It's a physical thing.


http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/09/heartache-take-2-aspirin.html

Heartache. A broken heart. A hurtful breakup. Is the language we use to describe the pain of romantic rejection just a metaphor, or could it capture a biological reality? That’s a question scientists are beginning to explore.

In a 2011 experiment, people who had recently experienced an unwanted breakup viewed a photograph of their ex-partner and thought about their rejection. As they did this, their brains were being scanned by fMRI. In another condition, the same individuals experienced intense physical pain from thermal stimulation to their forearm. During their physical pain, two brain areas (the secondary somatosensory cortex and the dorsal posterior insula) became activated; the same brain areas were activated when they thought about being rejected and looked at the image of the person who had broken their heart. Emotional pain really does hurt in a physical way.

The overlap in how emotional and physical pain are experienced and processed in the brain raises many questions. One that is often asked, with tongue in cheek, is whether it would help to take painkillers to deal with heartbreaks and the endless other forms of rejection and exclusion. Researchers on social pain get this question at the end of their talks from people trying to be funny — but as it turns out, the answer is a strong yes! “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” would be a coldhearted response to a friend’s late-night report of fresh heartbreak, but it has a solid basis in the research.

"Shut up and walk it off."

As they did this, their brains were being scanned by fMRI. In another condition, the same individuals experienced intense physical pain from thermal stimulation to their forearm. During their physical pain, two brain areas (the secondary somatosensory cortex and the dorsal posterior insula) became activated;the same brain areas were activated when they thought about being rejected and looked at the image of the person who had broken their heart. Emotional pain really does hurt in a physical way.

..

but just because the same areas of the brain respond/appear to be stimulated, is that really the same as feeling the sensation of pain on the forearm?

.

interesting how pain is experienced by the brain

It couldn't hurt given the other things people use to self-medicate.

there is nothing worse than a breakup especially when you still love them

i know i am going thru it right now

GeorgieAto said:

XxAxX said:

As they did this, their brains were being scanned by fMRI. In another condition, the same individuals experienced intense physical pain from thermal stimulation to their forearm. During their physical pain, two brain areas (the secondary somatosensory cortex and the dorsal posterior insula) became activated;the same brain areas were activated when they thought about being rejected and looked at the image of the person who had broken their heart. Emotional pain really does hurt in a physical way.

..

but just because the same areas of the brain respond/appear to be stimulated, is that really the same as feeling the sensation of pain on the forearm?

.

interesting how pain is experienced by the brain

One of the only useful lines in Episode I proves true: Your focus determines your reality.

Well, most heartaches are headaches...

morningsong said:

GeorgieAto said:

there is nothing worse than a breakup especially when you still love them

i know i am going thru it right now

Does Tylenol help at all?

Tylenol basically just makes me drowsy. I never tried Aspirin in my life.

the GYM, work out

You'll sleep good, feel better physically and mentally, look good, you'll eat better

OldFriends4Sale said:

the GYM, work out

You'll sleep good, feel better physically and mentally, look good, you'll eat better

This is the best advice.

The only problem with this "science" is that they are looking at the physical reactions and stimulus in the brain. There is a part to "loving" someone, a part to "losing" someone that is not physical and no aspirin will heal that. While the same general areas within the brain light up in relation to pain (and heartbreak can involve physical pain), there is a deeper connection that is severed that goes beyond physical or our ability to measure it.

prittypriss said:

The only problem with this "science" is that they are looking at the physical reactions and stimulus in the brain. There is a part to "loving" someone, a part to "losing" someone that is not physical and no aspirin will heal that. While the same general areas within the brain light up in relation to pain (and heartbreak can involve physical pain), there is a deeper connection that is severed that goes beyond physical or our ability to measure it.

It's not negating the emotional, it's stating that there IS actually a physical component to breaking up with someone. The physical pain IS real, not just some mental state and that taking an aspirin or over the counter pain reliever does give some relief to at least the physical part. It doesn't solve the problem only time does that.