The Science of Heartbreak: What Happens to Your Body When You're Smitten

You've just been hit with the heartbreak of a lifetime. Your world has been turned upside down, and you can't seem to shake the feeling of emptiness. What's even worse is that you don't understand what's happening to your body or your mind. Why does it feel like everything hurts all the time?

In this article, we'll take a look at the science of heartbreak. What happens to your body when you're smitten? What are the different stages of grief? And how do you move on from a broken heart?

Do you remember the last time you were heartbroken? It probably felt like your world was crumbling down. And that's because your body was going through some serious changes.

When you're in love, your brain is flooded with dopamine, which is a chemical that's associated with pleasure. So it's no wonder that you feel so good when you're around the person you love. But when that love is taken away, your brain goes into panic mode.

That's because all of a sudden, you're not getting that dopamine rush anymore and your brain is trying to figure out why. The result? You feel sick, exhausted, and downright miserable. In fact, heartbreak can actually cause physical pain in some people.

The Science of Heartbreak

When you're smitten with someone, your brain goes into overdrive. You start thinking about them all the time, and when you're not with them, you're daydreaming about what it would be like to be together.

You might even start making excuses to see them, or find yourself constantly checking your phone for messages from them. This is all totally normal, and it's because when you're in love, your brain is flooded with dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

When you’re attracted to another person, your brain releases dopamine, your serotonin levels increase, and oxytocin is produced. This causes you to feel a surge of positive emotion. - Healthline

These hormones often referred to as the “happy hormones,” and for good reason. Under the right conditions, they work as a team to make us feel those butterflies you get in your stomach. They are responsible for all those amazing feelings you get when you're in love: happiness, joy, euphoria, and pleasure.

But what happens when your relationship comes to an end? All that love and all those happy hormones just go crashing down. Your brain starts producing stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones are what make you feel bad

All of this is totally normal. In fact, your body is going through exactly the same thing as someone who's struggling with drug addiction. The only difference is that the object of your affection is a person, not a substance. And all of that can have some pretty serious consequences. You might start feeling exhausted, depleted, and even depressed. You might find it hard to sleep or eat, and you might even start having panic attacks. So the next time you're going through a breakup, remember that it's not just your heart that's hurting - your whole body is feeling the pain.

So what can you do to make things better? Well, the good news is that time really does heal all wounds. And there are also things you can do to help speed up the process.

How to Cope with Heartbreak

So you've just had your heart broken. It feels like everything is falling apart. But don't worry, you're not alone. Every day, thousands of people experience heartbreak. And believe it or not, there's a science to it.

But don't worry, there are ways to cope with heartbreak. Here are a few tips:

1. Give yourself time to heal

2. Talk to someone about how you're feeling

3. Stay active and get plenty of exercise.

4. Avoid things that remind you of your ex

Conclusion

When you're in love, your body goes through some pretty incredible changes. From your brain to your heart, everything is working a little harder in an effort to keep you happy and in love. Unfortunately, when love ends, all of that work comes crashing down. Your body reacts to the heartbreak in much the same way it responds to stress, with some pretty nasty side effects.

But don't worry – time really is the best healer. With a little love and support, you'll be back to your old self in no time.