Heartbreak: More Than Just Emotional Pain
Heartbreak is a common human experience, with research indicating over 80% of individuals will experience a romantic split. However, heartbreak can also result from friendships ending or the death of a loved one. The pain associated with heartbreak is often not just emotional but can manifest physically, described as a crushing feeling or stomach discomfort.
Expert Perspective
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Yoram Yovell, an associate professor at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, states that the most painful experiences in life are often related to the loss of loved ones, not physical accidents. Dr. Yovell's interest in emotional pain stems from the personal experience of losing his father at 14.
Healing Strategies
According to Dr. Yovell, the instinct to withdraw and isolate during heartbreak often hinders healing. He emphasizes that reconnecting with loved ones is one of the most effective ways to support recovery. Conversely, providing support to someone experiencing heartbreak, even if initially met with resistance, can be beneficial. The presence of caring individuals triggers the release of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. Dr. Yovell also encourages individuals to eventually open themselves to love again, noting the heart's capacity to heal.
Scientific Discoveries on Heartbreak
Dr. Yovell outlines five scientific insights into how the body experiences heartbreak:
-
Inherent Pain in Love: Love is associated with a potential for pain, which Dr. Yovell describes as a “superglue” mechanism designed to maintain important bonds. He views mental pain as the cost of the ability to love.
-
Brain's Response to Injury: Research indicates significant overlap between the brain's mechanisms for physical pain and emotional pain. fMRI studies show that regions active during physical pain also activate during emotional distress like social exclusion. In some cases, severe emotional stress can induce “broken heart syndrome” (takotsubo cardiomyopathy), a temporary heart condition mimicking a heart attack.
-
Built-in Separation Alarm: The brain contains a “loss” system that generates feelings such as sadness and anxiety when a loved one is lost. This system is crucial for forming and maintaining attachments, particularly between infants and mothers. Its activation upon separation pushes individuals to repair threatened bonds. Early-life attachments can influence adult responses to loss.
-
Endorphins as Natural Medicine: The brain releases endorphins, natural chemicals that target opioid receptors to reduce both physical and emotional pain. These are described as “nature’s own opioids.” Engaging with friends and family, as well as physical exercise, can stimulate endorphin release, aiding the healing process.
-
Medication Research: Due to the overlap in physical and emotional pain pathways in the brain, some pain relief medications are being studied for emotional pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen may slightly alleviate milder emotional pain. For severe cases, medications targeting opioid pathways, such as low-dose buprenorphine, have shown promise in reducing mental pain and suicidal thoughts in studies led by Dr. Yovell.
Purpose of Acute Mental Pain
Dr. Yovell states that acute mental pain serves a purpose by highlighting significant emotional connections and potentially preventing impulsive actions. However, when this pain becomes chronic, leading to depression or suicidal ideation, he advocates for careful psychiatric treatment similar to how chronic physical pain is managed.