What Does Sexual Attraction Feel Like? 15 Hot Signs to Recognize It

If you’re new to feeling desire, it’s normal to wonder what does sexual attraction feel like. The answers might astound you as it’s not always evident.

Even if sexual attraction is always portrayed in movies and books, the details aren’t as accurate in reality. So it’s normal to question what does sexual attraction feel like, especially when you’ve never felt it for yourself.

Take people who were once platonic friends and then end up dating each other.

At one point, there were no heavy feelings of sexual attraction between them. But then, one day, it hit them. So how does the desire for sexual attraction differ when you suddenly go from friends to something more?

[Read: 13 lusty signs of sexual attraction to keep an eye on]

Why is sexual attraction important?

It’s not the most important thing, but it’s part of any relationship. You can’t experience sexual attraction if you don’t know how it initially feels like. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just all about sex. This kind of attraction drives everything in the physical sense, and it’s also what helps two people connect.

Sexual attraction is a collision of two bodies merging into one, but it’s also more than that. You experience a surge of endorphins and dopamine in your body, making you feel good and happy.

Lastly, you feel an abundance of desire and passion for them. You should take note that sexual attraction isn’t just felt between couples, but you can also feel this for anyone. [Read: How to be sexually attractive – 40 subtle ways to seduce anyone]

What does sexual attraction feel like?

After watching Sex in the City or some steamy show, you may think sexual attraction is that feeling when you just want to rip off their clothes. And listen, it is that feeling as well. But it also comes in different forms.

Humans are weird, and sexual attraction can sometimes be a feeling that you don’t even notice. You know, we’re all different so one person’s reaction to sexual attraction differs from another person’s reaction.

Let’s go into the realm of the unknown – cue intense music!

1. Your body tells you

Your body is a strange yet extraordinary part of you. It’s crazy and you may not believe it if you have yet to experience it, but your body tells you. Don’t try to analyze it, though your brain is connected to your body, sexual attraction starts in the body, not in your head.

Sexual attraction is about the art of physical connection, so you need to listen to what your body is telling you. It’s called sexual attraction for a reason, and it’s because your body comes first before anything else. So pay attention to what your body is telling you. [Read: Are you sexually attracted and in love? 21 signs to decode the fuzzy feeling]

2. Your body mimics who you’re attracted to

You won’t even notice that your body is doing this, but, if possible, pay attention to how your body reacts to certain people.

This mimicking is called interactional synchrony which is the foundation of how we communicate—through imitation. How do we teach babies to communicate? Imitating. How do we teach people to speak a language? Through imitation.

Crazy, right? This method goes for all types of attraction, including mental and emotional ones! It’s the same reason we tend to mimic those we secretly like, such as a crush. Through mimicking, we try to bond with that person. [Read: What is flirting? The science behind why we do what we do]

3. Your body feels physically warm

You know the feeling when you become embarrassed? You can feel the heat start up from your legs and shoot up your body. That’s the same feeling you get when you’re sexually attracted to someone.

Your body becomes warm, your heartbeat increases, and if you weren’t at your high school reunion, you would have ripped off their clothes by now. This is why when your desire is kicking in for someone, your body *as well as theirs, if they’re attracted to you* also goes warm.

If you’re looking for a way to get physically warm, sexual attraction is the way to go! [Read: How to tell if a guy is turned on – 22 clear signs he’s horny AF around you]

4. Dopamine kicks in

That probably means nothing to you. First, you need to know what dopamine is. This chemical is produced in the brain and is basically responsible for you feeling sexual attraction. It makes you sexually aroused and gives you the feeling of butterflies in your stomach.

Dopamine is one of the classified ‘happy hormones’ that make you feel good, along with endorphins. It’s also the reason why you get addicted to something or someone, so there is a dark side to this happy hormone. [Read: What is dopamine? The dopest pleasure pill inside you]

5. You find yourself touching them

If you’re wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, it’s the way you’re drawn to touch them. Maybe you don’t even realize it, but when you’re talking to them, you playfully touch their arm or when you laugh, you’ll touch their shoulder. But, when we say playful touching, we mean playful touching.

