I’m a sucker for science so when I saw this article by Lifehacker – The Science Behind Why Breakups Suck (and What You Can do About It), I read it with great interest. I’m especially interested in their description of the physical response to rejection stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system, as this relates to the PTSD-like symptoms that some experience after a breakup. It’s an interesting article which serves to validate the intensity of emotions after the end of a relationship and gives some tangible strategies to help the mind and body recover from the loss.
I would love to see further research on the impact of rejection and relationship trauma on the brains of previously healthy adult subjects. With my completely subjective and n=1 experiment, it seems like it can lead to long term changes in the brain’s ability to process.
What are your thoughts? In what areas would you like to see research?
Lessons From the End of a Marriage 