{"id":669,"date":"2026-06-19T16:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sidssaferoom.com\/?p=669"},"modified":"2026-07-27T09:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:02:29","slug":"limerence-with-someone-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sidssaferoom.com\/en\/limerence-with-someone-else\/","title":{"rendered":"In love with someone other than your partner: is it limerence?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, you will read what limerence is, what limerence means when you already have a partner, and why this form of obsessive infatuation can feel so confusing and intense. You will also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to understand the basics of limerence calmly first, it helps to also read my article on What limerence is<\/strong><\/a> to read, where I explain the core and the limerence meaning step by step.<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Means Limerence in Daily Life?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limerence is a psychological term for a state of intense, often obsessive infatuation with one person. The meaning of limerence goes beyond \u201cjust being very in love\u201d: it is often accompanied by obsessive thoughts, strong hope of being chosen, idealization of the other person, and significant mood swings depending on small signals.<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can then notice that you are constantly thinking about someone, analyzing conversations, re-reading messages, building fantasies, and becoming emotionally unbalanced when that person is distant, ambiguous, or conversely, warm. This is also why many people search for terms like \u201climerence meaning\u201d or \u201cwhat is limerence\u201d: they feel that this is more than a regular crush but don't yet have a name for what is happening internally.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dorothy Tennov, the psychologist who popularized the term, described limerence as an intense mental state where longing, uncertainty, and hope are strongly intertwined. In plain language: you no longer feel free internally, because a large part of your attention and emotional well-being seems to be tied to one person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you're still unsure whether you're dealing with ordinary infatuation or this more obsessive form, my blog Just in love or limerence?<\/strong><\/a> more grip on that distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limerence without a relationship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limerence can develop when you're single, but also when you're already in a relationship. It's precisely the latter that often makes it extra confusing: you can genuinely care about your partner and still be completely overwhelmed by feelings for someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What's important is that limerence can occur in all sorts of forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n