大多数人在一生中都会有 “心碎” 的经历。这可能是在结束一段关系或失去亲友后感受到的悲痛之情。虽然在悲伤时你可能会感到 “心如刀绞”，但实际上你的心脏并没有受到任何损害。为什么你会感到如此强烈的心痛感？本文就此展开讨论。

词汇：heartache 伤心

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 BBC'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 BBC 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.

词汇表

heartbreak 心碎，过度伤心
breakup （一段关系的）破裂
bereavement 亲友丧亡
loss 丧失，失去
grief （尤指因某人去世引起的）悲伤，悲痛
emotional 情绪上的，情感上的
physical response 身体反应
damage 损伤，损害
viscerally 发自内心地
by-product 附带产生的后果
intimate 亲近的，亲密的
sync up 同步
cortisol level 皮质醇水平，氢化可的松水平
respiration rate 呼吸速率
heartbeat 心跳
nervous system 神经系统
under threat 受到威胁
grieve （尤指因某人去世而）悲伤，伤心
reconnect 重新建立良好的联系，重新了解
supportive 给予帮助的，给予支持的

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

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. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

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.  阅读课文并回答问题。

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 BBC that t he 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.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

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.