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Have you ever been broken hearted?
While most heartbreaks are associated
with romantic relationships,
it can happen with platonic and familial
relationships as well.
What may seem like ordinary moments of sadness,
may actually be heartbreak.
Recent research has shown that there are distinct ways
heartbreak can impact your mind and body.
So, here are nine signs of a broken heart.
One, your stress levels are higher than normal.
You find yourself more stressed out than usual
after experiencing a loss or breakup.
The experience of heartbreak can actually
lead to the release of certain hormones in your brain.
Stress hormones, like cortisol may be released
as a reaction to your heartbreak,
making your stress levels abnormally high.
It may be triggered by the event or the surrounding events
of your heartbreak.
Two, you experience physical pain.
Did you know that the experience of a broken heart can cause
real pain in your body?
A sudden surge of cortisol can affect not only our mind,
but also your body.
Prolonged stress is tough to overcome
and can have a multitude of physical effects.
According to WebMD,
some of the physical signs of stress are headaches,
chest pains, having an upset stomach and frequent colds.
Three, you're depressed.
Has your heartbreak made you feel miserable
for a long period of time?
This sadness can be emotionally exhausting
and may even lead to depression.
According to Healthline,
if your brain responds to heartbreak in an unhealthy way,
you may experience some depression-like symptoms,
such as drastic appetite changes,
feelings of worthlessness and chronic fatigue.
Four, you feel emotionally empty.
Do you feel like your emotions are blocked or numbed?
You're bound to endure some emotional repercussions
when the relationship you've invested so much time,
love and energy,
and emotional emptiness and numbness,
may be your brain's way to protect you from
all the intense emotional pain that comes with heartbreak.
It should be noted that prolonged emotional emptiness
can be damaging to your mental health.
Five, you start to ruminate.
Do you constantly think about the breakup?
What went wrong?
Why did it end?
While a little bit of thought and analysis is pretty common,
it may turn into rumination,
if your thoughts become excessive and unwanted.
It's a sign of heartbreak,
since the constant, intrusive thoughts show
that your experience is still consuming you.
Number six, you lose your self-control.
Have you found yourself going back into your bad habits?
A broken heart can bring out less self-control
in your actions.
According to Jonathan Strum from the Recovery Village,
people who have overcome addiction in the past
are more susceptible to relapse after a heartbreak.
The potential emotional triggers from a breakup
and the loss of self-control, may be the cause of relapse.
Seven, you experience withdrawal symptoms.
Did you know that love can affect you in a way that's
similar to having an addiction?
When in love a chemical called dopamine
stimulates your brain's reward system.
A breakup therefore, will cause your brain
to suddenly lose this chemical and feeling.
It's during this time,
you may experience withdrawal symptoms similar
to ones associated with drug addiction.
The symptoms may be different,
but can produce similar psychological effects,
such as cravings for the relationship you lost.
Eight, you're grieving.
Do you experience some signs and symptoms of grief?
Many experts have described a significant overlap between
grief and heartbreak.
While grief is a very personal experience
and can look different for everyone,
experts agree that you may experience
the general stages of grief following a breakup
in a similar way to losing a loved one.
And number nine, you're exhausted.
Have you noticed changes in your energy levels?
Or in your ability to move through the day?
It could mean that your broken heart
may be taking a physical toll on you.
Exhaustion could come from potential insomnia
brought about by heartbreak.
Any changes in your sleep patterns can affect your mental
and physical wellbeing.
If you're consistently losing sleep,
it will definitely impact your energy and productivity level
throughout the day.
Do you think you have a broken heart?
Let us know in the comments below.
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The references and studies used in this video
are added in the description below.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you soon.