Heartbreak: quick facts
Heartbreak is the intense emotional pain that follows the loss or ending of a deeply valued relationship, most often a romantic one. It blends grief, longing, and disappointment into a feeling so strong that it is…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Sadness
Typical triggers
Lost love, rejection, separation, the ending of a cherished bond
How it's expressed
Tears, aching chest, withdrawn posture, low energy, tremulous voice
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Depression. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.