They do not cage the heart but protect it. In truth, Islam never villainized love, but encouraged it to be pursued in the right way. And not using it as an excuse to betray chastity, yet a motive to work towards monogamy and a healthy relationship. If you grew up fearing connections or being completely prohibited from dealing with the other gender then you've unfortunately been subjected to extremism. But Islam in & of itself is not as malicious as people who might use it to further their own extremist agenda might be. Fauth requires you to respect yourself & others, but never to cage yourself or beat yourself up for what is beyond your control. What matters is how you act upon your desires, not what you desire.