8 - Biological Effects on Body after Broken Heart

It can sometimes seem impossible to deal with a really tough breakup. When you’re heartbroken and missing someone you used to spend so much time with, you can feel so many different and complicated emotions. I know that the last time I went through a breakup, I felt like my whole world was ending. In short, it sucks.

There’s actually a science behind heartbreak that proves that a broken heart can lead to real and sometimes very serious physical issues. So what is really going on with you after a breakup? Here are 8 things that happen to your body because of heartbreak and exactly why they happen. 

1. You'll Feel Depressed

Obviously, you'll probably spend a good amount of time feeling depressed after a breakup. It's not just you being dramatically sad, though - heartbreak can cause legit depression. Studies have proven that going through a breakup makes you more susceptible to depression.

2. You Won't Have An Appetite  

During my last breakup, I was so upset that I found myself with no appetite (this is very unusual for me). I literally stopped eating and every time I did eat something, I found that it had no taste. Food just wasn't enjoyable to me. Studies say that this happens because we're under so much stress that our Coriolis levels rise. This in turn affects our appetites. Of course some people may end up eating more to comfort themselves, but for a lot of people, breakups and loss of appetite go hand in hand.

3. You'll Feel Actual Physical Pain

Like I said before, you're not just emotionally affected by a breakup. Studies have proven that our brains react to heartbreak the same way they react to physical pain. This means that when you're recovering from being dumped, you might actually feel physically ill. That can make you seriously sick, as stress can cause our immune system to not work as well.

4. You'll Experience Withdrawal Symptoms

When someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol gives up their vice, they go through serious withdrawal symptoms because their bodies aren't used to going without whatever they were addicted to. As it turns out, researchers say that we go through withdrawal symptoms during a breakup. That's because some of us can be addicted to love, or in other words, addicted to our relationship.

5. You'll Be Motivated To Make A Change

Not surprisingly, dealing with heartbreak can motivate you to make a change in your life. A YourTango survey found that only 7 percent of people gained weight during a breakup. 35 percent said their breakup inspired them to exercise or diet and an overall 84 percent said a breakup motivated them to change something about themselves. This can be a good thing! It's always good to improve yourself and to change things up in your life. It obviously doesn't have to be all about losing weight - it can be anything that will make you feel better about yourself.

6. It Can Make You Feel Like You Don't Know Yourself

Doctors say that a breakup can change the way we see ourselves - basically, we lose our sense of self. Heartbreak can make us seriously wonder, "Who am I?" especially if you've been with that person for a very long time. During your relationship, everything was about the two of you - now you suddenly have to learn to live for just yourself. It's a difficult thing to deal with and can easily lead to an identity crisis.

 

7.  Your Breakup Can Cause Other Breakups

Your heartbreak might be contagious! One survey says that when friends break up, your chances of breaking up increase by 75 percent. That's probably because for some people, it's easier to do something if they feel like they have someone else along for the ride. Your breakup could inspire a friend who's unhappy in her own relationship to end things. She might suddenly feel less alone because you're going through the same thing. Or, watching friends break up could make you realize your relationship isn't working either.

8.  You Can Actually Die

It sounds dramatic, but it's true: heartbreak can kill you. A study says that suffering from a traumatic event such as a breakup can cause stress hormones so powerful that they can stun the heart, which can lead to serious consequences, including death. While no one really knows how often it happens, doctors say it probably happens more than you think. Sad.