What Does a Crush Feel Like for a Guy? (Explained with 10 Examples!)

What does a crush feel like for a guy? Is it the same as when a girl has a crush?

Not exactly, no.

Guys ride the crush emotional rollercoaster just as girls do, but they’re often better at hiding it.

Every guy will feel a little differently, of course, but there are also some common signs and feelings that a guy has a crush on a girl.

Here are 10 ways you can tell a guy has a crush and start to understand how he’s feeling:

What Does a Crush Feel Like for a Guy? (10 Feelings Guys Experience)

1. Butterflies!

Just like when a girl has a crush, guys will start to feel nervous and jittery around their crush.

He may even start sweating or have trouble speaking when he’s around her if the butterflies are hard to keep under control.

The science behind this is that when we have a crush, our limbic or emotional brain activates a nerve that goes from our brains to our stomachs.

But for most of us, we just think of the sensation as butterflies flapping around and we know it means we have a soft spot for someone.

Related – Do guys really get butterflies? Yes! Here’s why.

2. Happy Deep Inside

When a guy has a crush on a girl, he may not necessarily show it on the outside.

But deep down, he’s usually feeling really happy and excited to see her.

This is because when we have a crush, our brains release dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical.

Dopamine gives us that rush of happiness and euphoria we feel when we’re falling in love or experiencing something new and exciting.

It’s the same chemical that’s released when we do things like skydiving or bungee jumping.

So if a guy is acting a little more high-energy and happy around his crush, it’s a good sign he’s into her!

3. Curious to Know More About Her

When a guy has a crush on a girl, of course, he’s going to want to learn everything he can about her.

He will usually start paying more attention to the smaller details of her life and try to find common interests to talk about as a starting point.

This is because we know that the more we have in common – or can show we have in common – the better chance of getting closer to the person.

It’s not always easy with a crush that we need to keep at arm’s length, but it’s still normal to have these feelings.

4. Excited at The Thought of Seeing Her

Excitement is a feeling that almost everyone with a crush feels at the thought of seeing or talking to their crush.

For a guy, this usually manifests itself in him eagerly looking forward to their next interaction.

He’ll probably start daydreaming about what it would be like to spend time with her and maybe he will even make up scenarios in his head where he gets to interact with her more.

It’s all part of the fun (and sometimes torture!) of having a crush.

5. Anxious to See or Be Near Her

While excitement is one side of the coin, anxiety is often the other.

Anxiety around your crush usually comes from two main sources:

The first is feeling like you’re not good enough for her and being afraid of rejection.

The second is worrying that you might do or say something embarrassing in front of her.

Both are perfectly normal feelings to have, but they can make it tough to interact with your crush.

The best thing you can do is try to stay calm (easier said than done, I know!) and be yourself.

The more you get to know her – given the opportunity – the less anxious you’ll feel around her.

6. Paralyzed by Fear

The thought of asking a crush out or even talking to her can be enough to make some guys feel paralyzed with fear.

This is usually a combination of the anxiety and excitement feelings mentioned earlier.

It can be tough to overcome, but it’s important to remember that everyone feels this way at some point – even the most confident guys.

Some crushes are always meant to just be that, a crush. But a lot of crushes develop into something more, and for that to happen a guy needs to get past that fear.

7. Infatuation

Infatuation is a bit different from having a crush in that it’s usually more intense and passionate.

When we’re infatuated with someone, we tend to idealize them and see them as perfect.

Of course, this isn’t always the case, but for some guys, their crush will seem like the most amazing girl in the world.

Infatuation can also lead to feelings of obsession and jealousy, which is why it’s important to be careful with how you act around your crush.

Nobody wants to be that creepy, jealous guy!

8. Somewhere Between Pain and Pleasure

Having a crush can be both painful and pleasurable, sometimes at the same time.

I’m sure everyone reading this who has had a crush will know exactly what I’m talking about!

On one hand, it’s great to feel those butterflies and have someone to daydream about.

But on the other hand, it can be tough when you’re always anxious, nervous, and can’t act on your feelings.

Or worse still, you see someone else with your crush and know that she’s unattainable!

9. Frustrated

On the heels of seeing your crush with someone else, frustration is a very normal feeling most guys will experience.

Let’s not forget what the true meaning of a crush is, it’s someone we can’t have.

It’s that unattainability that can often lead to frustration because we want something we know we can’t have.

Plus, I bet she’s hot and gets you all flustered under the collar, right?

That’s the eternal struggle of having a crush!

10. Lonely!

This is another feeling that might not seem like it belongs on this list, but hear me out.

A lot of the time we get crushes on people we see as being unattainable or out of our league.

And because of that, we can end up feeling lonely.

It’s tough when you see all your friends in relationships or even just going on dates while you’re stuck at home alone.

But remember, a lot of people feel this way and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you – it’s normal to feel infatuated and lonely at the same time while having a crush.

Related – Here are the feelings guys feel when they like a girl.

What Is a Crush Supposed to Feel Like?

Having a crush is supposed to feel exciting and fun!

It’s a normal part of life and something that we’ve all experienced at one point or another.

While there are some negative feelings that can come along with having a crush, for the most part, it should be a positive experience.

So if you’re feeling anxious, frustrated, or even lonely, try to remember that these are all normal parts of having a crush.

And who knows, maybe your crush will turn into something more one day.

How Long Does a Crush Last For?

This is a tough question to answer because crushes can last for different amounts of time for different people.

For some, their crush might only last a few weeks or months.

But for others, they might have a crush on someone for years!

It really all depends on the situation and how you feel about the person.

The best advice is to not put any pressure on yourself or have any expectations. I know that’s easier said than done, but you’ll end up putting undue stress on yourself if you do.

How Do You Know if A Crush Is More than A Crush?

This is another difficult question to answer because it’s different for everyone.

For some people, they’ll just know when their crush turns into something more.

But for others, it might not be so clear.

A good way to tell if your feelings are more than just a crush is to pay attention to how you act around the person.

Do you get tongue-tied and nervous around them? Do you find yourself thinking about them all the time?

These are all signs that your feelings might be more than just a simple crush.

If you’re getting closer over time, and maybe even establishing an emotional connection, you’re playing with fire.

Ultimately, only you know how you feel about your crush and what signals you’re getting back from them.

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Image credits – Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash