Science & Technology

Why Broken Hearts Hurt — and What Heals Them | Yoram Yovell | TED

What’s the relationship between physical and mental pain, and how can you ease both? Revealing how your experiences of love, loss and pain are deeply intertwined, neuroscientist Yoram Yovell sheds light on the surprising role of your brain’s endorphins and opioid receptors to ease physical and emotional suffering — and shows how this connection could…

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What’s the relationship between physical and mental pain, and how can you ease both? Revealing how your experiences of love, loss and pain are deeply intertwined, neuroscientist Yoram Yovell sheds light on the surprising role of your brain’s endorphins and opioid receptors to ease physical and emotional suffering — and shows how this connection could pave the way to new treatments for mental health and well-being.

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59 Comments

  1. @hansovergaard4639

    June 11, 2024 at 8:45 am

    I never felt “pain in the heart” due to sadness or loss. Where does this inept saying come from?

    • @circa1890

      June 11, 2024 at 9:03 am

      Just wait.. 😢

    • @ging1984

      June 11, 2024 at 9:19 am

      Then you’re astonishingly, extremely lucky. “Inept” lololol

    • @eminayiden

      June 11, 2024 at 10:01 am

      Open your heart a bit more and you just might.

    • @oxsparklesxo

      June 11, 2024 at 10:58 am

      Well you are one lucky human!!

  2. @ptkettlehatsandthegang

    June 11, 2024 at 9:01 am

    8:00 I love your channel and your audience, I’m gonna comment on ALL your videos for years until I reach your level of subscribers.

  3. @user-my7cg8pl2x

    June 11, 2024 at 9:13 am

    记录一下

  4. @Lolcoca

    June 11, 2024 at 9:38 am

    For the moment, I have never lost a love because I still have all my family that I love so much 🤍🤍🤍

  5. @harrypearle9781

    June 11, 2024 at 10:06 am

    ” PEDDLER1 ” I saw this NY license, recently. Maybe, selling can also help with pain.
    We may all be in sales, selling ourselves and our values, but SALES REJECTION hurts.
    Perhaps, you should also consider emotions remedies for coping with rejection. Shalom
    ======================================================================

  6. @electrotype_

    June 11, 2024 at 10:46 am

    The two magical drugs are obviously chocolate and ice cream.

    • @PierreChen91

      June 11, 2024 at 1:56 pm

      😄 Jea that’s the combination i’m going for.

  7. @six1free

    June 11, 2024 at 10:51 am

    hint: he’s talking about THC

    • @Scarygothgirl

      June 11, 2024 at 12:42 pm

      That would explain why I feel better after using medical cannabis to kick the opiates. I’ve been on opiates for chronic pain since I was 13, they suck to be on long term.

    • @PierreChen91

      June 11, 2024 at 1:57 pm

      And what’s the other one? Chocolate?

    • @six1free

      June 11, 2024 at 4:14 pm

      @@PierreChen91 not sure.. possibly DMT

  8. @Slyma

    June 11, 2024 at 10:57 am

    Waw that cry… It gave me flashbacks I still can hear it

  9. @harsimarsingh4605

    June 11, 2024 at 11:01 am

  10. @LeftOfToday

    June 11, 2024 at 11:05 am

    How can you talk about pain without once mentioning the emotional connection to pain? Just another psych who thinks it’s all down to neurotransmitters with complete disregard for social factors, including the importance of both positive and negative emotions. Of course it comes down to drugs solving all problems for a psychiatrist. Ugh, I’ll only agree to psychedelics helping safely, but then psychs want to get their grubby hands on it and overcharge for treatment when the hippies and healers knew all along about their healing power, which was always about love, not money for them.

    The fact that we pathologize unhappiness is probably a bigger cause of depression reaching dangerous levels, and soon we’ll have the happy pill so even your infant’s neurotypical and developmentally appropriate crying can be treated if you want? Lol sounds like a joke, but just wait.. The DSM will have infantile depression in it. Then we can talk about what’s heartbreaking. At minimum, if you think treating natural grieving over the loss of a loved one with a happy pill is good idea, you’ve lost your own mind.

  11. @al_badia3422

    June 11, 2024 at 11:39 am

    Palestinians broke my heart because of Israeli invasion sine more than 70 years. FREE Palestine.

  12. @elvergalarga8470

    June 11, 2024 at 11:58 am

    tevuahC uaerehcsaT euqinoM ailiceC
    81 months 22 days.

    • @PierreChen91

      June 11, 2024 at 2:15 pm

      You must be one of the happy people who got the chance to be one of the first ones who get to test the two substances, am I right? 😂

  13. @CowboyConan

    June 11, 2024 at 12:30 pm

    Can confirm, treating mental pain with pharmaceuticals is a disaster. There’s a reason things hurt. It’s your soul trying to communicate with you and guide you into becoming who you were always meant to be. You can fool Mother Nature for a time, but not indefinitely.

