Broken Heart Syndrome? Here’s How to Heal After an Emotional Heartbreak

Do you feel heartbroken today? There’s a way you can deal with it. Heartbreak is not just a jagged line cutting the image of the heart into pieces. It is something that can have serious cardiac consequences like broken heart syndrome. Read further to learn about the impact of stressful events on your heart and what is the solution.

What is Broken Heart Syndrome?

Broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a condition that is often triggered by emotional or physical stress. It feels like a heart attack as the cardiac muscles become weak or stunned. It happens when the heart’s pumping chamber enlarges but doesn’t pump blood effectively. Although people confuse this syndrome with heart attacks, both conditions are different. Unlike a heart attack, broken heart syndrome is temporary and lasts for a few weeks. Also, it can be easily treated and has fewer chances of happening again.

Broken Heart Syndrome Symptoms and Causes

As you may already know, broken heart syndrome has the same symptoms as a heart attack. Some common symptoms include chest pain, heavy sweating, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and irregular heartbeat. These broken heart syndrome symptoms can begin immediately after a stressful event or start after a few hours. But what causes this condition? The short and simple answer is an emotionally stressful event.

Grief, anger, surprise, and fear are some of the emotional stressors that contribute to broken heart syndrome. Some triggers of this condition include the death of near and dear ones, emotional memories, job loss, betrayal, and divorce. After an emotional shock, the body releases certain hormones like adrenaline to deal with stress. The excess production of adrenaline can narrow the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This reduces the heart’s ability to pump normally and weakens it. The heart rate becomes faster, which causes sudden pain in the chest and shortness of breath. It is a treatable condition, but if ignored, it can even result in heart muscle failure.

Effective Ways to Overcome an Emotional Heartbreak

Dealing with heartbreak and intense emotional pain is not that easy. But making a conscious decision to let go of the past and engaging in self-care can provide some relief. To help you out in your healing process, we have explained various ways to recover from heartbreak.

1. Accept Your Emotional Pain:

Holding up your emotions is not going to help you in the long run. Embracing sadness takes a lot of courage, but eventually, you will feel better. To overcome the emotional shock, take some time to grieve and think about the happy moments of your life. When negative thoughts creep into the mind, reframe them into positive ones.

2. Discover a New Interest:

Find something interesting that can help you deal with negative emotions. Look for a hobby that you have always thought of trying someday. You can also let your creative side out with drawing, doodling, writing stories, etc. These fun activities can keep you busy and heal your broken heart.

3. Practice Mindfulness:

After a heartbreak, a flood of negative thoughts comes into the mind and one of the best ways to calm it is by practising mindfulness. Just sit in a quiet room and try to meditate. Your mind may wander around with a lot of thoughts, but you have to focus on the present moment. If you find it difficult at the beginning, try breathing exercises. This will also help you to become aware of your emotions and let go of the past.

4. Uplift Your Mood with Essential Oils:

When you feel grumpy, stressed, or anxious, the fragrance of essential oils can calm you down. Various essential oils like jasmine, sweet basil, and lemongrass are best for emotional healing as they improve your mood. These oils are also beneficial for mental clarity and reducing stress.

5. Communicate with Close Ones:

You may need some alone time to heal yourself from the inner pain but long-time isolation is not good. Have a conversation with people who care about you and express everything you are going through. This will not only lighten your heavy heart but also nurture your relationships with others.

6. Consider Supplements for Healing:

The risks of anxiety, stress and other mental health issues increase when you experience heartbreak. However, certain nutrients alleviate stress levels and offer a healthy mind. All the B vitamins, especially vitamin B12 are mood boosters. Omega-3 fatty acids also play a vital role in increasing serotonin production, which leads to a reduction in anxiety and stress.

7. Physical Movement Can Help:

While going through emotional trauma, you may not even want to move an inch. But this will only elevate your heart’s heaviness. Starting a physical activity, such as a walk or a bike ride can help you overcome feelings of sadness. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, the chemicals in the body that relieve pain and enhance mood.

Wrapping Up

Timely treatment of broken heart syndrome is extremely important, or else it can be life-threatening. You have to make a conscious decision to heal your emotional pain, anxiety, and stress. Although self-forgiveness can take away a little bit of your pain, taking supplements can largely help in alleviating stress levels. Sitting in a calm place while inhaling aromatic essential oils can also soothe your soul and lift your spirits.