Though being in a relationship comes with its downsides, it's worth suffering through those melancholy moments just to reap the many benefits that love has to offer. At the end of the day, nothing is more rewarding than being in love—emotionally, of course, but even on a physical level. It has the capacity to reduce stress, speed the healing process, and even lengthen your lifespan.
Herein, we've gathered some facts about love that will make you grateful for this warm and fuzzy emotion, despite how overwhelming it can be at times.
1 | Falling in love is like being on drugs.
That feeling of euphoria you get when you fall in love is the same feeling that drug users experience, according to one study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Both actions trigger the release of happy hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and adrenaline, giving you a natural high (that you hopefully never come down from).
2 | A happy heart is a healthy heart.
Being in a loving relationship impacts your life for the better both emotionally and physically. According to one meta-analysis of more than 3.5 million people nationwide, married individuals up to the age of 50 were 12 percent less likely to experience vascular diseases compared to their divorced or single counterparts.
3 | Animals commit to monogamous relationships, too.
Humans aren't the only species in the animal kingdom that practice monogamous relationships. Out in the wild, beavers, otters, wolves, seahorses, and barn owls are just some of the species that mate for life.
4 | Couples' heartbeats synchronize.
When you and your spouse gaze into one another's eyes, what's happening behind the scenes is that your heart rates are syncing up, according to research from scientists at the University of California, Davis. When they analyzed 32 heterosexual couples who sat facing one another for three minutes, the researchers found that their heart rates were nearly identical, and they speculate that this occurred because of the strong link between partners on both an emotional and physical level.
5 | It's chemically addictive.
"[Romantic love] is a very powerfully wonderful addiction when things are going well," says Helen E. Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University. That's because those hormones that your brain releases when you're in love are intensely euphoric, so much so that they can make you addicted to love—and the person you're in love with.
6 | Cuddling is good for you.
There's a reason that you love those sacred snuggle sessions so much. Every time you and your partner cuddle, it triggers the release of happiness hormone oxytocin to increase your mood and wellbeing. This phenomenon is so well-documented, in fact, that oxytocin is often referred to as the "cuddling hormone," or the "love hormone."
7 | Honesty makes for a lasting relationship.
When it comes to love and relationships, honesty really is the best policy. One study published in the journal Personal Relationships found that the more honest couples are with one another about how their relationship is going, the more likely they are to last long-term.
8 | Love and laughter go hand in hand
If you want to feel closer to your spouse, then consider watching a new comedy series together. In one study published in the journal Personal Relationships, researchers concluded that couples who laughed together were more supportive of one another and more satisfied in their relationship compared to their chuckle-free counterparts.
9 | Men fall in love faster than women.
Though women are often perceived as than their male counterparts, one study published in The Journal of Social Psychology found that it's actually men who tend to fall in love and say "I love you" first in the relationship. Though they don't know for sure why this is, the researchers theorize that this is perhaps because females are more wary of getting their hearts broken.
10 | It makes you more empathetic and in tune with your emotions.
When you find someone who makes you want to be the best version of yourself, your brain responds accordingly. According to one study published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, the social connection that comes from being in a loving relationship activates the part of the brain that's responsible for selflessness and emotional processing.
11 | It helps you live longer.
First comes love, then comes marriage—and then comes living longer. According to one study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, married individuals were 58 percent less likely to die over an eight-year period compared to those who had never made it to the altar.
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