It may take time to understand what you feel for someone you care about. “In the early stages of a relationship, when the sex hormones are raging, lust is fueled by idealization and projection — you see what you hope someone will be or need them to be — rather than seeing the real person, flaws and all,”Judith Orloff M.D. is a psychiatrist. Psychology Today.
Both lust and love can lead to love. However, as the relationship evolves, if you each begin to feel a different kind of connection — for instance, you’re in the relationship to satisfy your lustful “friends with benefits” feelings, but your partner admits to wanting to be in a long-term, loving relationship with you — this could become problematic.
Dr. Orloff suggests asking you some questions to help you understand your feelings. Do you want to have sex with your partner but not have real conversations? Or do you want to be with your partner outside of the bedroom? Do you desire to share your feelings with your partner? Do you feel inspired by your partner to be a better person
The experts at HealthlineExplain that love and lust both have their benefits and purposes, but they can also evolve in different ways. You can make better, more informed decisions about the type of relationship that you desire by learning to recognize these differences. This level of clarity and self-awareness will save you and your potential partners unnecessary pain later on.