Affairs of the heart or just a rush of endorphins?

A common relationship issue I come across in my practice is that of betrayal, breach of trust and a whole lot of pain as a result of cheating.

Some would prefer to refer to this as an affair of the heart or "I just couldn't help myself. I fell in love!"

This idea of "falling in love" is a great fallacy according to a lot of experts recently who have done extensive research on neuropeptides and brain chemistry. Some natural brain chemicals can be as powerful as a hit of heroin. In the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know", "Falling in Love" is portrayed as a chemical addiction to lust.

"The thing that most people don't realize is that when they understand that they are addicted to emotions, it's not just psychological, it's biochemical.

Think about this.

Heroin uses the same receptor mechanisms on the cells that our emotional chemicals use.

It's easy to see, then, that if we can be addicted to heroin, then we can be addicted to any neuropeptide, any emotion." - Dr. Joseph Dispenza

This concept is also endorsed by the research carried out by Candace B.Pert, Ph.D., Research Professor, available to read in her book, Molecules of Emotion. Candace Pert details her research to answer questions about why we feel the way we feel and how emotions and thoughts affect our health.

So what does this all have to do with having an affair? It's about addiction to emotion rather than love. Some people are addicted to the endorphin high identified as being "in love" just as others may be addicted to feeling angry or anxious.

This is important to know if thoughts of ending a marriage or important relationship are being entertained on the brink of an endorphin rush being confused with genuine love. Have a rethink and maybe some counselling.

I look forward to your comments and welcome enquiries.