Breakups are universally painful experiences that affect us emotionally, mentally, and even physically. While most people understand the emotional toll of heartache, fewer recognize that breakups can trigger biological responses in the body and brain. Our physical and emotional systems are deeply interconnected, meaning that a breakup can impact our brains and bodies on hormonal and cellular levels. Gaining a better understanding of how breakups impact us biologically can help us to better understand our pain and even assuage common feelings of desperation, isolation, and shame. Here’s a breakdown of the biological processes at play during and after a breakup: