A break-up can make you physically ill
A break-up can be quite taxing emotionally, and while most people’s version of being lovesick entails crying themselves to sleep or being unable to get their minds off their lost loves, clinical psychologist Dr Pearnel Bell says that it can also take a significant toll on your physical health.
“Breaking up isn’t easy. It is the loss of a relationship and can create untold psychological as well as physical health issues for both parties. A break-up can create an acute stress reaction allowing the body to produce cortisol, a stress hormone that can [have an] impact on every system in the body, for example, negatively affecting blood pressure and increasing heart rate,” Dr Bell explained.
She said that the physical illness could be as simple as a headache, but pain related to stress and lifestyle choices which stem directly from the break-up can be more serious. Below she shares a number of physical illnesses and sensations that are triggered by a broken heart.
1. Triggers aches and pains
Aches and pains associated with stress reaction — for example, stomach and chest pains — are quite common in people who have suffered a broken heart. Dr Bell said that the same network of nerves is triggered when exposed to intense emotional pain. This means you may actually feel as if you took a few blows. Other common pains might occur in the lower back, while headaches and muscle pains may be caused by an increase in the ‘flight and fright’ hormones which redirect blood to the muscles. A build-up of these will make your muscles swollen and sore.
2. Your skin may deteriorate
An overflow of hormones in the body brought on by stress can cause the skin to break out. In addition, a number of studies have shown that whenever a person is either stressed or going through a period of depression, it is quite likely that they may see a breakout if they have pre-existing conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, alopecia or even acne.
3. Insomnia and motor skills
It’s natural for you to experience some amount of anxiety and even depression after a break-up, and this can sometimes lead to insomnia. When under stress or in fright and flight mode, the body produces excess cortisol and inhibits sleep. This can affect motor skills, so it can become difficult to move around because of a weakened muscle system. Insomnia can also cause agitation and moodiness since the body is sleep-deprived.
4. Long-term stress can cause or worsen digestive problems
If making presentations gives you stomach jitters leading to heartburn, lightheadedness or diarrhoea, then you already understand the connection between the gut and the mind. With heartbreak, especially when a person doesn’t get closure, it sets you up for long-term stress. Dr Bell explained that since psychological stress and gastrointestinal distress are related, a break-up can trigger or worsen gastrointestinal pain or other conditions such as heartburn, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome.
5. It breaks down your immune system
A break-up can cause the hormones — from adrenaline to cortisol — to become erratic. Dr Bell explained that with these hormones at high levels in the body, the immune system can be compromised. A compromised immune system makes it difficult for the body to fight off viruses and germs, which is why some people often get a cold or the flu after a break-up.
6. Weight loss/gain
Dr Bell said a break-up can also result in significant weight loss, since hormones released can suppress the appetite. In some people it contributes to weight gain, however, since stress can trigger overeating and a craving for sugary foods which will increase weight, especially around the waistline. Other unhealthy habits that are often adopted include alcohol consumption, which can result in damage to the liver.
