Laughter is the Best Medicine - HelpGuide.org

It's true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. HelpGuideusescookiestoimproveyourexperienceandtoanalyzeperformanceandtrafficonourwebsite.PrivacyPolicyAcceptCookiePolicywell-being&happinessLaughteristheBestMedicineIt’sfuntoshareagoodlaugh,butdidyouknowitcanactuallyimproveyourhealth?Learnhowtoharnessthepowerfulbenefitsoflaughterandhumor.ThebenefitsoflaughterIt’strue:laughterisstrongmedicine.Itdrawspeopletogetherinwaysthattriggerhealthyphysicalandemotionalchangesinthebody.Laughterstrengthensyourimmunesystem,boostsmood,diminishespain,andprotectsyoufromthedamagingeffectsofstress.Nothingworksfasterormoredependablytobringyourmindandbodybackintobalancethanagoodlaugh.Humorlightensyourburdens,inspireshope,connectsyoutoothers,andkeepsyougrounded,focused,andalert.Italsohelpsyoureleaseangerandforgivesooner.Withsomuchpowertohealandrenew,theabilitytolaugheasilyandfrequentlyisatremendousresourceforsurmountingproblems,enhancingyourrelationships,andsupportingbothphysicalandemotionalhealth.Bestofall,thispricelessmedicineisfun,free,andeasytouse.Aschildren,weusedtolaughhundredsoftimesaday,butasadults,lifetendstobemoreseriousandlaughtermoreinfrequent.Butbyseekingoutmoreopportunitiesforhumorandlaughter,youcanimproveyouremotionalhealth,strengthenyourrelationships,findgreaterhappiness—andevenaddyearstoyourlife.LaughterisgoodforyourhealthLaughterrelaxesthewholebody.Agood,heartylaughrelievesphysicaltensionandstress,leavingyourmusclesrelaxedforupto45minutesafter.Laughterbooststheimmunesystem.Laughterdecreasesstresshormonesandincreasesimmunecellsandinfection-fightingantibodies,thusimprovingyourresistancetodisease.Laughtertriggersthereleaseofendorphins,thebody'snaturalfeel-goodchemicals.Endorphinspromoteanoverallsenseofwell-beingandcaneventemporarilyrelievepain.Laughterprotectstheheart.Laughterimprovesthefunctionofbloodvesselsandincreasesbloodflow,whichcanhelpprotectyouagainstaheartattackandothercardiovascularproblems.Laughterburnscalories.Okay,soit'snoreplacementforgoingtothegym,butonestudyfoundthatlaughingfor10to15minutesadaycanburnapproximately40calories—whichcouldbeenoughtolosethreeorfourpoundsoverthecourseofayear.Laughterlightensanger'sheavyload.Nothingdiffusesangerandconflictfasterthanasharedlaugh.Lookingatthefunnysidecanputproblemsintoperspectiveandenableyoutomoveonfromconfrontationswithoutholdingontobitternessorresentment.Laughtermayevenhelpyoutolivelonger.AstudyinNorwayfoundthatpeoplewithastrongsenseofhumoroutlivedthosewhodon'tlaughasmuch.Thedifferencewasparticularlynotableforthosebattlingcancer.TheBenefitsofLaughterandHumorPhysicalhealthbenefitsBoostsimmunityLowersstresshormonesDecreasespainRelaxesyourmusclesPreventsheartdiseaseMentalhealthbenefitsAddsjoyandzesttolifeEasesanxietyandtensionRelievesstressImprovesmoodStrengthensresilienceSocialbenefitsStrengthensrelationshipsAttractsotherstousEnhancesteamworkHelpsdefuseconflictPromotesgroupbondingLaughterhelpsyoustaymentallyhealthyLaughtermakesyoufeelgood.Andthispositivefeelingremainswithyouevenafterthelaughtersubsides.Humorhelpsyoukeepapositive,optimisticoutlookthroughdifficultsituations,disappointments,andloss.