The Science of a Broken Heart (Full Version)

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sweetnsensual -> The Science of a Broken Heart (3/13/2007 11:04:22 PM)

I recently read an article on yahoo (I think) that described what happens to a person's body physically when they cry.  It's a build up of hormones and when the body releases them in tear form, there is usually a feeling of relief afterwards.  "Letting it all out" type thing.

My question is what happens physically to a person when their heart is broken when someone leaves them (in whatever way, breakup, death etc.)?  My question is more geared toward a breakup but whatever.  What is the explanation of that ripping in our chest, the opening of the hole from which our emotional pain seems to tear out from us?  The shortness of breath when we try to hold back the sounds of sadness and tears and the pain when we manage to take a shaky breath?

Picture Harry Potter in the Prisoner of Azkaban when he's at the lake and the Dementors are pulling the "white fade-y mist" stuff from him.  That's what the pain tearing out from the hole inside the chest is like.

Anyone know what I'm talking about and can identify what causes us to feel that way (besides the obvious stress from our loss)?



slaveish -> RE: The Science of a Broken Heart (3/14/2007 5:40:30 AM)

I have no idea what the scientific significance of these feelings is but I can identify with them. It feels exactly like a piece of your body is tearing out. Bad feeling (although somehow satisfying as well).

I am going to hazard a guess. Our emotions go out of control and in such a state they exhibit their outrage bodily. Perhaps there is an ancestral reason to want to curl up in the fetal position - I have no idea. I do know, however, that humans are not the only ones who experience it.

We got a new dog over the weekend. My old man dog is heartsick. He lies in the floor in the traffic pattern and barely moves unless it is to snarl at the new dog. When I talk to him (the old dog) and pet him, he gives me a most mournful look as if to tell me that his heart is broken.

Perhaps it is a way to get all these feelings out, a body reminder that we are not feeling good and that we need to sort through these emotions. A very interesting topic. Perhaps I shall ask my therapist about it.



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