When a person is "love sick," he can't think of anything but the object of his desire. Being love sick generally happens to younger people who have little or no experience with an actual consensual loving relationship. Immaturity paired with hormones and strong emotions will erupt into a bad case of love sickness. Poetry, love songs and Shakespeare plays are chock full of the heady expression of love sick people, pining away for the ones they love.
Clammy Hands
Clammy hands and dry mouth are a sign of being love sick. The body's nervous system goes haywire--too much moisture in the hands, too little moisture in the mouth.
Preoccupation
When the lover is not nearby, the love sick person will feel bereft, depressed, moody, tearful, anxious and preoccupied. The love sick person will experience loss of appetite.
Rapid Heartbeat
Upon seeing the lover, rapid heartbeat is usually paired with a rush of emotion in the chest. The pumping of the heart can cause blushing in the face and neck.
Confusion
Confusion may occur when the lover is nearby. Stuttering, staring and clumsiness are all aspects of this symptom.
Extreme Desire
Sexual arousal, desperation and extreme desire are symptoms that can build into an obsession with the lover.
Symptom Duration
Despite its intensity, love sickness is a passing state of mind, lasting anywhere from a few days, to a few months. It's difficult to retain the intense level of emotion that love sickness awakens in the body--usually the feelings lead the lover to either express her feelings and reduce the anxiety, or as time passes, the feelings lose their power as the reality of getting to know the real person takes away from the fantasy.