When you lose someone you love, the pain you feel is as severe and real as any physical pain. The capacity to experience mental pain is hard-wired into our brains, but we are not powerless against it: Endorphins are our brain’s natural remedy for both physical and mental pain. Narcotic drugs alleviate pain by activating endorphin receptors but are harmful in chronic use.
Recent neuroscientific discoveries are guiding the development of drugs that may ease physical and mental pain like endorphins, while avoiding the dangers of narcotics. Best of all, when we reach out to comfort someone we love who is struggling with grief and loss, we actually cause their brain to release endorphins that help them endure and eventually overcome their pain.
Prof. Yovell is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, TV presenter, author, and international keynote speaker. He is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the Department of Medical Neurobiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His areas of research include the neurobiology of emotions and mechanisms of physical and mental pain. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx