
- Fear of rejection and uncertainty about the other person’s feelings
- Extreme mood swings and emotional instability
- Inability to concentrate on other aspects of life due to preoccupation with the other person
- Changes in behaviour, such as becoming more affectionate, attentive, and charming in an effort to win your LO’s favour
- Feelings of despair and hopelessness when your LO does not reciprocate in sentimental intensity.
Festivity & Limerence = Magical But Dangerous
During the holiday season, many people experience a sense of excitement and anticipation as they prepare for Christmas. Naturally, this excitement heightens the highs of limerence – particularly when your LO is involved.
And they may well be involved, especially if you work alongside them or have mutual friends.
The added social interactions and gatherings that often occur during the holiday season may provide opportunities for you to be near your LO.
But, Worry Not
Limerence recovery is possible regardless of your circumstances; this is a key theme covered in The Limerent Mind. It does not matter if it is Christmas, if you see your LO every day, or if you never see them in real life – the steps required to recover remain the same.
But, you must make a conscious effort to realise when you are particularly susceptible to the euphoria of limerence. If the festive magic seems to be bleeding into your experience of unrequited love and worsening it, it is your responsibility to mentally separate the two. It is up to you to mentally frame Christmas as something joyous that has nothing to do with your LO; do not make the mistake of associating your LO with every positive emotional upswing in your life, or breaking free will be ever the more difficult. This mistake, and many others, are covered in depth in my second book (a priceless complementary resource): Twenty Disastrous Limerent Errors.