Often many people tend to underestimate the intensity of breakups.
Breakups can be painful especially due to neurologic reasons. Neuroimaging studies show that the same areas of the brain are ignited during a breakup as during a physical injury. This suggests that emotional pain needs just as much attention as physical pain.
When experiencing romantic love, various neurotransmitters are released in the brain. Love increases the levels of serotonin (a feel-good hormone) and dopamine (pleasure hormone). This makes us happy and can even be addictive. Relationships enhance the surge of the oxytocin love hormone, which is released to facilitate bonding with others. These positive rewarding feel-good hormones can also lead to addiction and dependency within the relationships.
During a breakup, we experience withdrawal symptoms as the brain does not receive its supply of neurotransmitters. Additionally, neurological withdrawal symptoms can also lead to anxiousness, depression and loneliness.
Amygdala i.e. the region in the limbic system responsible for emotions contributes to separation anxiety and distress post-separation. Amygdala is connected to other brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex which regulates attention. Imaging studies show that attention during grieving periods is associated with the strength of the connections between the amygdala and prefrontal regions. It is suggested that the strength of the connections might reduce during the grieving period and therefore attention often falters when recovering from a breakup.
On separation, many people have reported physical pains such as stomach pains and aches in the chest post-break-up. Additionally, one might also sense the physical sensation of a broken heart. This might be due to a drop in the endogenous opioid levels i.e. the neurotransmitters that provide relief from pain. This further provides an incentive to reconnect with the relationship.
Furthermore, withdrawal of feel-good hormones can lead to a surge of stress hormones such as cortisol. This can in turn lead to a fight-flight response which might result in physical distress. For instance, an increase in cortisol can lead to increased blood flow in the muscles resulting in physical sensations such as tightening of the chest and headaches. Increased cortisol levels also direct blood supply away from the digestive system and therefore one might experience tummy aches.
Additionally, break-ups can be also very painful due to the synaptic connections formed. The healing process comprises giving yourself time during which you can form new connections and give the brain time to rewire.
Considering all these aspects makes us wonder if, during a breakup, it is our heart breaking or is it the brain that breaks?
Comments