--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's what falling in love really…" description: "\"That's what falling in love really amounted to, your brain on drugs. Adrenaline and dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Chemical insanity, celebrated by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/tess-gerritsen-3102_adrenaline_that-s-what-falling-in-love-really-amoun_1221452.png" --- # That's what falling in love really amounted to, your brain… ![“That's what falling in love really amounted to, your brain on drugs. Adrenaline and dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Chemical insanity, celebrated by poets.” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/tess-gerritsen-3102_adrenaline_that-s-what-falling-in-love-really-amoun_1221452.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/tess-gerritsen-3102_adrenaline_that-s-what-falling-in-love-really-amoun_1221452.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/tess-gerritsen-3102_adrenaline_that-s-what-falling-in-love-really-amoun_1221452.png) > “That's what falling in love really amounted to, your brain on drugs. Adrenaline and dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Chemical insanity, celebrated by poets.” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Falling in love triggers a cocktail of neurochemicals, making it feel like an intoxicating high. **In simple terms:** Love creates a powerful brain chemical mix. Key Takeaway Recognize love’s biological basis to manage expectations. Themes love neurochemistry passion Mood introspective romantic Type analytical poetic When to use this quote - relationships - addiction recovery - creative writing Key Concepts biology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate love from chemical high? - What strategies help sustain love beyond chemistry? A Different Perspective Chemicals fade, leaving emotional work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-drugs-429626/) [Chemical Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-insanity-3741903/) [Chemicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemicals/) [Dopamine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dopamine/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Drugs Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-adrenaline-3741904/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Falling love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-love/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Oxytocin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxytocin/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [“dopamine, endorphin, oxytocin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-graziano-breuning/dopamine-endorphin-oxytocin/) [Loretta Graziano Breuning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-graziano-breuning/) > [Each of our cells is a living entity, and the main thing that influences them is our blood. If I open my eyes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/each-of-our-cells-is-a-living-entity-and-the-main-thing-that/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [“I think there are certain unimpeded passages, that this is registering in my brain somewhere where the drugs and the bugs don’t reach. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moran/i-think-there-are-certain-unimpeded-passages-that-this-is-registering/) [Thomas Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moran/) > [“is your brain on drugs.” I saw that image in the scorching nighttime sky. I heard the disembodied voice. But what I thought was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-jurek/is-your-brain-on-drugs-i-saw-that-image-in-the-scorching-nighttime/) [Scott Jurek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-jurek/) > [“Your Brain on drugs is a terrible sight, but Mr Tulip was living proof of the fact that so was Your Brain on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/your-brain-on-drugs-is-a-terrible-sight-but-mr-tulip-was-living-proof/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Rather than fix chemical imbalances in the brain, the drugs creat them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whitaker/rather-than-fix-chemical-imbalances-in-the-brain-the-drugs-creat-them/) [Robert Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whitaker/) > [“Bring your dopamine or adrenaline level down by activating other regions of the brain other than the prefrontal cortex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rock/bring-your-dopamine-or-adrenaline-level-down-by-activating-other/) [David Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rock/) > [You'd think people would realize they're bad at multitasking and would quit. But a cognitive illusion sets in, fueled in part by a dopamine-adrenaline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/you-d-think-people-would-realize-they-re-bad-at-multitasking-and/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [In accounts of men in battle, there is an incredible adrenaline rush from group-versus-group conflict. The fervor and passion of partisans is clearly rewarding;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/in-accounts-of-men-in-battle-there-is-an-incredible-adrenaline-rush/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [My brother and I spent our childhood in movie theaters screaming. I decided early on that that was the epitome of entertainment. I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-brother-and-i-spent-our-childhood-in-movie-theaters-screaming-i/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [It is important to understand that while oxytocin may be the hub of the evolution of the social brain in mammals, it is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-churchland/it-is-important-to-understand-that-while-oxytocin-may-be-the-hub-of/) [Patricia Churchland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-churchland/) > [“Watoto hupenda vitu vinavyong’aa ambavyo havijatulia na vilivyopangiliwa vizuri. Hivyo ndivyo macho ya binadamu yalivyo: yana unyevu na yanaakisi mwanga, hayajatulia, na yana rangi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/watoto-hupenda-vitu-vinavyong-aa-ambavyo-havijatulia-na/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [Oxytocin is a Teflon hormone - bad news rolls off it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/oxytocin-is-a-teflon-hormone-bad-news-rolls-off-it/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Of course, if 40% of women need oxytocin to progress normally, then something is wrong with the definition of normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henci-goer/of-course-if-40-of-women-need-oxytocin-to-progress-normally-then/) [Henci Goer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henci-goer/) > [“oxytocin is the “god hormone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/oxytocin-is-the-god-hormone/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The best heroes in the world are the reluctant ones. Courage isn't fearlessness - it's acting in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-best-heroes-in-the-world-are-the-reluctant-ones-courage-isn-t/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“If you don't love him, if you don't even care about him, then seeing him now shouldn't be all that painful. Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. It's hard on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/when-you-re-a-fifty-year-old-woman-no-one-really-bothers-to-look-at/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Mom and I often talked about the trip we'd someday take together to the 'city of eternal spring' where she was born. In Kunming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/mom-and-i-often-talked-about-the-trip-we-d-someday-take-together-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“But human anatomy and human endurance are variable. While the much younger nun had succumbed to her injuries, Ursula's heart kept beating, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/but-human-anatomy-and-human-endurance-are-variable-while-the-much/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Where we go depends on what we know, and what we know depends on where we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/where-we-go-depends-on-what-we-know-and-what-we-know-depends-on-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Some people make choices hoping for the best; Korsak had made a choice simply to avoid the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/some-people-make-choices-hoping-for-the-best-korsak-had-made-a-choice/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) [Explore all 134 Tess Gerritsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## More Adrenaline quotes > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-get-called-an-adrenaline-junkie-every-other-minute-and-i-m-just/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [There’s something insupportable about being pissed with the one person on this planet that sends your adrenaline flowing to remind you that you’re alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/there-s-something-insupportable-about-being-pissed-with-the-one/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... 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