How strong feelings do you get for people you're not actually with yet?

Do you find that once you've had one relationship you don't get attached prematurely as much?

I always develop very strong feelings for guys before even knowing if they like me back. It makes it difficult because I end up getting really nervous so can't be myself. I've never been in a relationship though so maybe this is why. Do you find that once you've had one relationship you don't get attached prematurely as much?

No, I think it's because you've never felt what 'strong feelings' actually mean, because you've never actually been in a relationship.

It's normal for you to act nervous around your crush. Once you've had a relationship, you'll get more confident about this.
You will still get attached to your crush prematurely, but you know how to handle your emotions and know that it's not actually as 'strong' as you think.

You say it's not "strong" but I've had crushes where it was literally all I ever thought about and when they got a girlfriend I was so upset that I was miserable for months to the extent that I couldn't do any school work and my grades were affected. I'd hate to think what I'd be like if I was ever actually dumped! I'm probably just crazy though

This was a few years ago though, I seem to get less strong feelings as I get older

Yea, I'd hate to see what you'd be like if you were dumped.

I'll tell you, I've gone through the same thing, and I guess you should be aware so you don't make the same mistakes I made.

I got really attached to this girl in high school and lost track of schoolwork for a few months when I found out she got a boyfriend. I got back on track, and went to university. Here at uni, I got a girlfriend. It was the first time I've ever been attached to anyone. I was overly clingy, and she broke up with me, and I couldn't handle it. I was suicidal for a few months, pushed all my friends away and failed 2 of my papers, and now can't get into Medicine.
Maybe you have the same issues as me, unloved as a kid and can't handle strong emotions of attachment.

Whatever you do though, don't let someone get in the way of your career/education choice. So much regret for me there.

Once you've had a relationship, you don't get prematurely attached to people you haven't slept with.

I used to be a bit like this until I had my first boyfriend. I find now that I dont tend to get overly attached to people I am not with because its a waste of emotion.
I feel when I am actually with someone they soak up those feelings of attachment, and when you break up you cant get those feelinf back. So I try hold on to those feeling so I don't waste anymore than necessary!

I definitely do this. Might be because I haven't had a relationship yet I guess, I dunno! But nah I reckon I'd probably do it anyway, I always get attached to people too quickly when I don't even really know them, because you create a version of a potential them in your mind...and then I feel ridiculous when I realise that I don't even know if they are actually like that at all. I think quite a lot of people are probably the same though, its probably quite normal?

You're right, it really is such a waste of emotion! But how do you stop yourself doing it?