  14. @lambertyoga1087

    June 11, 2024 at 12:38 pm

    There are no free lunches. Deal with your emotional problems. Diet, exercise and learn to love again. Find purpose. Dont rely on drugs to help you. They never will. Not permanently.

  15. @garciavashchino1

    June 11, 2024 at 2:16 pm

    Ima guess the drug names:

    Caffeine.
    w.e drug is found in Shrooms.

  16. @j333z

    June 11, 2024 at 2:48 pm

    I wish they’d find out faster and approve the treatment. Thank you for doing this research.

  17. @clay5912

    June 11, 2024 at 2:59 pm

    so i need to start taking morphine?

  18. @karmashah2060

    June 11, 2024 at 3:57 pm

    When love One died My mom and dad heartbroken be kind to each other peace 💖 peace 💖

  19. @tonym6566

    June 11, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    Clickbait title af, bottom line he won’t tell us what heals it

    • @C8zzzD

      June 11, 2024 at 6:27 pm

      Quick Google search reveals that one is called tianeptine… the other is called acetaminophen (Tylenol)

    • @tonym6566

      June 11, 2024 at 7:05 pm

      @@C8zzzD lol wtf Tylenol?! 😅

    • @TheNPCHub

      June 11, 2024 at 11:05 pm

      ​@@tonym6566 Actually, yes.

      There’s a scientific research that Acetaminophen (also called Tylenol) can also blocks receptor that produce emotional pain, which can make us emotionally numb.

    • @delavidaebella

      June 12, 2024 at 2:44 pm

      @C8zzzD can you provide the source link?

  20. @pinealgasm

    June 11, 2024 at 5:02 pm

    wish these people could help me.

  21. @shrimpdance4761

    June 11, 2024 at 6:11 pm

    Don’t hide your mental pain from your loved ones. They really can help.

  22. @BrunoVentura22

    June 11, 2024 at 6:45 pm

    I was watching this video and when he said that he studied under kandel’s guidance, my jaw just dropped. For who is into neuroscience, kandel’s name is just absurd.

    • @katherinemoore52

      June 12, 2024 at 4:21 pm

      Could you explain why you feel that way?

    • @BrunoVentura22

      June 12, 2024 at 4:33 pm

      @@katherinemoore52 because kandel’s principles of neuroscience, for me, is the base for any neuroscience student, and he is the first author.

  23. @BMWSRR-yd6do

    June 11, 2024 at 9:00 pm

    This guy is an expect in broken hearts because he owns a mirror … and uses it every day…

  24. @alexgoslar4057

    June 11, 2024 at 10:00 pm

    I love this.

  25. @user-kb6ly7ro3x

    June 11, 2024 at 10:26 pm

    After my 25 year marriage ended I thought I would die from a broken heart . My family was no longer together. Thankfully over time and with faith in God and counseling I survived and now thrive !

  26. @marcvolpe8252

    June 11, 2024 at 10:35 pm

    MY HEART IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUR COUNTRY IS DOING TO GAZA SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME

  27. @user-zp9sb7pt4p

    June 11, 2024 at 10:41 pm

    Very good, thank you very much professor. Before we only know to eat medicine because we feel physical pain, actually we can also eat medicine when we feel mental pain. So impressive research, well done 💯👍

  28. @farah_di_ipoh1968

    June 11, 2024 at 11:12 pm

    Wow, when this drug becomes available, the people who invest in it will be super duper rich! (Tells you how many people will need it!)

  29. @marycaroline7357

    June 12, 2024 at 12:06 am

    Thanku for the powerful messege 🙏🏻

  30. @Kthedog_1

    June 12, 2024 at 1:05 am

    We human beings are so powerful than other animals. We can do anything. So let’s be strong and overcome the physical and mental pain. I think every person needs to give special attention to their mental health as well as physical health. Do meditation and always try to calm your mind. Always listen what your mind says. Choose your thoughts and emotions wisely. If you look at yourself carefully, you’ll see how negative, positive thoughts come and go. Being happy or sad is a choice. It is your own choice.. If we can understand how does our mind work, we can live a happy and peaceful life. Do you know that your mind is the post powerful thing in this world. Your calm mind is the super power. Always give the priority to discover yourself. There is great wisdom which is hidden in every person and every living being. It cannot be recognised because of the thoughts. If you let your thoughts come and go,, you can see your wisdom. It’s the third eye. You don’t need physical eyes to see. Your third eye aka your wisdom knows everything. It’s the higher consciousness of your mind. ❤❤❤❤May every living being be happy and free.

