On the Couch with Gail Saltz, M.D. | A Mental Health Blog at iVillage.com
- Love
- On the Couch with Dr. Gail Saltz
Can Love Drive You Crazy?
Many people are wondering how it could be that Lisa Nowak, a highly trained and successful astronaut and married mother of three, could possibly decide to drive nine and a half hours donning a diaper (to avoid a pee break) and then a disguise with the intent to kidnap and murder a colleague over an imagined love rivalry. Can love really drive a seemingly normal and healthy individual to do something irrational, crazy and terrifyingly wrong?
The answer is “yes.” And the reasons may be many.
Love is an intense emotion. Many songs and poems have been written about the power of its pleasure and its pain. Human’s brains work hard to get pleasure and avoid pain. Many a love struck person has done things that were against their better judgment in order to get the pleasure of love and avoid the pain. Equally intense emotions can be envy, jealousy, fear and depression. These emotions also likely played a role in this case.
It is entirely possible that Nowak was deemed psychologically healthy at the time she was entering the NASA space program. However, psychological testing can not necessarily predict the future.
Take a woman whose marriage is dissolving — a highly stressful situation — and in order to cope, she may use the fantasy that she can be rescued from being alone by having a relationship with another man. What begins as a fantasy that all people could have may then move into an intense belief that is no longer based in reality, if the perfect storm of events comes together. If, for instance, one’s childhood felt interrupted by divorce or loss of a parent, either physically or emotionally… If a painful love lost in the past makes losing one’s love again seem unbearable… If the need to be perfect and the most successful person leaves no room for not getting what or whom you want… You can see how there could be any number of disturbing thoughts that could drive a person to believe that she must get that man (or woman) at all costs.
Real or imagined rivalry has made many men and women attack their rival even at unreasonable costs. Major depression can impair one’s judgment and even cause psychotic thinking that could result in criminal behavior.
Think back and likely most of you can think of something you did against your better judgment for love. While you weren’t psychiatrically ill, you were under the influence of changing brain chemicals which enhanced your craving for this person and created a state very akin to addiction: “I have to have them!” If you then lost that loved one or they picked someone else over you…? Well, that could bring on a state of depression and misery that you would do almost anything to get out of.
Fantasies of getting rid of your rival are very common and really quite normal. But acting on them means that something has either altered your sense of reality or that your coping skills have been overwhelmed by your negative emotions.
It remains to be known what happened in the mind of Lisa Nowak. As a woman use to success and now facing a failed marriage with three children, perhaps she was unable to accept “losing.” What may have started as a fantasy of rescue from her current life situation grew into something much more driven, distorted and tragic.
Has love ever driven you to do something “crazy”? Share your thoughts below.
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It's clear that something was tormenting Lisa Nowak before reporters took it upon themselves to do the same.
This story could have had a more tragic ending, but as it is, it's tragic enough for Nowak's children...children who are being further pained by the media's depiction of their mother.
When did the media morph into monsters? When did they collectively decide to focus on the salacious at all costs? When did legitimate journalists decide to mimic the tabloids? Why do journalistic teams attempt to boost their egos by making fun of the tragedies of others? How many more diaper jokes are Lisa Nowak's children going to have to hear about their mother?
This story is about a broken woman, a broken marriage, a broken family, a possible loss of life. What's so funny?
It's even more offensive when the disingenuous, despicable "journalist" is professing concern while actually going for the laugh.
This story tells as much about the sophomoric media as it does about the troubled life of Lisa Nowak.
I agree that she went over the deep-end most likely because she was probably feeling SO attached to the thought that they would be together. This fantasy being threatened was probably all too much. Glad that she didn't get the chance to follow through--that would have been tragic and awful.
Yes, I have done crazy things for love. Happy to admit nothing to this degree (phew!), but it IS a strong emotion. Scary sometimes how strong.
I was engaged and it didn't work out. I wanted SO badly to try and make things work for us. I loved him and was unable to even imagine that it wasn't meant to be. If I imagined that, I would have to mourn the loss of all that we had planned, all that I was excited about, all that felt like 'home' to me, etc, etc...
It's strong! It's like when you're trying to succeed at something in life and we've all heard--don't think that it 'can't' happen, or it won't. So the mind won't let you think it for even a second--too painful!
Yes, love is a strong emotion indeed!
Isn't this just more of the so-called "reality" TV craze our neglected children are being banged over the head with? America is fast becoming a voyeristic culture that increasingly gets off on the humiliation and sadistic emotional torture of wanne be "idols," perpetrators and victims alike. There but for the grace of God go any one of us - just as with unemployment, death, illness, homelessness, but somehow there isn't quite enough drama or escape via observation in any of those. What the heck is wrong here? Are we all so powerless over the depraved influence of media in our lives? Turn off the damn TV, touch your loved ones face, look them in the eye and tell them over and over, I love you just the way you are.
This is just another woman acting crazy. There wasn't a romantic relationship so why did she lose her mind and try to harm another woman for A MAN. It just isn't that serious. At some point in time we as women need to realize that fighting or killing some other woman over a man is just STUPID. She is just another crazy girl making the rest of us look bad.
John 15:13 says Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
This is God's love. It's not like man's love. When women love, they love hard because of their nurturing spirits even when it's a fantasy. When we love someone, we don't joke about it even when they fall. We need to pray for her and so many thousands of others who have fallen into this type of situation. We never know what may cause any of us to breakdown: marriage, finances, career, children, etc. Yes, this is abnormal but it is not funny at all. There are many who are hiding behind a walls of hurt and pain but only Lisa surfaced this time. Hopefully none of us will be next! Sincerely praying for Lisa and others!
