Many of you have suffered from a broken heart. Whether it is from a family member's death or a major heartbreak from your significant other, it is a common phenomenon that affects everyone. But how can you say that your heartbreak is getting more serious?
Broken heart syndrome exists, and it happens when your stress hormones result into abnormal heart movement. You will start to feel chest pain and shortness of breath. It can even result in a serious heart attack. However, according to the South China Morning Post, it will often resolve on its own without causing heart damage.
Japan first found the broken heart syndrome in 1990. Physicians saw some heart attack symptoms on people but later proved that it was not heart-related. They then called this condition "takotsubo cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome."
Cardiomyopathy is a condition of weakening heart muscle while takotsubo means a pot to catch octopuses in Japan. Japanese doctors saw a change in the shape of their patients' hearts that seemed to mimic takotsubo bowl when the condition occurred. The heart's tip swells while the base contracts normally.
Another one that causes heartbreak is breakups. Forty percent of heartbroken people suffer from "clinically detectable depression." The condition makes them feel so distracted to the point that it affects and even lowers their IQ.
Bustle reported that mental health professionals believe there are some indications that show your heartbreak is turning into something more serious. If you feel physically ill, can't think of anything else, avoiding your friends, feeling numb at work, not taking care of yourself, not having fun, struggling with boundaries, refusing to go on dates, having difficulty with substances, cannot sleep, and the feeling just won't go away, what you feel is not a simple heartbreak.
If you are not keeping up with your life for a long amount of time, then that is the time you have to seek professional help. Clinical Psychologist and Host of "The Web Radio Show" Dr. Joshua Klapow said that it is still normal to feel distressed for one to two weeks after heartbreak. It usually lasts for two to four weeks and starts to slowly subside in a month.
Your heartbreak runs its natural course if you can still go to work, laugh, smile, and enjoy within a month of a breakup. But if nothing has changed and you still feel distressed in a month, you need the help of a professional.
You can also talk to someone about your heartbreak, take care of yourself, get a lot of sleep, and pet a dog to cure your stress. These things can help to make you feel a little better.
