Can Being Heartbroken Affect Your Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Jennifer Kelman, licensed clinical social worker and life coach, says that heartbreak can lead to appetite changes, lack of motivation, weight loss or weight gain, overeating, headaches, stomach pain, and a general sense of being unwell .

Can being heartbroken affect your heart?

Broken heart symptoms, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, can seem like a heart attack . The problem happens when psychological distress triggers sudden weakness of the heart muscle. It can be caused by sudden shock or acute anxiety. Doctors call it “stress-induced cardiomyopathy” or “takotsubo myopathy.”

Can heartbreak cause permanent damage?

New research shows heartbreak may cause lasting damage that can increase the risk of developing other heart-related conditions in the future. A recent study from researchers at the University of Aberdeen found that so-called “broken heart syndrome” can leave physical scars that never disappear.

Can you get physically sick from a breakup?

What the experts say: Physical symptoms can occur as the end of a relationship is a traumatic experience and can cause extreme stress , explains Dr Ingrid Artus, a counselling psychologist of Roodepoort.

Can heartbreak cause PTSD?

Research has shown that in extreme cases, some who experience a broken heart go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .

Can heartbreak cause death?

So yes, in fact, you can die of a broken heart, but it's also extremely unlikely . It's called broken heart syndrome and it can happen when an extremely emotional or traumatic event triggers a surge of stress hormones. These hormones can put you in short-term heart failure, which can be life-threatening.

How does heartbreak affect the brain?

Recent research has found that people who have recently been through a breakup experience similar brain activity when shown photos of their loved one as they do when in physical pain. Researchers concluded that rejection, and emotional and physical pain, are all processed in the same regions of the brain.

Can heartbreak last for years?

Unfortunately, there's no definitive answer. It might take a few weeks to get over a break up or a full year or two . People recover from grief at different paces, for one. You also might need more time to recover from certain relationships, particularly those that lasted longer or felt more meaningful to you.

What does heartbroken syndrome feel like?

People with broken heart syndrome may have sudden chest pain or think they're having a heart attack . Broken heart syndrome affects just part of the heart, temporarily disrupting the heart's usual pumping function. The rest of the heart continues to work properly or may even squeeze (contract) more forcefully.

What happens to your body after a breakup?

Break-ups can have a dramatic impact on our bodies. For example, broken heart syndrome is a real condition, with serious and painful symptoms . Other studies have also shown how break-up stress can cause acne, loss of appetite, and sore muscles. But as well as the body, our brains also go through a lot after a break up.

What are the signs of a broken heart?

The most common signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome are angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath . You can experience these things even if you have no history of heart disease. Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) or cardiogenic shock also may occur with broken heart syndrome.

What hurts more than a breakup?

8 – Trying to pass in mathematics

The most hurting thing in their life, even more painful than breakup is failing repeatedly in maths paper. They keep trying to pass in maths exams, only to get hurt again.

Is it okay to feel okay after a breakup?

There's really no right or wrong way to feel. It's OK to feel whatever you're feeling, lots of people do . Be kind to yourself; it can take time to heal after the loss of a relationship.

Why am I so tired after a breakup?

It triggers the release of “feel good” chemicals in your brain. Losing it in a breakup can cause emotional and physical problems, like anxiety and tiredness . can also send out a rush of stress hormones that make you feel like you're having a heart attack.

Is a breakup considered trauma?

Going through a breakup can be traumatic . Similar to other traumas, like the death of a loved one, breakups can cause overwhelming and long-lasting grief.

Is heartbreak considered trauma?

Experiencing the loss of a relationship due to a breakup or death is traumatic . People will likely feel strong emotions immediately following this trauma. According to the National Institute of Mental Health , these reactions are intense and can last for several weeks or months.

Do breakups change you?

They found that men and women who went through a divorce had become less extravert . One explanation is that they had lost many of the friends and other relationships they shared with their spouses, meaning they had less chance to socialise and behave in an extraverted fashion.

How long does a broken heart last?

How long heartbreak lasts. After six weeks most people start to adjust to life without their ex, says Durvasula. “It could be a lot quicker, but typically it's not much longer,” she says. “I tell my clients all the time: Give everything six weeks before you think you are not coping well.”

Why does your heart hurt when you cry?

Stress from grief can flood the body with hormones, specifically cortisol , which causes that heavy-achy-feeling you get in your chest area. The heartache that comes with depression can increase the likelihood of a heart attack.

Why does my heart hurt when Im emotional?

When we feel heartache, for example, we are experiencing a blend of emotional stress and the stress-induced sensations in our chest —muscle tightness, increased heart rate, abnormal stomach activity and shortness of breath.

Can the person that broke you fix you?

Although it is possible for your old love to fix you, to mend your heart and to make you happier than you ever thought imaginable — 100 percent possible — it's highly unlikely. The person who broke you will almost never be the person who'll fix you . Things always have a reason for not working out.

Can heartbreak cause forgetfulness?

These symptoms can interfere with a person's general functioning, including social and work activities, and relationships. Dissociative amnesia occurs when a person blocks out certain information, usually associated with a stressful or traumatic event, leaving them unable to remember important personal information .

What are the 5 stages of a breakup?

Even ifyou were the one who initiated the split, there are five stages ofgrief that you will go through. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance , according to Mental-Health-Matters. These are the natural ways for your heart to heal.

Can you still be in love with someone after 20 years?

Yes, it is possible for two people to remain monogamous for twenty years . It can be done — of course it can — but there are lots of people out there who think they've done it but are mistaken.

What should you not do after a breakup?
  1. Contact your ex. For any reason. ...
  2. Don't keep any lines of communication open. Do not even give them an option to contact you. ...
  3. Rebound. ...
  4. Degrade yourself. ...
  5. Settle. ...
  6. Lash out. ...
  7. Post about it on social media. ...
  8. Make impulsive decisions.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.