大多數人在一生中都會有 “心碎” 的經歷。這可能是在結束一段關系或失去親友後感受到的悲痛之情。雖然在悲傷時你可能會感到 “心如刀絞”，但實際上你的心臟並沒有受到任何損害。為什麼你會感到如此強烈的心痛感？本文就此展開討論。
詞匯：heartache 傷心
Heartbreak has inspired thousands of songs, books and films, and, however much we try to avoid it, is something we are all likely to experience at some point in our lives. But what exactly is heartbreak, and how does it affect us?
Heartbreak often occurs after a breakup, bereavement or the loss of a family member or friend. When this happens, we experience grief, which heartbreak is a form of. And it doesn’t just have emotional effects – it affects us physically too. The word ‘heartbreak’ comes from the physical response to loss, described on AYYBLOG’s The Why Factor as feeling like someone is ‘physically squeezing the heart’, though our hearts don’t experience any real damage. Psychologist Guy Winch told the AYYBLOG that, although we tend to feel pain viscerally, the pain of heartbreak actually comes from the brain, and is a by-product of love.
The emotional pain may be understandable, but why do we experience such physical pain? According to Florence Williams, author of Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey, when you connect with someone on an intimate level, your bodies can actually sync up. Cortisol levels and respiration rates can align, and heartbeats might regulate during sleep. When that partner is no longer there, our body reacts negatively to this change, causing us pain. The reason for this is evolutionary, Williams says. The nervous system acts as though it is under threat because, as social animals, we feel far more comfortable and safe with others than when alone. Therefore, the symptoms of heartbreak are a perfectly natural response, however hard they may be to cope with.
So, if you have a broken heart, what can you do? Healthline suggests you should take time to grieve, reconnect with yourself, and surround yourself with supportive friends.
詞匯表
heartbreak 心碎，過度傷心
breakup （一段關系的）破裂
bereavement 親友喪亡
loss 喪失，失去
grief （尤指因某人去世引起的）悲傷，悲痛
emotional 情緒上的，情感上的
physical response 身體反應
damage 損傷，損害
viscerally 發自內心地
by-product 附帶產生的後果
intimate 親近的，親密的
sync up 同步
cortisol level 皮質醇水平，氫化可的松水平
respiration rate 呼吸速率
heartbeat 心跳
nervous system 神經系統
under threat 受到威脅
grieve （尤指因某人去世而）悲傷，傷心
reconnect 重新建立良好的聯系，重新瞭解
supportive 給予幫助的，給予支持的
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. When does heartbreak often occur?
2. True or False? Heartache only has emotional effects.
3. Where does the pain of heartbreak come from?
4. What can align when you connect with someone intimately?
5. What are some solutions to curing a broken heart?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. After ten years of not seeing him, I’ve _______ with a childhood friend.
synced up lost broke up reconnected
2. Their _______ was a shock to everyone – they were about to get married.
loss breakup pain symptom
3. I had a strong _______ response to the film. It reminded me so much of a difficult time in my life.
supportive under threat intimate emotional
4. Being upset is a typical _______ to breaking up with someone.
heartbreak bereavement response grief
5. Connie uses buttermilk in her cakes. That’s a _______ of butter.
respiration rate cortisol level nervous system by-product
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. When does heartbreak often occur?
Heartbreak often occurs after a breakup, bereavement or the loss of a family member or friend.
2. True or False? Heartache only has emotional effects.
False. It doesn’t just have emotional effects. It affects us physically too.
3. Where does the pain of heartbreak come from?
Psychologist Guy Winch told the AYYBLOG that the pain of heartbreak actually comes from the brain.
4. What can align when you connect with someone intimately?
Cortisol levels and respiration rates can align, and heartbeats might regulate during sleep.
5. What are some solutions to curing a broken heart?
Take time to grieve, reconnect with yourself and surround yourself with supportive friends.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. After ten years of not seeing him, I’ve reconnected with a childhood friend.
2. Their breakup was a shock to everyone – they were about to get married.
3. I had a strong emotional response to the film. It reminded me so much of a difficult time in my life.
4. Being upset is a typical response to breaking up with someone.
5. Connie uses buttermilk in her cakes. That’s a by-product of butter.
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