share: Is there such a thing as a broken heart?
Most view women as the more emotional ones of the species. It is said by some that it is why women have been able to avoid the more serious health problems associated with holding in one’s emotions. While it seems that it is not really accepted by society for men to show much in the way of how they feel, because that would show weakness where a man is supposed to be the strong one who can handle just about anything that comes his way. At the same time, it seems to be accepted that women are more emotional and showing or expressing these feelings is something that women do.
As it is more acceptable, or alright, for women to express their emotions and to let it all out, it has been thought for many years that it could very well be the reason why women are less prone to heart problems or other stress-related health issues. These days, it is perhaps not as true as women are taking on more responsibilities and becoming just as or more involved in the workplace. However, it is not the general stresses that this article is focused on. Whether it was a hundred years ago or yesterday, it is possible that women have a more difficult time in letting go of a relationship than men. There could be many reasons for this, the most of which being that it is more in the woman’s nature to bond with a man on a deeper level. This is, of course, simply speculation, but it is something that many have considered as a probable reason. This is not to say the woman is weaker or simply more emotional, it is something that is rooted in one’s instinct from years of evolution. Whether it was the woman or the man to break off the relationship, the woman could have a difficult time with the breakup because, depending on how involved the relationship was or how long it had existed; there could be some very deep feelings that have been affected.
Broken hearts are not easy for anyone, but for women it can be more difficult to avoid because they are more in tune with their emotional side than men are. There is such a thing as a broken heart; in fact the medical reference to it is ‘stress cardiomyopathy’. This condition is where the person has become so distressed over the loss of a loved one in a breakup or tragedy where the heart muscle is temporarily weakened. Getting over a relationship is something that can take some time. Contacting an online counselor or online therapy could be a nice way to help ease the process as well. Online therapy could be a comfort for those who simply need to confide in someone and get something off their chest. Online counseling can also help a woman to realize why it could be good that the relationship came to an end. Once the healing starts, she can start to move forward in her life, feel better about her self and start looking forward to her unknown, but exciting, future.
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"it has been thought for many years that it could very well be the reason why women are less prone to heart problems or other stress-related health issues."
Complete Counseling, thanks for your post but I would like to point out a couple of things. Women, for many years, were not treated as much as men for heart issues as you said. Not due to the fact that they suffered less heart related disease but because they were ignored by the medical community in favor of men and their heart problems.
Heart disease has been, and still is, the number one killer of women. More than breast cancer or other female cancers, or any other condition. They are also significantly more likely to die of a heart attack than men.
With regard to stress and the female support system, it's true that women tend to have a better social network than men but it is a well known fact in the medical community that women suffer depression more than men. Now this could also mean that they seek help and get DIAGNOSED more than men, but women definitely have higher recorded numbers in terms of depression.
We have spend more time and money on breast cancer awareness (which is important, of course!) than any other female illness but women need to know that heart disease is the number one killer of women and to take care of their hearts as much (or more so) as they do any other part of their body or mind.
I also tend to disagree that women are more in tune with their emotional side than men. I think that women are allowed to discuss it and express it far more than men, thus creating a false sense of increased female awareness of the emotional side of us.
As I'm sure you know, women attempt suicide more than men (as a cry for help, not a legitimate attempt at ending their lives), but men are far more successful in their suicides than women. Their efforts to commit suicide are literally deadly. This is partly due to the fact that men are well aware of their emotional issues but are discouraged from talking about them. Suicide, in their minds, becomes the only true way to scream out that they need (ed) help. And obviously it's then too late.
Again, thanks for you post but I felt the need to throw in my two cents about some critical points.
October 26, 2009 - 1:08pmThis Comment
agree with your statements susan and can only hope that more awareness is focused on everything. Yes, breast cancer is a widely popular disease especially this month and the only way we can create awareness is by talking and sharing all of our viewpoints.
Dr. Jennifer Lagrotte, DMFT
October 26, 2009 - 2:36pmjennifer@completecounselingsolutions.com
http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com