If you have never been heartbroken, you can consider yourself one of the luckiest people on the planet.

Bad breakups usually leave deep emotional scars which are too difficult to heal, and scientists actually agree that the concept of broken hearts exist, and can have physical effects on the body.

Christie Brinkley once admitted that she would rather have a broken arm than a broken heart once again.

The American Heart Association reports that in patients that suffer from the broken heart syndrome, a part of the heart temporarily enlarges and doesn’t pump well, while the rest of your heart functions normally or with even more forceful contractions. Broken heart syndrome can cause severe, short-term heart muscle failure.

Fortunately, scientists have finally offered some answers that will help people with broken hearts. Here is what happens to the body when your heart is broken:

-- Many people actually experience physical pain after heartbreak, and science backs it up. Courtney Nesbitt, L.C.S.W., who practices individual, couples, and group therapy, claims that she is completely sure that a broken heart and emotional pain can negatively affect physical health.

Since the mind is a very powerful organ and heartbreak is a very powerful emotion, their combination produces a physical reaction. To alleviate the aches, do physical activities that will do the trick to help release that emotional pain.

-- The sudden end of a relationship often causes depression. Psychiatric geneticist Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D. says that the analysys of stressful life events that predisposed men and women to the onset of episodes of depression, showed that the most toxic combination was loss and humiliation that in some way directly devalued the individual in a core role.

If you are in such a situation, find someone that will be there for you to talk to and support you in order to discuss things and avoid depression.

-- Heartbreak can leave lasting effects on body weight. Many people cope with their sadness with eating and overeating, while others lose their appetite. Therefore, make sure you plan your meals in order to prevent such consequences and control your body weight.

-- Heartbreak has been shown to weaken the immune system, due to the increased stress levels. Therefore, make sure you take vitamins and eat nutrient-rich foods that will boost immunity, and prevent cold or flu-like symptoms.

-- The elevated stress levels, like cortisol and adrenalin, lead to skin breakouts and hormonal imbalances in the body, which in turn take their toll on the complexion and cause various skin issues.

-- Guy Winch Ph.D. explained that fMRI studies showed that heartbreak activates the same mechanisms in the brain that get activated when addicts are withdrawing from substances like cocaine and opioids.

These powerful withdrawal symptoms experienced after the loss of love affect the ability to think, focus, and function in the broadest terms.

He claims that an addict in the midst of withdrawal cannot function in a job or personal life because he is in a temporarily abnormal mental state, and we need to think of heartbreak in the same terms and change the expectations of ourselves and others accordingly.

-- Numerous people face sleeping difficulties after heartbreak, due to the increased stress levels. Sleep specialist Chris Winter, M.D. explains this in simple words, claiming that in the sleep world, stress is to sleep as yin is to yang — opposite forces that are forever linked.

Stress prevents sleep, and sleep deprivation raises stress and aggravates its consequences. Find a way to lower stress and prevent insomnia, and try exercise, yoga, meditation, music, reading, walking in nature, soothing teas, etc.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to help you go through the difficult period of heartbreak easier, and despite these healthy ways to cope with it, we assure you that time does heal all wounds.

Source: www.powerofpositivity.com