Quiz: Dealing With Breakups and a Broken Heart

The pain from heartbreak isn't imaginary. It is stressful and can cause a mix of emotional and physical pain.

According to one study, a bad breakup can trigger the same parts of your brain as strong physical pain -- like getting burnt by a hot drink. 

Stress can make your chest feel tight, heart race, and stomach hurt. It can also beat up your body, making you more likely to get sick. So when you’re nursing a broken heart, take care of yourself -- get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, and exercise.

While food can't fix feelings, dark chocolate does have an ingredient that can lower stress hormones in your body. But a little bit goes a long way. Have one small square -- the size of a pack of dental floss -- a day, max.

But it's best not to rely on sweet, high-fat, comfort foods (like ice cream, cookies, and pizza) to feel better.

Instead, when it's mealtime, eat sensible portions of foods that taste great and are good for you, too. Some stress-fighting foods: bananas, avocados, chicken, and dark-green leafy veggies.

Guys may bounce back faster because they don't tend to put as much focus on relationships as many girls do, say experts. Guys also tend to keep feelings inside, making it harder to tell they're upset.

In general, keeping relationships in balance with the rest of life -- friends, school, and hobbies -- helps people recover more quickly.

Post-breakup, try a new activity. Exercise produces feel-good chemicals. Go running, shoot hoops, or try yoga. It'll calm your stress and distract your mind.

Some people might get over a breakup in a few days. For others, a broken heart can take weeks or months to fix. But you will feel better. The important thing is to make sure you're starting to feel better after about two or three weeks.

If you're still really sad -- or even feeling worse -- then it's a good idea to talk to someone so you can feel better. Try a friend, parent, counselor, coach, or anyone you trust.

Crying can make you feel calmer and comforted. But there are plenty of good ways to deal with break-up stress. Get out all your emotions by putting them in a journal or talk to a good friend -- but then move on.

Need an extra boost? Plan an activity with a friend. You'll feel better when you're around people you like, having fun.

Before you jump back into dating, take it slow. Figure out what you liked -- and didn't like -- about your relationship. Then you'll know what to look for in a new one.

While it isn't time to lose the real you in a total makeover, a break up can be the perfect time for a fresh start. You can pick up some healthy habits that can make you feel better.

If you always watched TV with your significant other, now's the time to switch it up. Try taking up tennis. Did you eat a lot of fast food together? Learn how to make a healthy, tasty snack or meal. You'll be feeling good about the "new you" and that will shine through.

Obsessing over your ex won't help you get over your breakup. It'll likely cause you more stress.

Avoid your ex for a while and resist the urge to see who they're up to.

If you're tempted to go online, try this trick until the feeling passes: Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply, hold for a few seconds, and breathe out. Do that a few times. Feel better? 

Need to talk to a friend for moral support? Pick up the phone or walk to his or her house.