Tough Break

By Kelsey Lindsey

Since Valentine’s Day has just passed and Colorado’s still facing two-plus months of winter gloom, let’s talk about heartbreak.

That heart-wrenching emotion, uniting humankind since Caveman Dave left Jim for Larry and his big bushel of berries. While most humans can agree on heartbreak’s one primary infliction — it hurts — scientific research studying the physical side effects of heartbreak on the body can help us understand what both our bodies and minds are going through at this difficult time.

Physical Effects of Heartbreak

While stereotypical post-breakup scenes involve girls sobbing over ice cream and men drowning past memories in whiskey, the damage inflicted on the body may go beyond these self- inflicting grievances. Humans still react to the primal “flight or fight” response triggered by extreme stress, but while we might not be threatened by an angry saber-toothed tiger anymore, a breakup can cause the same level of anxiety that would trigger the primitive response. According to the LA Times, symptoms stemming from the stress of a breakup may include a rise in blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, or cramping.

There’s even a syndrome dubbed “broken-heart syndrome,” or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, where the heart temporarily enlarges in response to extreme stress. While this syndrome is most likely not life-threatening, consult your doctor right away if you feel any chest pain.

Beyond the heart, when scientists studied the brain right after a breakup, they found that the same parts of the brain triggered when “in love” were triggered when people saw a picture of their recent partner. Once more, when looking at the pictures, regions of the brain that usually fire in persons craving and addicted to drugs were activated. They were literally addicted to seeing their recently separated partner’s face.

How to Beat It

Although some may take to shutting down after a breakup, it’s never productive to isolate yourself and dwell on the hurt. Socialize and plan outings with friends and family, being sure to talk it out. Even if you feel like you’re inundating loved ones with your problems, they’ll most likely have advice and experience from their own heartbreaks to give you better insight. If you feel like you need to talk it through with a professional, don’t feel shy to seek help.

Once the love goggles are off, you can truthfully look back at all the annoyances and problems in the relationship. Hopefully with enough time, you can see why you two weren’t right for each other, and learn what you truly want in the next relationship.