Why We Love to Hurt: The Psychology of Angsty Romance

Angst hurts—but we love it.

Why?

Because heartbreak is universal.

Because we’ve all felt unwanted, misunderstood, or like love slipped through our fingers.

Because pain on the page gives us permission to feel our own.

Psychologists say emotionally intense stories activate empathy and release tension—like a purge. That’s why we cry, reread, and crave the ache again and again.

Whether it’s a tragic ending or a lovers-to-strangers spiral, angst makes us believe that if they can find their way back… maybe we can too.

Drop your favorite type of angst in the comments:

💔 Miscommunication

💔 Forbidden love

💔 Betrayal

💔 Right person, wrong time