Am I In Love?

Maybe the entire list doesn't apply to your relationship, but it should come pretty darn close, says Dr. Kirschner. Beyond the kissing and cuddling, a relationship needs to be made up of something substantial that will eventually evolve into something permanent in the future. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is jumping into bed with both feet first.

Addicted To Love?
Dr. Kirschner chalks the "fast and furious" behavior up to the body's chemistry, something which many people let consume them.

"When people start falling in love, a lot of dopamine is produced in the brain. A lot of physical changes take place. These create an addiction, an immediate physical addiction and craving for that person. What happens is the brain actually looks like an addict's brain. When you have the brain falling love, there is a sensation of intense longing or feeling that you need contact. There's the exhilaration and adrenaline boost where you spend hours talking together.

"The problem with that is that it can happen in just a short time before you even know the person, and that's where you get into trouble. If you allow chemistry to take over, you jump into bed too quickly. The body produces oxytocin which gets you in a state of dependence on a person who you don't know. You don't know if he's interested in you. You don't know if he's trustworthy. You're putting yourself at risk for being hurt."