Research has demonstrated health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing eating cravings to increasing one’s threshold for pain. There’s even a fresh therapeutic field known as humor therapy to aid people heal
more quickly, as well as. Humor also has some vital stress relieving benefits.
Physical Release:
Ever had the feeling like you “have to laugh or I’ll cry”? Have you experienced the liberated feeling after a strong laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.
Internal Workout:
A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.
Perspective:
Studies show that our response to stressful events can be changed by whether we view something as a ‘dander’ or a ‘test’. Humor can give us a more affirmative perspective and support us view events as ‘challenges’, thereby making them less threatening and more encouraging.
Hormones:
Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.
Distraction:
Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more helpful way than other mere diversions.
Laughter connects us with people. More, laughter is catching, so if you introduce more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!
