THEAt the end of a love, it is a mix of emotions that can cause a real emotional hangoverbringing the mind and body to a stress. Term borrowed from the post hangover, this set of symptoms is not the “simple” sadness as a real emotional overload that deeply influences everyday life.
Love, what is the emotional hangover
Real overdose of emotions, the emotional hangover is reached not only following negative events, such as the end of a love, but also after positive events or daily but emotionally demanding moments, such as a long conversation with a friend who is bad. In this case what happens? «It’s not just about sadness: it’s a real psychophysical overload that can profoundly influence everyday life. In the event of the end of a love story, the most common symptoms involve emotional, cognitive and physical spheres and include mood swings, obsessive thoughts, insomnia, loss of appetite and chronic fatigue. From a neuroscientific point of view, however, the breakdown of an active relationship in the brain the same areas involved in physical pain and dependence. The chemicals related to love, such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, fall abruptly, causing a sort of “emotional abstinence”. This explains why, even if the breakdown is rationally accepted, the body and mind continue to suffer “explains Dr. Lorenzo Giacomi Psychologist, clinical psychologist and sexologistalso available for consultancy on MioDottore.
A moment of Emotional “overload” involving all the spheres of the person and that creates a momentary “collapse” that can be prevented but only in part. As the psychologist explains, it is not possible to avoid this type of pain, or rather “A series of strategies can be adopted that attenuates its impact. But the pain for the end of a relationship is normal and must be experienced, what “control” is the intensity with which you live it ».
How to mitigate and recognize the emotional hangover
For example, a good way to eventually stem these emotions is that of maintain your personal autonomy: «Continuing to cultivate one’s interests, to maintain their friendships and passions, is a way to maintain one’s inner balance and help Also keep your own solid and independent identity. An aspect that attenuates and makes the detachment less traumatic».
Another way to help to mitigate a possible emotional collapse in this sense is to have one emotional maturity such that it places the possibility that a relationship can end“This does not mean not having confidence in love but living it with awareness. In the end, an open communication with the partner, especially in times of crisis, can avoid sudden breakages And help both prepare emotionally ».
Are there any recognizable symptoms of emotional Hangover? «This phenomenon is preceded by recognizable signals. For example, theintense fear of solitudeso much so that it is also transformed into anxiety or panic. Or the tendency to idealize the former partnerremembering only the positive aspects and forgetting the reasons for the rupture, thus slowing down the healing process. Many people also feel a feeling of inner emptying and self -loss, accompanied by recurring and difficult to control thoughts. The body can also manifest the discomfort with psychosomatic symptoms such as insomnia, muscle pain or headache». A very intense experience that is not experienced in the same way by everyone, on the contrary. The intensity and methods of the Hangover present themselves in different ways and depend a lot on their personal history, on everyone’s emotional resources and also on the type of relationship: «Surely Those who have already developed loss experiences or have good emotional regulation skills can face the end with more serenity. Even those who have decided to close the relationship have often started to detach themselves internally, making pain less acute. It is important not to confront others and respect one’s time: each experience is unique and deserves attention and care ».
How to overcome this moment
What strategies to put in place so if you are experiencing this moment? First of all it helps a lot to give a name to emotions, talking about it with someone, writing them on a diary are all ways to process pain, as well as “throwing it out”. Another attitude that does not have is to avoid significant places because it risks overloading excessively the emotional part that then “explodes”.
“It is fundamental to take care of yourself: sleeping, doing physical activity, eating in a healthy way, discovering new relaxation and rest techniques help to rebalance the body, as well as devote yourself to new passions or rediscover those set aside. Finally, leaving the house, having a social life, dealing with friends and family helps to elaborate pain and not risk going to Hangover ».
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