The Science Behind a Broken Heart

·28 min·2 clips

Psychiatrist Yoram Yovil explains why heartbreak literally hurts and how it evolved as a survival mechanism.

The episode begins with Dr. Sanjay Gupta introducing the topic of physical pain associated with heartbreak, especially around Valentine's Day. He welcomes guest Professor Yoram Yovil, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who has studied mental pain. Yovil recounts losing his father to cancer at age 14, describing the sensation as a crushing chest pain that persisted for years. He explains that mental pain serves an evolutionary purpose as an alarm system to prevent separation from loved ones, similar to how physical pain alerts to tissue damage. Research shows overlapping brain activity in physical pain and emotional experiences like loneliness. Yovil notes that social animals, including humans, retain this sensitivity throughout life to maintain attachments. Gupta shares a personal story about his grandmother's grief after his grandfather's death, highlighting cultural norms in Indian mourning practices. After a break, the discussion shifts to why some people experience chronic mental pain. Yovil compares it to chronic physical pain and mentions that severe cases can lead to suicidality. He references a study where low doses of buprenorphine, an opioid, reduced suicidal thoughts more effectively than antidepressants, suggesting the endogenous opioid pathway is key. Another study found Tylenol helped undergraduates with minor rejections. Gupta and Yovil explore the challenge of leaving abusive relationships, linking it to attachment styles from childhood. As parents, they discuss when to intervene in children's unhealthy relationships. Yovil emphasizes reconnecting with other loved ones as a way to ease heartbreak. The episode concludes with reflections on love's value despite its inherent pain.

As heard by us

A serious, compassionate look at why heartbreak can land like physical pain.

Chasing Life uses Valentine's Day to pose a plain but unsettling question: why heartbreak can register as physical pain. Grounded in Yoram Yavell's blend of psychiatry, neuroscience, and personal loss, the conversation also widens into cultural mourning, showing how grief can…

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When heartbreak feels physical, this gives you a serious way to think about why it hurts.

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