Healing a Broken Heart: The Science Behind It

Ever had your heart broken… and felt it deep in your chest? Like it wasn’t just

emotional—but physical pain? That’s because it is. When you go through

a breakup, your brain processes the loss using the same neural pathways it uses for physical

pain. The anterior cingulate cortex, which lights up when you stub your

toe or get injured, also activates during emotional rejection. Your brain doesn’t fully separate social

pain from physical pain. To your body, a broken heart feels just like a bruise—only

deeper. And that’s why you feel drained, your chest aches, and even simple

tasks feel heavier. It’s not weakness. It’s biology. But just like physical wounds,