This is the best way to get over a break-up, according to research

So there is a cure for a broken heart
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While wallowing in your misery might feel like the only thing you’re capable of doing after a bad break-up, research has revealed that pretending you’re okay is actually the quickest route to mending a broken heart.

Researchers at the University of Colorado studied a group of 40 volunteers who had all experienced an “unwanted romantic break-up” in the past six months. Participants were shown images of their exs and asked to recall their break-up, followed by images of their friends, while they were subjected to physical discomfort.

Each participant was then asked to rate their pain on a scale, while their brain activity was tracked, showing that physical and emotional pain created a similar reaction in the brain. Although not identical, it did suggest that emotional pain is “neurochemically real”.

In the second round, half of the group was given a nasal spray that they were told was a “powerful analgesic effective in reducing emotional pain”, while the second half of the group were told it was just a saline solution.

The result? The placebo group reported feeling both less physical and emotional pain. “Breaking up with a partner is one of the most emotionally negative experiences a person can have and it can be an important trigger for developing psychological problems. In our study, we found a placebo can have quite strong effects on reducing the intensity of social pain,” explained author Leonie Koban.

“What is becoming more and more clear is that expectations and predictions have a very strong influence on basic experiences, on how we feel and what we perceive… Doing anything that you believe will help you feel better will probably help you feel better.”

So there you have it, next time you have your heart ripped in two, put down the tub of Ben and Jerry’s and put on a brave face.  You’ll feel so much better for it. 

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