False twin flames usually activate the same core wounds, but the relationship stays focused on the wound. You’re constantly triggered, constantly in pain, and there’s no movement through it. With actual twin flame dynamics, the wounds come up, but there’s a push toward integration, toward becoming whole on your own.
That is the difference.
You might not have it right away. It can be easy to feel the same effect as limerance because that’s how we know to feed in the 3D but if it doesn’t move on to something else… then it probably is nothing else.
One marker I’ve found useful: check if your “spiritual growth” is making your actual life better or worse. Are you functioning? Sleeping? Able to focus on work, friends, other relationships? Or has everything collapsed into obsessing about this one person? Limerence typically destroys your ability to function in other areas of life. Real spiritual growth might be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t disable you.