7 Weird Things That Happen To Your Brain When You Meet Your Soulmate

Falling in love releases dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for that intense feeling of reward and pleasure. "The dopamine rush is experienced like a thrill, creating an intense experience like a craving," psychologist Gladys Frankel, PhD tells Bustle. "This is why someone might sit and think about someone constantly or sit in a meeting writing their name. It lights up areas of the brain that are similarly light up as an addiction."

There's a reason some people feel blinded by love: The amygdala, which normally senses danger and is a survival mechanism, can slightly shut down as a result of being in love. "This is amazing because it clouds our judgment and prevents us from seeing flaws in the one we are in love with," psychotherapist Lena Derhally MS, MA tells Bustle.

You may have been cynical or pessimistic in the past, but meeting your soulmate may even change the way you think. You may find yourself focusing more on the brighter side. "The negativity in the world feels less brutal and depressing because you are focused on love," psychotherapist and relationship coach Rachel Dack, MS, LCPC, NCC tells Bustle.

"Oxytocin is the hormone that is released when we become attached to someone" says Derhally. "It's a nice feeling because it's associated with trust, safety, bonding, and intimacy." You will find a feeling of closeness with your loved one, but a study from Stanford University of Medicine found that oxytocin is also involved in social connections. So you may feel connected to others, too.

You might find that your thoughts become more courageous as you feel more confident and better able to handle your life. "Finding your soulmate leads to a confidence boost and more energy to tackle problems," says Dack. "You feel comforted to have this special person by your side, helping you make decisions and handle responsibilities. In turn, problem-solving becomes easier and you feel less stressed due to the solid support your partner provides."

Once you've found your soulmate, the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are released, and they enhance feelings of contentment, security, and attachment, psychologist Traci Stein, PhD, MPH tells Bustle. As time goes on and we become more secure in a relationship, cortisol decreases, and people tend to can relax more. "Even though most people become less 'oogly-googly' over time, they are also less up-and-down emotionally when the relationship is stable and enduring," she says.

You might find that you get butterflies every time you think about your loved one. Thanks to norepinephrine, which is similar to adrenaline, falling in love causes that feeling of excitement and that racing in your heart. "The most exciting thing in the world is seeing this person when you're in the early stages of the relationship," says Derhally.

Falling in love and finding your soulmate may give you butterflies in your stomach, but it's your brain that's ultimately doing most of the reacting.