Love & Sex Are Not The Same

It is important to keep in mind that love is not the same thing as having sex. Love and sex can be completely separate. You can love someone and never have sex with that person. Some people have sex with people they do not love. Sexual intercourse, or penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus, can be part of a loving relationship. However, it is not necessary ingredient for love.

Some people confuse love and sex. They may pressure others to have sex to prove their love. However, having sex does not prove love for someone. People who pressure their partner to have intercourse show disrespect for the partner. It is never okay to pressure a person to have sex.

Crushes Can Be A Safe Way To Learn About Love

Crushes from afar can sometimes be helpful. Many teens admire musicians, actors or athletes. Chances are, you will never meet the star you dream about. However, you may learn to adjust to the strong feelings you have. You may become comfortable with the feeling of being
attracted to someone. Then you can set your sights on someone you really can meet or may already know.

It also is normal to have a crush on someone close to you. For example, you may have a crush on someone in your class or office. It can be fun to imagine what relationship would be like with that person. You may choose to keep your crush a romantic dream. Maybe you want to try to get to now him or her. Sometimes getting to know the person destroys the dream. Other times getting to know someone is more fun than a dream.

You Do Not Have To Figure Out Whether It's Love

The line between like and love may not be clear. Sometimes that does not matter. You can like a person a great deal without knowing for certain if you are in love. Two people can be happy together and have a deep crush on one another. A person does not have to be truly in love to care for someone.

Is It A Crush, Or Is It Love?

Love is a powerful feeling. One day love can make you feel wonderful. The next day it can disappoint you and make you feel miserable. How do you know if you are in love? How can you tell the difference between infatuation, or a crush, and love?

It's hard to distinguish between a crush and love. Usually the difference between the two becomes clear over time. In the beginning, you may feel strong emotions for someone. If those feelings fade within a few weeks, however, they probably were not feelings of love. The following chart contrasts a crush and love;