When you have had your heart broken recovering can be hard work. You will likely pass through a vast range of alignments from not only mental, but also physical effects. You will go through many emotional stages as you deal with the end of a relationship.
“The mind is a very powerful organ and heartbreak is a very powerful emotion. When the two combine, it can certainly produce a physical reaction.” - Courtney Nesbitt, L.C.S.W.
5 Stages of Heartbreak Grief
It has been presented in psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s 1969 book, On Death and Dying. There we see the five stages of grief are:-
Denial - You understand that the relationship is over, but you don’t want to believe it
Anger - Angry with yourself, your ex, family and friends that your relationship has ended
Bargaining - You look for ways that the relationship can still be saved
Depression - You may sleep/eat too little or too much. You may even turn to substance abuse
Acceptance - You come to terms with the breakup and start to move forward with your life
Physical Effects
When you experience heartbreak you experience the same emotional stages as if you lost someone due to death. Depression and anger are the two most commonly occurring emotions experienced as you feel hopeless and as though you will never move on. Experts agree that a heartbreak can cause physical pain and other health effects, although the “why” isn’t clear.
We may not know the exact reason why heartbreak affects our physical bodies or way it does, but we know the effects can be debilitating. In extreme cases it has been known for people to even experience a stroke or heart attack from the stress of a breakup, which goes to show how strong a person can experience emotional pain due to having been heartbroken.
Overcoming A Heartbreak
Treating the effects of heartbreak while allowing yourself to mourn the loss of a relationship can be a tricky balance. We suggest you try to stay active despite not wanting to, try to maintain proper eating habits, and engaging with the people in your social circle can help minimise the risks of ill health due to a breakup. Refrain from contacting the other person (that includes spying on their social media)
The reality is time is the only thing that can heal a broken heart, so keep yourself encouraged and as they say laughter is the best remedy for a broken heart, so listen to one of our episodes and turn that frown upside down.
If you would like to speak to someone about any relationship issues or advice check out https://www.benenden.co.uk
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