What is unrequited love? Meaning explained
AT some point in your life, you may have had one romantic interest who didn’t feel the same way.
This is a pretty universal experience, but the pain of a one-sided love can be heartbreaking when you truly love someone.
What is unrequited love?
Unrequited love is love that is not mutual or reciprocated.
It can be deeply painful for the person who’s in love as it often means they will not get to share life as fully or deeply with the person they want.
The lack of reciprocity may also feel like rejection and end up you questioning your worth.
Signs of unrequited love include:
- Unreciprocated emotions
- Having an unrealistic view of the person you’re in love with
- One-sided contact through messages and social media
- Wanting your person of interest’s touch
How to get over unrequited love?
There are many things you can do to move forward after the heartbreak of unrequited love.
Although it may feel impossible and will take time, healing can happen.
You may find it helpful to reflect on your feelings, work with a therapist, set boundaries, and learn more about attachment theory and relationships.
If possible, try to view an unrequited love as a way to gain a better understanding of your needs, and your patterns in a relationship.
How to deal with unrequited love?
If the person you like doesn’t know how you feel, it may be worth opening up and expressing your feelings to find out if it’s reciprocated.
But if they’re in a relationship with someone else, or have already turned you down, or show no interest, it may be time to move on.
Rejection is not something you have a lot of control over, but there are ways to deal with the pain to move on.
The steps below will help you kickstart the healing process.
- Accept the pain
- Know you’re not alone
- See it as a learning experience
- Fulfill your needs in other ways
- Set boundaries for yourself
- Meet and date new people
Can unrequited love cause trauma?
Unrequited love can become dangerous for your mental health.
Giving love and not getting it back in return can often lead to depression and anxiety.
It can also escalate into behaviours that include violence or self-harm.
Can unrequited love ever become requited?
Yes, of course.
Feelings can change over time and someone who did not reciprocate your emotions at first, might get attracted to you with a change of circumstances.
But remember to respect the other person’s choice and find a common ground between you both.