In my opinion, there are few things that feel as all-consuming, heavy, and disorienting as a broken heart. Heartbreak hits the body like painful waves, and often, it lingers longer than we expect.

We say “heartbreak,” but what we’re really talking about is an emotional wound that spreads across the entire nervous system. They say it’s a broken heart, and it certainly feels like it, but what does it really do?

I broke it down for you – if you’re finding yourself going through it (god knows I have!), I hope you’ll gain some comfort through this post.

The Physical Weight of Heartbreak

Whether you’ve been through it a while ago or you’re currently experiencing it, you’ll know what I’m talking about:

Your chest feels tight.

Your stomach knots.

Your sleep is restless.

Your appetite is off.

Your mind replays old memories on loop, looking for answers.

Your energy drops, your body feels heavy, and even basic tasks become hard.

Frankly, life feels so different during times of heartbreak. It’s invisible, yet, it’s the one thing that is constantly on our minds.
When we’re cooking, commuting to work, having dinner with friends. Distractions seem to only work for a momentary relief, until we remember the reality of this dark pit that is our heart, currently. It’s agony. It’s really, really difficult to navigate. Let me validate it for you, if you haven’t yet!

Heartbreak is unspeakably hard. It’s not “just in your head.”

It triggers your fight-or-flight system, as if you’re under real threat — because, to your brain, you are. Emotional pain lights up the same areas of the brain as physical pain. It’s a survival response to loss, rejection, or sudden change, and it makes perfect sense that you’re not feeling like yourself.

Why It Feels So Impossible to “Just Move On”

Because heartbreak touches our attachment system. When we lose someone we felt connected to, it’s not just emotional sadness — it’s a deep internal shift. The nervous system loses a sense of safety. The subconscious mind struggles to reconcile the loss. There’s a reason why the “moving on” advice feels so out of touch — the heart doesn’t heal on command.

And often, heartbreak activates old beliefs:

“I’m not lovable.”

“I’m always left behind.”

“I’m not enough.”

“I’m alone again.”

These beliefs aren’t facts — but when we’re hurting, they feel true. And without tending to those emotions, they get stored in the body.

Having our friends tell us that “we deserve better anyway“, that we now get to “love ourselves” (yikes!), or that “they never liked them anyway“, quite frankly, does not help one bit.

It feels as if nothing helps. That’s the struggle. We can’t imagine it ever getting better.
But it does. It has. It will.

How EFT Supports a Broken Heart

I really wish I would have known of EFT always – it totally and utterly would have changed the game. But luckily, I know of it now, and can pass it onto you, so you’ll heal and grow from heartbreak so much faster.

Tapping works by calming the nervous system, soothing emotional overwhelm, and giving your subconscious a new message: you are safe now.

When you’re in heartbreak, EFT doesn’t force you to move on — instead, it helps you stay with what you’re feeling, gently.

You can tap on:

• The pain of missing someone
• The anger, confusion, or disappointment
• The stories your mind is telling you about what this means
• The physical weight in your chest
• The fear of being hurt again

And over time, you may notice the edge softens. The memory isn’t so sharp. The grief becomes less consuming. And slowly, space opens up for peace, clarity, and even hope.

A Gentle Way Forward

If you’re navigating a broken heart right now, I’m sorry. You’re not weak for feeling this deeply. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. In fact, it’s normal. Soul crushing, isolating, but sadly, normal. ❤️‍🩹

You’re just in the middle of something deeply human.

And if you want to start supporting your system in a gentle way — if you want to let your body exhale some of the pain it’s been carrying — let me help you. EFT is a beautiful place to begin.

I’m here if you need support. I’ve created space for heartbreak inside my work, and I’d be honored to walk through it with you. 🤍