Falling in Love? Here's to Know If You're Really Falling for Someone

With cuffing season well and truly underway, you might be starting to question how ~serious~ things are with the person you're dating. Do you love them? Do you not? Do they love you? The whole thing is a minefield, TBH.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell the difference between lust and love, but what are the signs that it is 100% love you're feeling for someone? And how do you know when you've fallen? These people share the standout signs that meant they knew they were falling in love with their partner. Take notes, people.

Are you falling in love?

When they've made their way into your default thoughts

"When they've finagled their way into my default state of thinking. So any future plans or ideas I have, they're there. 'I, my' thoughts start to become 'we, our' ones." 

"When they’re the last thing on your mind before you fall asleep at night and the first thing on your mind when you wake up." 

They're the first person you call about anything

"You automatically think of calling them any time something happens." 

"That’s how I knew I was in love with my partner. I got fired unexpectedly, and he was the first person I called, and cried on the phone to. Usually I call my sister or my best friend, but without hesitation I called him." 

You can't picture your life without them

"One day, you can't picture your life without them. For me, it wasn't this overwhelming feeling of being madly in love like in the movies. It was a more subtle realisation that my quality of life and happiness would not be the same without them there." 

You want to spend all your time with them

"You want to spend more time with them than you do by yourself. This is a big one for me because I value my alone time so much. If I’m willing to give someone a lot of my time I know I’m in love." 

You feel completely comfortable and relaxed around them

"When you realise you're comfortable, and at peace with them. Little facial expressions can say a thousand words, a touch is instantly calming, you know small details about each other that seem so unimportant otherwise. You know you love someone when you feel relaxed around them, and the little things become important and second nature to you." 

When you love even the little things

"When you start having those little moments where you watch them play with a dog or add sugar instead of salt to their lunch etc, and just think 'oh god, I'm so lucky to have this person in my life.'"

When you talk about them all the time

"If I love someone I can't help but talk about them all the time. My friends and I could be talking about anything, the Revolutionary War for example, and somehow I’ll find a way to mention something about them. Weird! I know! If I talk about them a lot I’ve definitely fallen." 

You're not interested in anybody else

"I know when I can't stop thinking about them. I don't feel like pursuing anyone else's affections because theirs are enough for me." 

You want to take care of them

"When I look at him and get this feeling that I want to take care of him. He's not this manly man that's in a different world from me, but more of this human being that I just want to make food for and tuck into bed and hug a lot." 

"Protectiveness. I want them to get everything they want and the thought of them being hurt or upset almost physically hurts."

You want them to be happy, even if it's not with you

"That point where you realise you just want to give, to make them happy. To the point where you know that if the relationship doesn't work out, you almost won't mind as you just genuinely want the best for them, even if it isn't you."