There have been various studies in the past that revealed that heartbreak awakens the same mechanisms in the brain that are activated when individuals who have previously suffered from addiction are withdrawing from substances like cocaine and opioids. For many people, one of these impacts may manifest as a traumatic phase that can leave an intense imprint in the life of the person, including hormonal imbalance and stress. Yes, broken heart syndrome is not some figment — it exists in real life. According to Mayo Clinic, there are various symptoms of a breakup, such as chest pains, heart enlargement and shortness of breath. The aftermath of such a painful stage in one's life may also involve physical effects like acne. In line with woes that can develop on the skin, another study by a group of researchers at Wake Forest University showed that breakups do contribute to severe skin disorders, even to people who are not prone to such. The study also claimed that stomach cramps and sore muscles can become part of the process of getting over the heartache. Psychology Today about the effects of breakups to the brain, and how it reacts dramatically after a heartbreak. According to Winch, because of the amount of pain during the excruciating phase, the brain, in return, alters its internal environment as a form of coping mechanism. If it does not shield itself enough, the symptoms of a breakup can do serious damages to the person. It affects the ability to think and interrupts the person's ability to focus and function in daily activities. As mentioned earlier, a broken-hearted person can exhibit similar behavior as an addict, and that in itself can be disturbing since the unsoundness of the brain can last for a week, a month or even a year. To further support the previous statement, a different study published in the journal proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America revealed that any romantic rejection triggers the same areas of one's brain that are activated when one has the feelings of pain in his or her body. On that ground, there really is no way of sugarcoating the pain-inducing and stressful reality of getting one’s heart broken. Source
