This is what Heartbreaks feel like to Brain

It would be a lie to say we've never had a heartbreak, yet there are people out there who put these statements upfront effortlessly and confidently, fooling us into believing them. Well, let me break it to you that it’s not possible. The most common definition we know of heartbreak is breaking up with someone we consider as our soul mate or life partner. But in reality, the definition of heartbreak is vast as it is associated with the loss of an emotional connection with literally anyone be it your lover, family member, friend or even your pet. We’ll begin with how our mental health is affected by this phenomenon. 

The Last Knot

As soon as the last knot is cut, we begin feeling hundreds of emotions altogether and are overwhelmed with it. We don’t know what to do or what to think, our ego is boosted, we feel hurt and betrayed. This is because the person whom we loved the most, whom we expected to stay with us through thick and thin, is now missing. This feeling is nothing less than missing a vital organ or part of ourselves. It leaves you utterly knocked out no matter how much you tell yourself to ‘just get over it’. But how much it aches your heart, it's equally tough for your brain. Going through a heartbreak is like coming off from drugs or enduring some kind of physical pain like a stabbing wound. 

The chemistry behind heartbreaks

Heartbreaks trigger psychological shocks also known as ‘acute stress reaction’ or ‘emotional shock’. It drops your hormone, ‘serotonin’ levels which is a feel-good neurochemical similar to dopamine leading to situational depression. 

We have always thought of love as an emotion, but research shows that love only triggers emotions, being more of a ‘motivational state’. Researchers found activation in the part of the brain of people claiming to be in love, which is connected with gains, losses, cravings and regulation of emotions.  Moreover, the most interesting thing is that this part of the brain, which works around gains, losses, and cravings, is the same part of the brain that lights up when someone is a cocaine addict. So, both when we are in love and when we are fresh from a breakup, we are essentially like drug addicts. Evolutionary psychologists point out that when we experience a stressful situation like heartbreak, it also increases the hormone ‘cortisol’ levels which activate ‘fight or flight’ signals, as we fight to survive both physically and emotionally. Individualism is yet again a vital medium to measure the difference in intensity of heartbreak faced by two different people, genders or age groups.  

To the warriors out there:

Despite all this, we all would agree that no matter how many times we have had heartbreaks, it is always painful. It still is difficult each time no matter how used to we are of moving on. To the people going through this phase of life: Your pain is real and it exists. Even though it feels terrible that a loved one is gone and you're still here but all you need to do is embrace life as it is with a big heart and open mind, live for yourself and as Paulo Coelho said: "When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive." So just be patient and hold on because YOU matter! Your peace of mind matters!

Know these 10 underrated Netflix movies that are a must-watch. CLICK HERE