Member-only story
Why Heartbreak Hurts So Damn Much
Love is an addiction, as far as your brain is concerned. Here are ways to make the withdrawal less painful.
In the throes of heartache, finding your way back to joy can seem impossible. However, the secret to getting there faster may be in taking control of your neurotransmitters — the brain chemicals that allow your brain cells to send signals and communicate with one another.
The levels and activity of a few key neurotransmitters—namely dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, and vasopressin—play a huge role in how you feel after a breakup. According to renowned anthropologist Helen Fisher, author of Why We Love, feelings of love and heartbreak are explained by disruptions in these brain chemicals. The answer to bringing them back into balance could be as basic as adding a few new habits into your routine.
The Chemicals of Love
According to Fisher, dopamine and norepinephrine are the first two brain chemicals that kick in when you fall in love — they are the neurotransmitters that create attraction.
Dopamine controls feelings of pleasure and reward in the brain. When dopamine levels are right, we feel good. Levels that are too low lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, low motivation, and…
