Farewells are difficult for everybody. Our emotions are raging, and these emotional experiences and stress have a direct impact on our body.

Bright Side decided to tell you what happens to our body when a relationship with a loved one ends.

Anxiety and sleep problems

People are programmed to need human contact, and when we lose it, we feel pain. The need for contact is exacerbated, causing anxiety. Scientific studies have shown that pain after a breakup activates the same part of the brain that is stimulated by cocaine addiction.

Chest pain

Studies have shown that after a breakup people receive the nerve signals associated with actual physical pain. For instance, these signals are sent when the person spills a hot drink or has a burn. As pain is in our brain, these signals turn into real discomfort: in this case, chest pain or true heartache. The heart doesn’t work as well after a romantic split. A person who has had heart diseases has a risk of not coping with stress. Other likely outcomes are arrhythmia or a heart attack.

Skin problems

Besides the fact that during depression a person takes less care of himself, the skin condition worsens because of stress hormones. This can lead to acne and even hair loss.

Muscle pain

In a depressed state, people are more prone to injury than usual. Also, because of stress, spasms in the muscles may appear, and the muscles may contract, causing pain in different parts of the body.

Loss of appetite or weight gain

After a breakup, many experience problems with appetite. But in the long term, the breakup often leads to excess weight. Because of stress, cells become less sensitive to insulin, and the body begins to secrete it even more, accelerating fat accumulation. Weight gain may also be associated with insomnia and lack of exercise. Finally, stress disrupts the gastrointestinal tract, which causes abdominal pain and diarrhea.