On the other hand, developing strong feelings for someone who is unlikely to have any interest in you or to return your affection can cause a lot of suffering. Sometimes you simply don't know how or what you really feel. Part of the confusion occurs because we often confuse romantic love and sexual desire. These are not the same thing. Love is a strong caring for someone else while sexual desire is a strong physical excitement.
Love can exist without sexual desire and sexual desire can exist without love.
Many people are happiest, however, when they experience them together. Since people have many different ideas of what love is, sometimes it's difficult to know. Knowing the difference between infatuation and true love can help, however. You may be so wrapped up in the other person that you can't think of anything else and you don't see any of his or her faults. You don't have to know someone very well or for very long to become infatuated.