Psychologist says lovesickness is healthy

Why lovesickness is healthy

02/16/2014

Only a few days ago was Valentine's Day, but not all people have happily spent the day of love. Those who suffer from a broken heart are now encouraged by a Viennese researcher. He says: "lovesickness is healthy".

Lovesickness is healthy
The recently celebrated Valentine's Day is not the day of love for all people. Many become very special about her through the day „broken heart“ remind. But an Austrian researcher gives you courage now. Stephan Doering, Head of the Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy at the Med-Uni Vienna, comes to the conclusion: lovesickness is healthy.

Healthy reaction
According to press reports, Doering said, lovesick „is something healthy if you allow it and take time to properly process the grief and the pain.“ One must admit the heartache. „That's a healthy reaction“, so the expert. If you feel neither grief nor sorrow after a break, this is questionable and the psychoanalyst sees it as signs of other mental problems.

Heartache may take months
It is completely different, how long lovesickness lasts. Duration depends on how long the relationship lasted and on its emotional depth. Doering says: „Heartache can take months if you have loved properly.“ Although lovesickness usually does not require professional help, sufferers should seek professional help if the pain of separation does not end and affects their everyday lives or work ability.

Mental illness as a result
According to Doering, lovesickness can also cause other mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety disorders. As late effects he mentions psychosomatic diseases or even schizophrenia. As a rule, however, there would be a predisposition or prior illness here. „It is then like an old wound that breaks out again and goes back to earlier experienced separations or losses“, so the expert. In addition to previous separations or deaths, the loss of job recognition or other losses in the social environment could be possible underlying causes.

Heartache physically noticeable
Lovesickness can cause emotional symptoms as well as emotional distress. Internal restlessness and pondering may be responsible for sleep disorders, fatigue, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. The heart feels „heavy“ or „torn“ and not infrequently, the heartbreak is physically noticeable. The stomach sometimes contracts, nausea and abdominal pain can occur. (Ad)