‘Heartache’ Is Real: Why We Feel Physical Pain for Our Emotions

Heaviness after a break up or butterflies in your stomach because of nervousness – emotions physically affect us.

“I left with a heavy heart.” “I have butterflies in my stomach.” “My heart aches to see you go.”

For many, all these may just be metaphors, but we forget that there must be a reason why these phrases came to be in the first place. It’s called ‘heartbreak’ because the pain is physical, not just emotional. Not just grief because of break ups, but nervousness, happiness, loss and sadness – all emotions have physical manifestations in our body.

Yes, you’re not alone in feeling that heaviness in your chest. Some feel it in their chest, some in their gut and others experience it as a more diffused pain all over. It’s been scientifically proven that emotions result in physical changes.