Limerence

What happens when longing takes hold and won’t let go? When the need for connection becomes obsession, and fantasy begins to blur with reality?

This book explores limerence, a complex and often misunderstood psychological state marked by intrusive thoughts, emotional dependency, and an intense longing for reciprocation. What begins as attraction can quickly spiral into fixation, projection, and the gradual unravelling of the self.

The author weaves together insights from psychology, neuroscience, mythology, and cultural analysis to examine limerence through clinical, emotional, symbolic, digital, spiritual, and relational lenses. Drawing on case studies, archetypal patterns, and original diagnostic frameworks, it reveals limerence as both a source of profound suffering and a window into deeper psychological truths.

For therapists, clinicians, and curious readers alike, this is a nuanced exploration of obsessive love and the psychological complexities that shape it.

Orly Miller is a psychologist, author, and writer working at the intersection of depth psychology, psychoanalysis, and cultural thought. She writes and practices from Australia, working with individuals and couples worldwide.