by Teresa Greenleaf Love is both joy and pain. When love is mutual, then you have this big gummy smile on your face and can do everything. When there is no reciprocity, the world is becoming dull. Why does love hurt (most often mental, of course)? Let’s figure out what happens to our brain when we are overwhelmed by love.
Brain reaction
When a person is in love, his/her body releases pleasant hormones (such as dopamine and oxytocin). Therefore, when a relationship is broken, the body does not receive these hormones and does not like it.
Some experts compare falling in love with taking drugs – the pleasure of releasing hormones into the brain is comparable to using chemicals. The depth of attachment depends on the set of secreted hormones; therefore, there is romantic love, sexual attraction and deeply devoted love.
Why love can hurt
When you are deeply in love (especially in a long-term relationship or marriage), your brain is hormonally attached to that person. In case of a breakdown, the brain does not receive the usual amount of positive hormones and suffers.
Studies of neuroimaging of active areas of the brain have shown that both physical pain and pain from a relationship breakdown cause activity in the same areas of the brain. This confirms that non-reciprocal love causes pain similar to physical pain when, for example, you hit a piece of furniture. The essential difference is that the bruises disappear rather quickly, but feelings can persist for a long time.
Broken heart
These are far from just dramatic words, but a particular syndrome. From a medical point of view, this problem is known as “stress cardiomyopathy.” This is a fairly rare fatal heart disease that is triggered by an acute emotional disorder.
Resume
If you are having problems in a relationship, then do not assume that what is happening to you is nothing. Love can hurt, but that doesn’t mean that love doesn’t bring happiness.
