The 13 Emotionally Torturous Stages of Falling in Love

Being in a relationship where you're both in can't-go-one-hour-without-communication, finish-each-other's-sentences-and-leftovers, want-to-get-married-and-have-babies love is fantastic. Getting to that point, though, is a bumpy ride, my friend. If you've been there, you know the road to relationship heaven can be paved with anxiety, insecurity, and just general love sickness. We're guessing you can relate to at least a few of these emotional stages of falling in love—because life is not a romantic comedy, and you are not Kate Hudson.
Stage 1: Falling in Lust at First Sight
The crowds part and his gorgeous face meets your eyes. You must have him now. Dibs!
Stage 2: Stalking His Entire Life
The standard background check ensues. You've become a Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tinder detective. Really now, you're only checking to make sure he's not a serial killer and what college he went to and the kind of girls he takes pictures with...
STAGE 3: Anxiously Waiting to See If He Asks You Out
You're too preoccupied with thoughts of "When the hell is he going to text me?" to think about other petty things like, you know, your job.
STAGE 4: Scheming Ways to Bump into Him Totally Randomly
Would it be weird if you just happened to hang out at his favorite bar every weekend for the next month until you see him? No, it's totally normal that you would go there, right? Okay, self: Time to slow your roll on the creep factor.
STAGE 5: Being Way Too Self-Aware of Everything You Do Around Him
When you actually do see him, you're suddenly aware of your hands. What do you normally do with those things when you talk to people anyways? Pockets? Yes, safe zone. Pockets it is. Now, about that look on your face.
STAGE 6: Imagining Your Future Together Based on His Face, Job Description, and Apartment Decor
Based on completely shallow factors alone, you have a pretty good idea of what your future children, home, and all-around life will look like. He could be the one!
STAGE 7: Feeling Like You Got Punched in the Stomach When He Doesn't Make a Move
It's date two and you are not pregnant with his child yet. That's totally fine. But for some reason, you wish you were. Really, you thought by now he would have at least tried to make out with you. Maybe he's just trying to be a gentleman? The suspense is killing you.

STAGE 8: Bringing Him Up in Conversation Nonstop
If your friends have to hear one more pointless story or fun fact about this dude, they might stop calling you forever. It's just so hard not to talk about him when everything makes you think about him. EVERYTHING!
STAGE 9: The Drunk Dialing Begins
You know when those girls on The Bachelor have way too much to drink and confess their undying love, or just hint at it strongly, to the star of the show? "I really like you. Like, like you, like you. Like a lot." That's you now.
STAGE 10: You've Got a Perma-Smile
Your face is constantly sore from grinning whenever you get a text or call from this guy. Your T-Swift ringtone is cute, but it’s not that cute—you're not fooling anyone.
STAGE 11: Worrying That He's Not as into You as You Are into Him
Have you gone too far? It's so hard to tell if he's just playing it cool or if he is as crazy in like as you are.  In the words of Whitney, "How will I know if he really loves me?"
STAGE 12: Deciding That You're So Over This Guy
That's it. You're done. You cannot invest this much into a guy. You dream about him, you want to be with him 24/7, your friends are rolling their eyes when you bring him up. You need to be cut off—cold turkey.
 STAGE 13: Realizing You Are Drunk in Love—There's No Going Back
Who are you kidding? You're in the deep end and there's no reeling in your feelings. Love is the worst.