---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is excruciating, especially when you…"
description: "\"“Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it. Like someone was playing..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/julie-hockley-24071_left-behind_love-is-excruciating-especially-when-you_840667.jpg"
---

#  Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it…

![“Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it. Like someone was playing tug-of-war with my limbs, ripping to shreds whatever was left behind. What it would feel like when love was lost...I wouldn't survive that. I…” quote by Julie Hockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/julie-hockley-24071_left-behind_love-is-excruciating-especially-when-you_840667.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/julie-hockley-24071_left-behind_love-is-excruciating-especially-when-you_840667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/julie-hockley-24071_left-behind_love-is-excruciating-especially-when-you_840667.jpg)

> ““Love is excruciating, especially when you can feel it slipping through your fingers and there is nothing you can do about it. Like someone was playing tug-of-war with my limbs, ripping to shreds whatever was left behind. What it would feel like when love was lost...I wouldn't survive that. I closed my eyes willing the tears to stay hidden behind my eyelids and focusing on breathing in and out instead of the pain that was ramming in my heart.””

[Julie Hockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hockley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Love can be overwhelming and painful, feeling uncontrollable and suffocating, leading to emotional turmoil.

**In simple terms:** Love can feel painful and out of control.

Key Takeaway

Accept and process emotions without suppression.

Themes

love pain vulnerability emotional struggle

Mood

reflective somber

Type

emotional psychological

When to use this quote

- breakups
- unrequited love
- relationship loss
- self‑care

Key Concepts

attachment grief mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What coping strategies help you endure heartbreak?
- How can mindfulness ease intense emotional pain?

A Different Perspective

Healing may require external support.

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[Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Like love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Excruciating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-excruciating-638904/) [Love lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-lost/)

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