The Neurobiology Of Disappointments: The Longest Pain

The neurobiology of disappointments shows once again that there are aspects of life that the brain experiences in a particularly painful way. Disappointments can have a painful effect on your brain. This can be explained by the activity that some of the neurotransmitters, such as GABA, change significantly when you experience this feeling.

It is therefore for unknown reasons that a person may suffer for a longer period of time if they miss an opportunity or if they lose confidence in another. Science explains how these changes can occur.

Shakespeare used to say that expectations are the root of all heartache, and perhaps he is right. But it is also true that you have to hold on to certain things to find stability and not completely collapse when life is uncertain. It is therefore very common to believe that one’s loved one will not deceive you in any way.

You may also have some expectations for yourself; you can believe that you will not fail at the things that you normally do so well, and believe that everything you have today, you will also have tomorrow.

But sometimes things can take an unexpected turn. Then the bubble bursts. If that happens, you lose some of that confidence, and your brain interprets it as a warning sign of survival.

If you miss the opportunity that you were so keen on and your boss fires you the next day or your loved one cheats on you, you will definitely experience it as a painful situation. It is somehow a line in the bill that was a significant part of you. So what happens in your brain if this happens?

The neurobiology of disappointments

The neurobiology of disappointments arises thanks to the recent interest of neuroscientists in the field. For many years, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists have wondered why disappointments are so painful. Of course, it is clear that disappointments are also part of a person’s personality.

Those who have been hiding it several times become distrustful. The disappointments take some of the momentum away from the hope that some would have, and it makes the person more careful about what they expect from others.

Somehow something must have happened  that causes our brain to react this way. Let’s take a closer look at what science has to say about this.

Neurotransmitters and disappointments

Neurotransmitters are small chemical substances that transmit signals to the nerves. Thanks to neurochemistry, you are able to feel, think and behave in certain ways. It is also worth noting that certain specific neurotransmitters completely control your mood such as dopamine and serotonin.

An interesting study by dr. Roberto Malinowski performed at the Department of Neuroscience at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, showed that two specific neurotransmitters completely control disappointments. These are glutamate and GABA, which operate in the area of ​​the brain called the habenula.

The lateral habenula and release of glutamate and GABA

The lateral habenula is one of the oldest areas of the brain. This is how we know, for example, that it is part of the emotional processes that promote decision making. But despite the fact that it is mainly used to boost some positive motivation, there is also a darker side to it.

For it to function properly, there must be a balance and proper release of glutamate and GABA. The greater the contribution of the habenula via the neurotransmitters, the stronger the feeling of disappointment. And conversely, if there is less release of GABA and glutamate, the lower the impact of this feeling in the brain.

Depression in relation to neurobiology by disappointments

Dr. Roberto Malinowski pointed out something very important on this subject. There is evidence that the impact of prolonged disappointment in many cases leads to depression. This means that if the brain releases large amounts of GABA and glutamate, there is a higher risk of getting a mental illness.

And the intoxication of joy in the habenula, which is due to excessive release of the mentioned neurotransmitters, causes the patient to be preoccupied with certain ideas, memories or previously painful experiences. It’s harder to move on, and this is where stagnation and suffering happen.

But the discovery of the link between glutamate and GABA and disappointments and depression opens the door to new treatments as well.

Not so long ago, it was widely believed that antidepressants and serotonin helped balance the relationship between GABA and glutamate. But now it is clear that even if there is an improvement, it is still possible to get certain side effects.

Therefore, the current challenge is to develop a treatment that specifically acts on some of the neurotransmitters and not on others. In this way, doctors will be able to provide adequate answers to those patients who, thanks to several changes at the neurochemical level, experience some situations more intensely.

As you may have seen, the field of neurobiology in case of disappointments is a very interesting area.