It doesn’t matter how long you dated or if the split was your idea. Breakups suck. And while there are a few tried-and-true methods to get over heartache (you know, like a wine-fueled night out with your girlfriends followed by a rom-com marathon), science also has a few tricks up its sleeve that could help ease the pain.
One of the weirdest? The theory that listening to weepy ballads could make you feel better. (Cue playing the A Star Is Born soundtrack on repeat.)
Researchers at Durham University in the U.K. and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland have discovered that sad music can be a form of therapy when you’re feeling blue. The musicologists (who knew that was a thing?) examined the emotional responses of 2,436 people to sad music.
The researchers discovered that study subjects enjoyed listening to melancholy tunes, which led to a measurable improvement in mood. Specifically, listening to sad music led to feelings of pleasure or feelings of comfort. (Although it’s worth noting that a portion of subjects also reported painful experiences associated with listening to sad music, so it’s not for everyone.) The study authors noted that the findings could be particularly helpful when applied to music therapy.