TOMORROW: FILLING AND HEALTHY FAMILY FEASTS

that the pain isn’t real — her team also found activity in areas of the brain responsible for physical pain and anxiety. There is, however, a common drug that may help — paracetamol.

It seems unlikely that it might help to overcome emotional heartache, as well as subduing a painful headache, but science tells us otherwise.

That’s because physical pain and social pain, such as that caused by a rejection, are controlled by overlapping neural systems.

Paracetamol acts centrally, easing pain by blocking chemical messengers in the brain, so it makes sense that it may also help to cure heartache. In studies, paracetamol taken daily for three weeks has helped people experience significantly fewer feelings of hurt than those who take a placebo. The effect is increased if you also spend time each day thinking about forgiving the person responsible for your pain. A word of warning, however: recent research suggests that taking paracetamol also reduces empathy for other people’s suffering. Since we rely on empathy to be decent human beings, this raises questions about the impact of taking paracetamol for a prolonged period. And that’s before we even consider the risks associated with taking any drug, particularly for more than a day or two.

All in all, if you are suffering from heartache, it may be safer sticking to a simpler approach.

Just like any addict, you need to cut off your supply — so no calls or texts or spending time staring at old pictures.

Then replace your fix with something else that gives you a burst of the feelgood hormones dopamine or oxytocin.

Exercise will ramp up your dopamine, and bodily contact (for example, a hug) and social interaction (such as seeing close friends) can raise oxytocin.

What’s more, over several months the areas of the brain responsible for feelings of attachment diminish in activity. In the end, time does heal.

That’s something my mum always said, and it turns out to be true.