The term “boyfriend addiction” was coined by TikTok influencer and podcaster Tinx to describe this compulsive behavior, and although it’s called “boyfriend addiction,” it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender.
However, experts say that this is a very normal behavior and very necessary for new couples to bond and build a deeper attachment, and that in most cases, it is a temporary phase.
According to Amir Levine, an associate professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, when you’re in a new relationship, your brain goes into overdrive to bond with your partner. This is when the attachment style (secure, anxious, avoidant, etc.) you developed in your childhood starts to be reflected in your relationship. “It takes a lot of confusion and neural rewiring to treat a stranger as someone you care about,” Levine said, according to a Washington Post report. A strong bond develops as new couples spend more time together. This can take weeks or months. Once a couple has a strong bond, they’re able to focus on other relationships and typically start hanging out with each other’s friends.
So boyfriend sickness is usually a very early stage in a relationship, and once it is over, the new couple can move on to the next level.
But don’t forget that friendships are important too. Sometimes, especially when romantic relationships go awry, your friends are the ones you can rely on for emotional support, so don’t neglect them in the long run.
Signs of Boyfriend Disease:
1. Your life revolves around your new partner
2. Inability to function independently or make decisions on your own
3. You rely on your new partner to make all the decisions, including whether or not to spend time with family and friends.
4. You start ignoring warning signs in your new partner
5. You feel anxious when your partner can’t or doesn’t have time to spend with you.