These days, most of us are suffering from an enormous amount of stress. Let’s, therefore, take a look at one enormous relief treatment for this uncontrolled anxiety. Mayo Clinic, in its Healthy Lifestyle/Stress Management article, states the following mostly unknown information about the benefits of laughter. While a good sense of humor can’t cure all health issues, the positive effects of laughter appear to be increasing in number!
The short-term benefits:
1. Stimulates many organs. Laughter increases the intake of oxygen-rich air which, in turn, stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles. The activity increases the endorphins (small proteins known as peptides that are types of neurotransmitters) released by your brain.
2. Activates and releases your stress response. Laughter both begins and cools down your stress response. This, in turn, can increase and then decrease your blood pressure and heart rate resulting in a relaxed feeling.
3. Soothes tension. Laughter can help reduce some of stress’ physical symptoms by stimulating circulation and muscle relaxation.
The long-term effects:
1. Improves your immune system. Positive thoughts can combat the negative thoughts accompanying stress that flood your body’s systems. These negative thoughts, thereby, decrease your immunity. Instead, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides (chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids which are used to help gut, muscles, and heart health) that can help fight stress and more severe illnesses.
2. Relieves pain. Not definitely known, but laughter may help to ease pain by helping to promote the body’s own natural painkillers.
3. Increases personal satisfaction. While helping us to become more sociable, it also helps us to cope with life’s more difficult social situations.
4. Improves your mood. Sometimes, due to chronic illnesses, many people experience depression. According to Mayo Clinic, “Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.”
Improving your sense of humor:
1. Put humor on your horizon. This can be done in a multitude of ways. Even regularly watching a light-hearted television show will promote chuckles coming from you.
2. Laugh and the world laughs with you. Practice laughing and watch your body’s stress levels decrease. At first laughter might seem forced, but with time, it can turn into spontaneous laughter.
3. Share a laugh. Spend time with friends and family who make it a habit to share jokes with you. Then return this same favor to your family and friends.
4. Knock, knock. Go to your local library or bookstore searching for joke books to add to your joke repertoire.
5. Know what isn’t funny. Mayo reminds us “Use your best judgement to discern a good joke from a bad or hurtful one.”
***Enter the world of natural laughter by turning a smile into a laugh. You will never regret it!
