Yoram Yovell: Why broken hearts hurt — and what heals them

Why broken hearts hurt — and what heals them

What's the relationship between physical and mental pain, and how can you ease both? Revealing how your experiences of love, loss and pain are deeply intertwined, neuroscientist Yoram Yovell sheds light on the surprising role of your brain's endorphins and opioid receptors to ease physical and emotional suffering — and shows how this connection could pave the way to new treatments for mental health and well-being.

Emotional pain, like the agony of losing a loved one, activates the same brain circuits as physical pain. Endorphins—our natural opioids—soothe both mental and physical suffering, but sometimes even love and comfort cannot reach the depths of despair. Groundbreaking research reveals that brain receptors for these molecules can be triggered in different ways, shaping how we experience pain and how treatments work. New strategies may soon offer relief for deep sadness without the dangers of narcotics.