I feel sorry for her and definitely do not judge. I remember my crazy moments and I think it's unfair that the media plays up on one slip-up and the strong emotion of one lady. The media also seems to downplay the fact that she was separated from her husband and point out that she was married. Yes she was married but then again with separation you still feel a sense of loneliness without someone there. As for the person she attacked, I don't think a restraining order to that extent was necessary. I think she was just playing her 'poor innocent victim' card alittle too hard.
If you take away the fancy job, the broken marriage, and the children, what have you got? Just a woman. Just a human being. Just someone in love, who had a big lapse of judgement.
I don't think we're talking about
"love" here -- obsession, defintely.
Probably lust. Mental incapacity brought on by being "in heat"? But love?
No way. Please stop using the word
"love" in connection with this woman.
It was her perception of what it was. So if it was love to her then that's what it was. Even if it wasn't right. Something led her to do this and in "her" mind it was something strong. If she felt lonely, she had a lack of love. Hopefully, telling her about the love of God will help her get the emotional healing that she needs.
I think that is very sad that she has ruined her whole life over one man I have had failed love go wrong before you just have too get over it and go on the best you can|
Come on fellow women! Absolutely NO MAN is worse our humiliating ourselves! If a man wants to be with you, or if a man does not want to be with you, nothing can or will stop him. Love yourself, better yourself in every way possible. Spiritually, physically, intellectually,
etc. If and when you love yourself, then we will find someone who loves us too. Focus on your life. Let your success be your revenge. That's it. Don't play games. Just move on and work on yourselves and have a happy life. I speak from experience. Good luck finding your wonderful, caring man!
So many people go through life thinking they have truely loved, until they meet the one person they connect with in an emotional and intellectual level and its like this is what love is really about it does not matter the job, carrer, money, or status you have in life or society Mrs. Novak was in love and it happens to the best who ever truely loved.
For whatever reason, she saw many positive attributes in this man...perhaps she perceived him to be the man she had always dreamed of...and she fell in love. If you cannot feel empathy for her aching heart, perhaps you have never had the depth of emotion that she felt for this man. Love and Peace To All!
Dear readers
I was once in the almost same situattion, my best friend got involved with my man of 2 years (my first real love) I was totaly at a crossroads not knowing witch way to go (and what to do, to them). I decided to let her have him, If this had happend then somewhere in the long run i would find out why. It takes a very strong person to just walk away, and with gods help i moved on to better things. Everyone is different, and i believe that if Lisa Nowak was going to harm the other women, maybe she was just so totally at the end of her rope. Do any of you remember being lied to, and feeling used. It's the worst feeling ever.I feel for her, and her children. I wish she had a support team behind her not people to judge her. My prayer's are with you, and it is though but you can do it.Peace and may god help you in your though moments.
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I am in agony right now over a relationship that was the happiest time of my life. I've been miserable most of my life and was in a 20 year marriage that didn't work. This man came into my life a swore on his mother's grave that he would never leave me, that he loved me more than anyting in the world and that he was coming to be with me. His divorce was final. He went back home (500 miles) to get "closure" on his life, called me on Sunday professing his love and devotion to me, then went back to his ex on Monday, cutting off all contact with me without even telling me that he wasn't coming back. He did this to me the first time 3 weeks ago. I had a nervous breakdown, and now I'm going to that dark place again. How do you get over a man that made you happy for the first time in your life with total compatibility, a man that you trusted. How do you go on? He broke my heart and my spirit. I lost my job because of him. But he is so deep in my heart and mind. I can't let go!
Dear R,
I am sorry for your broken heart and your pain. Trust me when I say I know the pain you feel. My ex-fiance ended our relationship because of his selfish, jealous girls. The Lord will help you through this and your pain will lessen every day if you focus on Him. I know it hurts. But please read your Bible and pray and focus on Jesus and He will see you through this. In turn you will be able to help others who go through painful situations. There is power in the blood of Jesus. God bless you.
Dear R
I'm sorry for you too. I last fall and winter suffered over a man I met a year ago this month. Long story short, he came into my life when I needed a new life and he made me feel alive and like God answered all my prayers and deepest desires in this man. Well he abruptly left my life after bring me in the center of his life AND business! I was so very depressed, I barely made it. And I work from home so imagine trying to perform a work from home job that you already can't stand and feeling your head spin and your new reason for living gone and I had only my best friend in another state on the phone to see me through.
I was rough and I still get teary eyed when I think of the days and months I was abandoned. But it was that fact that I was able to in my spirit to start putting the pieces back together.
The experience inspired me to write a book that talks about women valuing themselves enough to spot a loser in the first place and or just have value and pride in who they are. God bless, good luck.
Something in the water...
Bruce
Love, obsession, lust...you cannot distinguish between all of these because they are really all the same. No matter, there is an immense connection to this other human being that you have never experienced before. A sense of finally arriving home, as if searching for your one true love. This intense connection to someone else can drive you mad once this person is out of your life for whatever reason. Oh, if this person were no longer alive, perhaps it would be easier. But they are alive, and living without you, and you without them...an endless, slow torture of the worse kind. Not of your physical body, but of your mind, of your heart. And the constant ache of never seeing them again, but knowing they are out there. This is a broken heart and spirit.
WELL OF COURSE LOVE WILL DRIVE AN INDIVIDUAL CRAZY!! THATS WHY THE PERSON FELL IN LOVE WITH THE OTHER IN THE FIRST PLACE!! LOLL!! ^^
:) :) -_-
It is a part of Gods makeuuup we are creeated tuu love wun anoffer