Heartbreak

Crushing pain centred in the chest from losing love.

Family Sadness
Valence strongly negative
Arousal moderate activation
Intensity Intense
Opposite Falling in love

Crushing pain centred in the chest from losing love. The body holds this signal first, often before the mind has named what is happening.

Where heartbreak lives in the body

Chest
Heaviness, ache, or pounding
Strong
Face
Heat, flush, expression building
Moderate
Stomach
A sinking pull or knot
Moderate
Arms
Heavy, unused
Withdrawn

Related emotions

A note on this entry: The data on this page (definition, body sensations, valence, arousal, related emotions) reflects a structured reference for heartbreak. A full long-form entry is being added gradually. If you have research, a translation, or a body-mapping correction to suggest, please get in touch.