Love Articles

Familial love vs. romantic love vs. platonic love. What are the differences?

Love is a potent force that connects us to one another. It isn’t logical, but emotional. There are many types of love: love for a partner, the maternal love for a child, and love you show toward your friends. No matter what type of love it is, the feeling is universal and genuine-- you can say to all of them, "love you to the moon and back". All human beings understand and experience love. Here you will find articles that help you understand how love impacts our lives. Whether it’s romantic love or the warmth you feel towards family and friends, love is essential to all human beings. It is an important part of the human experience that we value as young children and cherish in our senior years.

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Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

Love

Love is a deep feeling of affection that we have for another human being. It is one of the most profound emotions that we have. Love can be overwhelming, euphoric, painful, tragic, exhilarating, and beautiful all at once. The ancient Greeks broke down love into several different categories. There is Storge: Familiar affection. Storge is the sort of love a parent has for their child. Philia: the love of friendship. Eros: Sexual love or attraction. Agape: unconditional or universal love for all living things. Agape is also known as divine love. Ludus: flirtatious or playful love. Pragma: is a developed love where two people have a shared goal. It’s the love of committed long-term relationships, such as marriage. And finally Philautia: self-love, because loving yourself is extremely important to live a happy fulfilled life.

The Origin of Love

The first people to show us what love is should be our parents or guardians. Whoever cares for us at a young age demonstrates what love is, and how we can give and receive it. When love is given freely, a child feels safe, protected, valued, and understood. Children model the style of love that was received from their parents or guardians. If these primary caregivers don’t show their young love, then the children grow up not knowing what love is or how to express it. It can result in attachment disorders and other mental health issues. If you weren’t shown how to love as a child, or  you were neglected, it’s important to seek therapy to talk about that trauma you experienced from being emotionally neglected. The scars of emotional neglect can be profound, and if left untreated, the individual will suffer alone and in relationships with loved ones. That’s why seeing a mental health professional is extremely important.

Love and Acceptance

We want to be accepted for who we are, and a large part of love is acceptance. We want to be seen for our true selves. When you love someone, you’re seeing them for their authentic self. You appreciate them and value them for their strengths and their flaws. One of the advantages to seeking a life partner is finding someone who views you as the beautiful person you are They are willing to weather the good times and the bad and love you no matter what. It’s not easy to accept another person for their flaws. People can be difficult to deal with at times, and there are moments where you want to give up. But with the right person, the hard times are worth it. You accept your partner for who they are, and they accept you for you. Acceptance is a significant part of love and being in love.

Romantic Love

Love is a beautiful emotion that all human beings can experience. There’s nothing like the feeling of being in love with someone. As we established there are many types of love, one of which is romantic. People seek out a relationship so they can fulfill the need for a partner. Spending your life with another person who loves you is meaningful, and that’s the beauty of romantic love. You are more likely to have a stable long-term relationship with a partner if you formed healthy attachments as a child. However, if you have trauma from your childhood, you can work on those issues with a therapist so you can begin to form lasting healthy romantic relationships.

Online Therapy

You might not know why you’re having trouble finding a romantic partner, or maintaining a long-term romantic relationship. That is why talking to a licensed therapist can help. Online therapy is an excellent place to talk about your issues with love. Maybe you need to discuss trauma from your childhood that made you afraid to love. Perhaps you had a bad breakup or divorce that made you fearful to enter into a new relationship. It might be that you are ready to find love, but you don’t know where to look. An online therapist can help you explore your concerns surrounding love and being loved by others. You deserve to find someone who understands and appreciates you. Search the network of online counselors at BetterHelp and find one who fits your needs.

Commonly Asked Questions On This Topic Found Below:

What is love as a person?
Why is love so important?
Is love a choice or a feeling?

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