Heartbreak and the Emotional Body

Heartbreak

How it presents in the emotional body and what we can do to heal and thrive.

Oh, my dears, heartbreak. It's a beast, isn't it? A magnificent, terrifying, utterly beastly thing. Like a phantom limb, it throbs with a pain so real, so visceral, you'd swear someone had carved a hole right through your chest. And the drama of it all! It's not just a feeling, you see; it's a full-body production, a grand opera of anguish played out on the stage of your very being. As Louise so wisely says, “Love is the joy of the whole body.” But what happens when that joy turns to sorrow? Well, darlings, that’s where the real theatrics begin.

Now, let's talk science, shall we? Because beneath the swirling emotions, there's a fascinating, if somewhat cruel, biological ballet happening. Your brain, bless its pea-sized heart, perceives heartbreak as a threat. A real threat. It doesn’t differentiate between a saber-toothed tiger and the devastating realization that darling Bartholomew has run off with that dreadful social climber, Tiffany. The result? Cortisol. That conniving little hormone floods your system, preparing you for fight or flight. Think of it as your body’s frantic stage manager, scrambling to get you ready for the big performance, even if the curtain’s already fallen.

This cortisol surge, my dears, is the conductor of our heartbreak symphony. It sends blood rushing to your major muscle groups, priming them for action. You're ready to run, to fight, to do something. But what, precisely? Bartholomew's already halfway to Monte Carlo with Tiffany, and fighting him probably isn't the best look. So, the energy has nowhere to go. It simmers, it stews, it festers in your muscles, causing them to tense and swell. Hello, headaches! Hello, stiff neck! And, oh, that agonizing squeeze in your chest? That's cortisol's grand finale, a crescendo of discomfort that leaves you breathless and broken.

The drama doesn't stop there, darlings. To keep those muscles fueled for this phantom fight, cortisol diverts blood away from your digestive system. It's like a ruthless director, cutting funding from the ensemble to focus on the star. The result? Tummy troubles galore! Cramps, diarrhea, that utter lack of appetite that makes even the most delectable caviar seem utterly repulsive. You may feel like you want to throw up but you can't because your stomach is empty. It's all quite ghastly, really.

Our immune system, already weakened by the emotional turmoil, gets a further blow from these rampaging hormones. It's like the stage crew going on strike mid-performance. Suddenly, you're vulnerable, susceptible to every little bug and virus that comes your way. A sniffle turns into a full-blown cold, a cough lingers for weeks, and you find yourself feeling generally run down and wretched. It's all so terribly inconvenient, especially when you're already feeling like your world has ended.

Now, my dears, let's delve into the spiritual side of things, because heartbreak isn't just a physical affliction; it's a soul wound. Grief is love with nowhere to go, think of all that love you poured into your relationship, all that hope, all that joy. When the relationship ends, that love doesn't just vanish. It's still there, inside you, but it's now trapped, like a bird beating its wings against a closed window.

This trapped love, this unexpressed emotion, can manifest in all sorts of ways. It can become anger, resentment, bitterness. It can turn into sadness, despair, and a profound sense of loss. And, darling, it can settle in your body. Louise teaches us that every emotion has a corresponding physical manifestation. Fear, for example, often resides in the kidneys. Grief, that heavy, suffocating grief, can settle in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe, to move forward.

Think about the expressions we use to describe heartbreak. "My heart feels broken." "I feel like I've been punched in the gut." "I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders." These aren't just metaphors, my dears. They're descriptions of the physical sensations that accompany emotional pain. Our bodies are the stage for our emotional dramas, and heartbreak is a particularly brutal production.

So, what’s a poor, heartbroken soul to do? Well, darlings, the first step is to acknowledge the pain. Don’t try to bury it, don’t try to pretend it’s not there. Embrace the drama! Let yourself cry, let yourself grieve, let yourself feel all the messy, complicated emotions that come with heartbreak. As Louise says, “You can heal your life.” And that starts with acknowledging the pain.

Next, darling, take care of your body. Nourish it with healthy foods, even if your appetite is nonexistent. Gentle exercise can help release some of that pent-up energy. Yoga, particularly restorative yoga, can be incredibly beneficial. It helps to release tension in the muscles and calm the nervous system. And, of course, darling, sleep. Lots and lots of sleep. Your body needs time to heal, both physically and emotionally.

Now, let's talk about the spiritual aspect of healing. This is where the real transformation happens, my dears. This is where you take that trapped love and give it somewhere to go. Louise teaches us the power of forgiveness, not necessarily for the other person, but for ourselves. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you made, forgive yourself for the pain you feel, forgive yourself for loving so deeply.

And, darling, remember that grief is love with nowhere to go. So, find a place for that love. Channel it into something positive, something meaningful. Volunteer your time, pursue a creative hobby, connect with loved ones. Let that love flow outward, instead of turning inward and festering.

Heartbreak, my dears, is a beast, but it's not an insurmountable one. It's an opportunity for growth, for transformation, for self-discovery. It’s a chance to rewrite the script of your life, to create a new production, one that’s even more magnificent than the last. And remember, darlings, you are not alone in this. We've all been there, we've all felt the sting of heartbreak. So, take a deep breath, darling, and remember: The show must go on. And you, my dear, are the star.

Megan Sherlock is a wellness professional passionate about somatic movement and holistic healing. She combines her expertise in fitness, yoga, and nutrition with the transformative power of energy work to help clients reconnect with their bodies and emotions. Megan holds certifications in NASM CPT, RYT 200, CGFI, CNC, BCS, CF1, ViPR, TriggerPoint SMR, Usui Reiki Master, and PN1.