
Can a breakup cause mental illness? Stressful life events such as a breakup or divorce can sometimes trigger prolonged and severe emotional distress. Experiencing depressive and other symptoms following the end of a relationship is sometimes diagnosed as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, also sometimes referred to as situational depression.
Can someone be depressed after a breakup? It’s common to feel crummy for a while after a breakup. But major depressive disorder, or clinical depression, is different than normal sadness. It’s constant, lasts at least 2 weeks, and can affect all aspects of your life. Stressful life events, like a breakup, can trigger depression.
How long does the sadness of a breakup last? Studies suggest that most people start to feel better around three months post-breakup. One study, which evaluated 155 undergraduates who’d been through breakups in the last six months, found that 71 percent start to feel significantly better around the 11-week mark, or around three months.
What happens to you mentally after a breakup? Going through a breakup can change your brain chemistry
Research has shown that when someone goes through a breakup, they experience a drop in the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that are associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness.