“Getting the Love You Want” by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D.
Until you love self, you cannot truly love another! Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., psychologist, creator of Imago Relationship Therapy, and author of “Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples” provides a guide that serves as therapy in itself, and not just for couples.
- Why are we attracted to the people that we choose in our lives?
- How do we select our mates?
- Why do we want and need love and always seek it?
As for the chemistry of love, Harville illuminates what psychopharmacologists have learned about the good feeling we call romantic love. They have learned that “lovers are literally high on drugs – natural hormones and chemicals that flood their bodies with a sense of well-being. During the attraction phase of a relationship, the brain releases dopamine and norepinephrine, two of the body’s many neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters help contribute to a rosy outlook on life, a rapid pulse, increased energy, and a sense of heightened perception. During this phase, when lovers want to be together every moment of the day, the brain increases its production of endorphins and enkephalins, natural narcotics, enhancing a person’s sense of security and comfort.”
Imagine the world if LOVE was the only drug of choice!