Is Laughter Healing?
You may have heard the saying before that “laughter is the best medicine,” but where does this come from? Is it true?
To begin, it’s important to note that your brain can trick your body in many ways. For example, numerous studies have examined the impact positive thinking can have on your body.
Thinking positive thoughts lowers stress levels and allows your brain and body to heal.
Therefore it should not surprise you to learn that laughter can have the same helpful results.
People suffering from depression often lack the excitement and pleasure-releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine or endorphins necessary for healing physical and psychological ailments.
Laughter can provide this quick relief by briefly triggering these neurotransmitters and flooding the brain with the body’s natural painkillers: endorphins.
People experiencing a lot of stress can also show a deficit in protective cells that regulate sickness within the body. Adrenaline and cortisol are two key neurotransmitters involved in feelings of stress or anxiety in an individual.
Adrenaline causes our blood rate and heart rate to increase, while cortisol affects several of the body’s systems, limiting some of their function during a fight or flight response.
Due to these two hormones, the immune system might experience severe changes in individuals dealing with large amounts of stress or anxiety-inducing experiences. Therefore high levels of stress, or depression in an individual can lead to an increase in sickness or poor health.
Laughter decreases these hormones, however, and allows the immune system to health itself.
Besides the brain and immune system, laughter also benefits the heart and lungs. Laughing allows for healthy circulation and an increase in heart rate, while your lungs benefit from the workout experienced by your diaphragm when laughing.
Another psychological benefit is the social benefit of laughter. Humans benefit from interactions with other humans and often build their personalities and social skills based on the individuals they are around.
Laughter can impact not only how they view others but also how they view the world. Someone who laughs a lot in conversation is viewed more positively, and generally more likable.
This can build thoughts of positivity about the person in the minds of others around them, as they see them as happy, confident, and sociable.
Some studies have even found that laughter can help you live longer. Particularly by allowing you to release feelings of intense anger that can lead to health concerns or because it builds an individual’s will to carry on even in the face of trouble.
Based on this evidence, it’s concluded that there are real, beneficial benefits to including time for laughter in your life. I guess laughter is the best medicine
Make someone else laugh! Leave your best joke in the comment section below!