Everything starts with a simple touch, so if you feel drawn to touch them subtly, that’s your answer to what does sexual attraction feel like. [Read: How to flirt by touch without making it obvious at all]

6. You remember the small details

It’s weird to think about this since we like to believe that whatever people tell us, we remember. However, if you’re sexually attracted to someone, you remember the details they tell you. It’s called considerate memory.

Now, we’re not saying that this person remembers that when you were five you broke your arm, but they might remember how you like your coffee or what your favorite television show is. Again, it’s for the same reason you tend to remember even the tiny details about someone you care about or even like.

7. You feel like a magnet is pulling you

If you’re wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, there’s a reason why passion and desire are strong emotions. It literally feels like you’re being pulled into them with a magnet.

This isn’t some hippie crap we came up with, this is science. It’s called “cellular attraction” which means your cells are attracted to their cells. This makes you want to be physically close to them and touch them.

It explains the feeling of being drawn to someone you’re sexually attracted to as if an invisible force pulls you towards them. Test this out when you’re next to someone that you think is sexually attracted to you.

If you sit next to them, slowly move a little bit away from them. Most likely, that person follows you and gets closer. [Read: Romantic attraction – How to tell when you feel the real thing]

8. You think about them when they’re not around

If you went on a date with someone and haven’t thought about them since you parted, well, that probably means it wasn’t a great connection. Maybe you had a good time, but there wasn’t that “click.” Now, the “click” we’re talking about could be a mental or physical connection.

If you’re wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, it’s constantly thinking of them when you aren’t together. The desire for them feels so strong that your thoughts can’t help but go towards them.

So, if you’re not thinking about how they would be as a kisser or what they would look like on top of you naked, chances are that you’re not yet sexually attracted to them. [Read: 20 strong signs of sexual tension to know if you make each other horny]

9. Your heart rate increases

Just like your heart rate increases around someone you have feelings for, the same goes for sexual attraction. Your body will be filled with all kinds of hormones such as oxytocin, endorphins, norepinephrine.

So this is the science behind why your heart rate increases whenever you see the person you’re sexually attracted to, especially when you come in close contact with them! Remember what we said about your body revealing everything on sexual attraction. This is one of them! [Read: How to know you’re in love: 13 science-backed ways to know for sure]

10. Constant eye contact

One of the evident answers on what does sexual attraction feel like is when there’s eye contact. So if you’re constantly engaging in eye contact, you could be sexually attracted to them.

After all, eye contact is the most intimate way to express sexual desire from a distance, and there’s no reason you both should be holding your gaze if there isn’t any sexual attraction. [Read: 13 subtle eye contact flirting tips to catch someone’s eye from afar]

When there’s an evident sexual attraction between two people, the people that notice it the most are those around you. So if you’re at all wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, it has a lot to do with how people constantly observe your tension. It might not be evident to the both of you, but this won’t be true for others.

12. You feel oddly nervous around them

If you’re wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, you feel anxious and nervous around them. This is where the entire concept of having butterflies in your stomach revolves around.

Even when you just spot them from across the room or when their presence is around you, there’s an odd sensation of anxiety and nervousness. [Read: How not to be nervous – 18 calm ways to eliminate nerves instantly]

13. Your voice changes

Just like any form of attraction, your voice tends to change when talking to someone. This is also why when talking to someone you like, your voice pitch either increases or decreases. Don’t be self-conscious about this as it’s completely normal! In fact, it’s been found to make your voice more appealing, if anything.

14. Your hugs tend to linger

When wondering what does sexual attraction feel like, it’s the lingering sensation of touches. So if you hug or put your arm around them, it lasts generally longer than when you do the same for others. This is because you’re attracted to them sexually or even romantically, and subconsciously, you don’t want to let them go!

15. You feel turned on

It doesn’t get any more evident than this as this is the most obvious definition of what sexual attraction is. When you feel aroused or turned on by them, no more words need to be said. You’re sexually attracted to them, end of story!

[Read: 27 signs a woman is sexually attracted to you and wants you to get closer]

So, what does sexual attraction feel like?

Sexual attraction is all about what your body is trying to tell you, so listen closely. There are so many ways to decipher if what you’re feeling is sexual attraction – you just have to listen and observe closely.

[Read: How to know if someone is thinking about you sexually and desires you]

So what does sexual attraction feel like? These signs are how you can know for sure if what you’re feeling is sexual attraction. If that is the case, what are you going to do about it?