[Read:CultivatingHappiness]Morethanjustarespitefromsadnessandpain,laughtergivesyouthecourageandstrengthtofindnewsourcesofmeaningandhope.Eveninthemostdifficultoftimes,alaugh–orevensimplyasmile–cangoalongwaytowardmakingyoufeelbetter.Andlaughterreallyiscontagious—justhearinglaughterprimesyourbrainandreadiesyoutosmileandjoininthefun.ThelinkbetweenlaughterandmentalhealthLaughterstopsdistressingemotions.Youcan'tfeelanxious,angry,orsadwhenyou'relaughing.Laughterhelpsyourelaxandrecharge.Itreducesstressandincreasesenergy,enablingyoutostayfocusedandaccomplishmore.Laughtershiftsperspective,allowingyoutoseesituationsinamorerealistic,lessthreateninglight.Ahumorousperspectivecreatespsychologicaldistance,whichcanhelpyouavoidfeelingoverwhelmedanddiffuseconflict.Laughterdrawsyouclosertoothers,whichcanhaveaprofoundeffectonallaspectsofyourmentalandemotionalhealth.AffordableOnlineTherapyforMentalHealthIssuesGetprofessionalhelpfromBetterHelp'snetworkoflicensedtherapists.FINDATHERAPISTNOWHelpGuideisreadersupported.WemayreceiveacommissionifyousignupforBetterHelpthroughtheprovidedlink.Learnmore.Needurgenthelp?Clickhere.LaughterbringspeopletogetherandstrengthensrelationshipsThere'sagoodreasonwhyTVsitcomsuselaughtracks:laughteriscontagious.You'remanytimesmorelikelytolaugharoundotherpeoplethanwhenyou'realone.Andthemorelaughteryoubringintoyourownlife,thehappieryouandthosearoundyouwillfeel.Sharinghumorishalfthefun—infact,mostlaughterdoesn'tcomefromhearingjokes,butrathersimplyfromspendingtimewithfriendsandfamily.Andit'sthissocialaspectthatplayssuchanimportantroleinthehealthbenefitsoflaughter.Youcan'tenjoyalaughwithotherpeopleunlessyoutakethetimetoreallyengagewiththem.Whenyoucareaboutsomeoneenoughtoswitchoffyourphoneandreallyconnectfacetoface,you'reengaginginaprocessthatrebalancesthenervoussystemandputsthebrakesondefensivestressresponseslike“fightorflight.”Andifyousharealaughaswell,you'llbothfeelhappier,morepositive,andmorerelaxed—evenifyou'reunabletoalterastressfulsituation.HowlaughingtogethercanstrengthenrelationshipsSharedlaughterisoneofthemosteffectivetoolsforkeepingrelationshipsfreshandexciting.Allemotionalsharingbuildsstrongandlastingrelationshipbonds,butsharinglaughteralsoaddsjoy,vitality,andresilience.Andhumorisapowerfulandeffectivewaytohealresentments,disagreements,andhurts.Laughterunitespeopleduringdifficulttimes.Humorandplayfulcommunicationstrengthenourrelationshipsbytriggeringpositivefeelingsandfosteringemotionalconnection.Whenwelaughwithoneanother,apositivebondiscreated.Thisbondactsasastrongbufferagainststress,disagreements,anddisappointment.Humorandlaughterinrelationshipsallowsyouto:Bemorespontaneous.Humorgetsyououtofyourheadandawayfromyourtroubles.Letgoofdefensiveness.Laughterhelpsyouforgetresentments,judgments,criticisms,anddoubts.Releaseinhibitions.Yourfearofholdingbackispushedaside.Expressyourtruefeelings.Deeplyfeltemotionsareallowedtorisetothesurface.UsehumortoresolvedisagreementsandtensioninyourrelationshipLaughterisanespeciallypowerfultoolformanagingconflictandreducingtensionwhenemotionsarerunninghigh.Whetherwithromanticpartners,friendsandfamily,orco-workers,youcanlearntousehumortosmoothoverdisagreements,lowereveryone'sstresslevel,andcommunicateinawaythatbuildsupyourrelationshipsratherthanbreakingthemdown.HowtobringmorelaughterintoyourlifeLaughterisyourbirthright,anaturalpartoflifethatisinnateandinborn.Infantsbeginsmilingduringthefirstweeksoflifeandlaughoutloudwithinmonthsofbeingborn.Evenifyoudidnotgrowupinahouseholdwherelaughterwasacommonsound,youcanlearntolaughatanystageoflife.Beginbysettingasidespecialtimestoseekouthumorandlaughter,asyoumightwithexercising,andbuildfromthere.Eventually,you'llwanttoincorporatehumorandlaughterintothefabricofyourlife,findingitnaturallyineverything.Herearesomewaystostart:Smile.Smilingisthebeginningoflaughter,andlikelaughter,it'scontagious.Whenyoulookatsomeoneorseesomethingevenmildlypleasing,practicesmiling.Insteadoflookingdownatyourphone,lookupandsmileatpeopleyoupassinthestreet,thepersonservingyouamorningcoffee,ortheco-workersyoushareanelevatorwith.Noticetheeffectonothers.Countyourblessings.Literallymakealist.Thesimpleactofconsideringthepositiveaspectsofyourlifewilldistanceyoufromnegativethoughtsthatblockhumorandlaughter.Whenyou'reinastateofsadness,youhavefurthertotraveltoreachhumorandlaughter.