Can lust turn into infatuation and then into love?

Sure it can, for some people, depending on the circumstance. Lust isn’t always sustainable in the long term.

I was so sexually attracted to my boyfriend when I first saw him. Like no one else has ever made me feel. I never intended to get into a serious relationship with him, it was supposed to be a one off. But I just knew I would love him, and sure enough, I did and I do.

Sure.

I think it’s possible

Of course, but this doesn’t mean it will happen when you want it to.

That’s how it’s supposed to work out all the time, worked for me certainly.

It happened that way with a girlfriend back before I was married. We met at the after party to a Christmas event, exchanged numbers, went on a dinner date. We went out again three nights later, and fell into deep lust with each other, and I was head over heels about her after that. By Valentines Day we were moving to very serious. But about the time I was going to ask her to marry me, she was getting commitment jitters, and broke it off.

We dated off and on for another year and a half. And I wondered about her for a long time, even after I got married to someone else.

Sure, why not?

Why not? You just gotta be sure about the love part.

Sure, it’s possible. It depends on whether the object of your infatuation turns you on (= lust), then as you get to know them better, you start to see qualities that spark a longer-burning flame. Infatuation and lust are fun emotions to have—they really spice up one’s existence—but they’re not sustainable over the long term. (They tend to devolve into habit, curiosity, contempt, etc.)

It has to be mutual.

Sure. I was physically attracted to my now-husband as soon as I met him, but it took a while longer than that for me to figure out I was mentally attracted to him, too. From mental attraction to love was a very short trip.

Sure, after you hang out together you get to know each other more and more then “to know me is to love me” kicks in.

I’d say lust comes first in many, if not most, cases. You’re attracted to a person physically/sexually, and then deeper feelings develop over time. Love hardly ever comes first.

Now, infatuation? Being a stalker rarely leads to love.

With the help of oxytocin, yes.