  31. @rashidabaakza8554

    June 12, 2024 at 3:08 am

    Mental health and mental pain is real. One should also have strong willpower and not to ease your suffering by taking medication 💊 if possible. Cause it will make you addicted and will take away all your potential happiness of future.
    Biggest lose is the death of your loved ones and nothing can replace it but with time, it will heal you but that particular time is so crucial in which you should have strong willpower, do not lose hope (if possible try to be helpful to someone who needs some sort of help, whether physical or emotional or financial that will really help your mental illness). Try to visit hospital (sick kids) where you can volunteer or visit orphanages, then you will realize there are so many people having countless problems and complications…. I’m sure you’ll never have any suicidal thoughts again. Life is very precious do not lose hope till last breath, maybe your life can save someone someday. 🤞❤️‍🩹

  32. @oguzhansunger4386

    June 12, 2024 at 7:54 am

    To be fair, it was a good speech. If anyone wants to do further reading on the relationship between mental and physical pain, I highly recommend this article: “Broken Hearts and Broken Bones” written by Naomi I. Eisenberger.

    • @destifitria1519

      June 12, 2024 at 12:23 pm

      Can u share the link?

  33. @rw6836

    June 12, 2024 at 8:01 am

    Stuffed animals as hug buddies provide some comfort and relief during times of loneliness.

    • @hind_chaoukichaouki7977

      June 13, 2024 at 1:00 am

      Yessss❤

  34. @macdisciple

    June 12, 2024 at 8:09 am

    For 10 years I was prescribed antidepressants. None were ever remotely effective. I considered ECT but maybe I was not depressed so much as I was very lonely, sad, and my heart hurt – literally. I could feel the weight of pain on my heart and was worried I would die from a heart attack. I was prescribed Tramadol for chronic knee pain – but my depression also lifted. The literal pain in my heart was gone. I get it is a narcotic but OMG for the 1st time I had relief from a lonely heart. I kept taking the Tram, my disposition shifted, and within a year I met my wife. I have not been depressed since.

  35. @00MrPanda00

    June 12, 2024 at 8:44 pm

    Great presentation!

  36. @fauxvier8519

    June 13, 2024 at 4:49 am

    I hope we dont end up being dependant on such a miracle drug that we entirely forget out humanity as a price

  37. @cellover_

    June 13, 2024 at 5:21 am

    In many years following TED, I still can’t stand with the intro sound, it hurts my head

  38. @gadija806

    June 14, 2024 at 12:51 am

    I think pain can draw us apart too.
    Lost my grandfather and remember what they say “old people keep the family together” so once they no longer around everything falls apart.

    That’s what happened to my family. Pain made us grew apart.

  39. @anamfarooqy3756

    June 14, 2024 at 11:01 am

    I think people don’t want to heal when they’re hurt

  40. @fireflymary9269

    June 14, 2024 at 12:03 pm

    Pain can be mitigated without drugs. Lots of science on pain that humans can self manage without pharmaceuticals.

  41. @Doxuanthinh

    June 14, 2024 at 9:21 pm

    Summary:

    Yoram Yovell, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, explores the nature of mental pain, particularly the pain of heartbreak. He recounts his personal experience of losing his father at a young age, highlighting the intense physical and emotional pain he felt. He then delves into the science behind this pain, explaining that it’s a biological response with evolutionary roots, serving as an alarm system to prevent damage.

    Yovell details the role of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and how they interact with mu opioid receptors in the brain to alleviate pain, both physical and mental. He shares research showing that even small doses of narcotics like morphine can soothe the pain of separation in animals and reduce suicidal tendencies in humans.

    However, the risks associated with narcotics lead Yovell and his team to explore new drug combinations that could activate mu opioid receptors in a safer way, mimicking the action of endorphins. They utilize molecular computing and molecular docking algorithms to identify two existing drugs that, when combined in small doses, show promise in treating both physical and mental pain without the harmful side effects of narcotics.

    Yovell concludes by emphasizing the importance of human connection and reminding us that, regardless of potential medical breakthroughs, we have the ability to offer comfort and support to those experiencing intense pain.

    Takeaways:

    Mental pain is real and serves a biological purpose: It’s a vital part of our emotional response system, motivating us to seek connection and support.

    Endorphins act as the body’s natural painkillers: They interact with mu opioid receptors to alleviate both physical and mental pain.

    Narcotics can provide relief, but pose significant risks: Their potential for addiction and overdose makes finding safer alternatives crucial.

    New drug combinations show promise: Research suggests that existing drugs, combined in specific ways, could offer a safer way to treat both physical and mental pain.

    Human connection is vital: Even without medical solutions, we can offer comfort and support to those suffering from emotional pain.

    • @myparceltape1169

      June 15, 2024 at 5:13 pm

      Or the loss of someone dear to you early in your life can help you cope with what comes later and helps you turn the fact to your benefit.

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