Yes, You CAN Die From a Broken Heart!

Whether a person loses a loved one through divorce, a breakup or death, the person who is left behind needs to understand that there can be serious physical ramifications from their loss.

Most experts dealing with grief remind grievers that their bodies are physically going through the same sort of stress as someone who just had a heart attack.  Therefore, they need to treat their bodies with much love, compassion and patience.

In fact, over the past several years, a condition called “Broken Heart Syndrome,” (technically referred to “as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy”) has become more widely accepted.  Although many men get this illness, it is still more common with woman.  This is where painful emotions cause such stress on the heart, that it temporarily enlarges and may not pump correctly, possibly causing long term damage.  So in essence, you can indeed die from a broken heart!  The symptoms of this feel similar to a heart attack.  There is shortness of breath, as well as a heavy painful feeling in the chest, and it can last for weeks or even months at a time.

Energetically speaking, specific organs and parts of the human body will hold on to a person’s emotions.  The liver for example can be effected by anger and the kidneys with fear.  The prostate can be negatively impacted due to feelings dealing with loss of control, addictions or relationship issues.   As “Broken Heart Syndrome” teaches us, the heart is effected by joy (or lack there of) and the lungs are connected with grief and loss.

If you or someone you love is experiencing the pain of grief, it is important to seek help to learn productive ways to work through the pain, so the physical body does not become sick. For although grief may make it impossible to ever forget, obtaining coping techniques to help eliminate the stress can positively help grievers move forward with greater ease.

Grief is just another part of life and we all experience loss at one time or another.  Please remember you are not alone and that there are many professional people, as well as friends to help you during your healing process.

Written by Susan Schueler

References

Louise Hay: “You Can Heal Your Life”

Caroline Myss: “Anatomy of the Spirit”

American Heart Association, Inc.