[Listen:GratitudeinDifficultTimes]Whenyouhearlaughter,movetowardit.Sometimeshumorandlaughterareprivate,asharedjokeamongasmallgroup,butusuallynot.Moreoften,peopleareveryhappytosharesomethingfunnybecauseitgivesthemanopportunitytolaughagainandfeedoffthehumoryoufindinit.Whenyouhearlaughter,seekitoutandask,“What'sfunny?”Spendtimewithfun,playfulpeople.Thesearepeoplewholaugheasily–bothatthemselvesandatlife'sabsurdities–andwhoroutinelyfindthehumorineverydayevents.Theirplayfulpointofviewandlaughterarecontagious.Evenifyoudon'tconsideryourselfalighthearted,humorousperson,youcanstillseekoutpeoplewholiketolaughandmakeotherslaugh.Everycomedianappreciatesanaudience.Bringhumorintoconversations.Askpeople,“What'sthefunniestthingthathappenedtoyoutoday?Thisweek?Inyourlife?”SimulatedlaughterSo,whatifyoureallycan't“findthefunny?”Believeitornot,it'spossibletolaughwithoutexperiencingafunnyevent—andsimulatedlaughtercanbejustasbeneficialastherealthing.Itcanevenmakeexercisemorefunandproductive.AGeorgiaStateUniversitystudyfoundthatincorporatingboutsofsimulatedlaughterintoanexerciseprogramhelpedimproveolderadults'mentalhealthaswellastheiraerobicendurance.Plus,hearingotherslaugh,evenfornoapparentreason,canoftentriggergenuinelaughter.Toaddsimulatedlaughterintoyourownlife,searchforlaughyogaorlaughtherapygroups.Oryoucanstartsimplybylaughingatotherpeople'sjokes,evenifyoudon'tfindthemfunny.Bothyouandtheotherpersonwillfeelgood,itwilldrawyouclosertogether,andwhoknows,itmayevenleadtosomespontaneouslaughter.CreatingopportunitiestolaughWatchafunnymovie,TVshow,orYouTubevideo.Invitefriendsorco-workersouttoacomedyclub.Readthefunnypages.Seekoutfunnypeople.Shareagoodjokeorafunnystory.Checkoutyourbookstore'shumorsection.Hostgamenightwithfriends.Playwithapet.Gotoa“laughteryoga”class.Goofaroundwithchildren.Dosomethingsilly.Maketimeforfunactivities(e.g.bowling,miniaturegolfing,karaoke).TipsfordevelopingyoursenseofhumorAnessentialingredientfordevelopingyoursenseofhumoristolearnnottotakeyourselftooseriouslyandlaughatyourownmistakesandfoibles.Asmuchaswe'dliketobelieveotherwise,wealldofoolishthingsfromtimetotime.Insteadoffeelingembarrassedordefensive,embraceyourimperfections.Whilesomeeventsinlifeareclearlysadandnotopportunitiesforlaughter,mostdon'tcarryanoverwhelmingsenseofeithersadnessordelight.Theyfallintothegrayzoneofordinarylife—givingyouthechoicetolaughornot.So,choosetolaughwheneveryoucan.HowtodevelopyoursenseofhumorLaughatyourself.Shareyourembarrassingmoments.Thebestwaytotakeyourselflessseriouslyistotalkabouttimeswhenyoutookyourselftooseriously.Attempttolaughatsituationsratherthanbemoanthem.Lookforthehumorinabadsituation,anduncovertheironyandabsurdityoflife.Whensomethingnegativehappens,trytomakeitahumorousanecdotethatwillmakeotherslaugh.Surroundyourselfwithreminderstolightenup.Keepatoyonyourdeskorinyourcar.Putupafunnyposterinyouroffice.Chooseacomputerscreensaverthatmakesyoulaugh.Framephotosofyouandyourfamilyorfriendshavingfun.Rememberfunnythingsthathappen.Ifsomethingamusinghappensoryouhearajokeorfunnystoryyoureallylike,writeitdownortellittosomeonetohelpyourememberit.Don'tdwellonthenegative.Trytoavoidnegativepeopleanddon'tdwellonnewsstories,entertainment,orconversationsthatmakeyousadorunhappy.Manythingsinlifearebeyondyourcontrol—particularlythebehaviorofotherpeople.Whileyoumightviewcarryingtheweightoftheworldonyourshouldersasadmirable,inthelongrunit'sunrealisticandunhealthy.Findyourinnerchild.Payattentiontochildrenandtrytoemulatethem—afterall,theyaretheexpertsonplaying,takinglifelightly,andlaughingatordinarythings.Dealwithstress.Stresscanbeamajorimpedimenttohumorandlaughter,soit'simportanttokeepyourstresslevelsincheck.Onegreattechniquetorelievestressinthemomentistodrawuponafavoritememorythatalwaysmakesyousmile—somethingyourkidsdid,forexample,orsomethingfunnyafriendtoldyou.Don'tgoadaywithoutlaughing.Thinkofitlikeexerciseorbreakfastandmakeaconsciousefforttofindsomethingeachdaythatmakesyoulaugh.Setaside10to15minutesanddosomethingthatamusesyou.Themoreyougetusedtolaughingeachday,thelesseffortyou'llhavetomake.UsinghumortoovercomechallengesandenhanceyourlifeTheabilitytolaugh,play,andhavefunnotonlymakeslifemoreenjoyablebutalsohelpsyousolveproblems,connectwithothers,andthinkmorecreatively.Peoplewhoincorporatehumorandplayintotheirdailylivesfindthatitrenewsthemandalloftheirrelationships.Lifebringschallengesthatcaneithergetthebestofyouorbecomeplaythingsforyourimagination.Whenyou“becometheproblem”andtakeyourselftooseriously,itcanbehardtothinkoutsidetheboxandfindnewsolutions.Butwhenyouplaywiththeproblem,youcanoftentransformitintoanopportunityforcreativelearning.[Read:ManagingConflictwithHumor]Playingwithproblemsseemstocomenaturallytochildren.Whentheyareconfusedorafraid,theymaketheirproblemsintoagame,givingthemasenseofcontrolandanopportunitytoexperimentwithnewsolutions.Interactingwithothersinplayfulwayshelpsyouretainthiscreativeability.Herearetwoexamplesofpeoplewhotookeverydayproblemsandturnedthemaroundthroughlaughterandplay:Roy,asemi-retiredbusinessman,wasexcitedtofinallyhavetimetodevotetogolf,hisfavoritesport.Butthemoreheplayed,thelessheenjoyedhimself.Althoughhisgamehadimproveddramatically,hegotangrywithhimselfovereverymistake.Roywiselyrealizedthathisgolfingbuddiesaffectedhisattitude,sohestoppedplayingwithpeoplewhotookthegametooseriously.Whenheplayedwithfriendswhofocusedmoreonhavingfunthanontheirscores,hewaslesscriticalofhimself.NowgolfingwasasenjoyableasRoyhadenvisioned.Hescoredbetterwithoutworkingharder.Andthebrighteroutlookhewasgainingfromhiscompanionsandthegamespreadtootherpartsofhislife.Janeworkedathomedesigninggreetingcards,ajobsheusedtolovebutnowfelthadbecomeroutine.Twolittlegirlswholovedtodrawandpaintlivednextdoor.Eventually,Janeinvitedthegirlsovertoplaywithallofherartsupplies.Atfirst,shejustwatched,butintimeshejoinedin.Laughing,coloring,andplayingpretendwiththelittlegirlstransformedJane'slife.Notonlydiditendherlonelinessandboredom,butitsparkedherimaginationandhelpedherartworkflourish.Bestofall,itrekindledtheplayfulnessinJane'srelationshipwithherhusband.Aslaughter,humor,andplaybecomeintegratedintoyourlife,yourcreativitywillflourishandnewopportunitiesforlaughingwithfriends,coworkers,acquaintances,andlovedoneswilloccurtoyoudaily.Laughtertakesyoutoahigherplacewhereyoucanviewtheworldfromamorerelaxed,positive,andjoyfulperspective.Authors:LawrenceRobinson,MelindaSmith,M.A.,andJeanneSegal,Ph.D.ReferencesBuchowski,M.S.,Majchrzak,K.M.,Blomquist,K.,Chen,K.Y.,Byrne,D.W.,&Bachorowski,J.-A.(2007).Energyexpenditureofgenuinelaughter.InternationalJournalofObesity,31(1),131–137.https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803353Laughandbethankful—It’sgoodfortheheart—HarvardHealth.(n.d.).RetrievedMay25,2022,fromhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/laugh-and-be-thankful-its-good-for-the-heart-20101124839Manninen,S.,Tuominen,L.,Dunbar,R.I.,Karjalainen,T.,Hirvonen,J.,Arponen,E.,Hari,R.,Jääskeläinen,I.P.,Sams,M.,&Nummenmaa,L.(2017).SocialLaughterTriggersEndogenousOpioidReleaseinHumans.TheJournalofNeuroscience,37(25),6125–6131.https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0688-16.2017Miller,M.,&Fry,W.F.(2009).Theeffectofmirthfullaughteronthehumancardiovascularsystem.MedicalHypotheses,73(5),636–639.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.02.044/p>Romundstad,S.,Svebak,S.,Holen,A.,&Holmen,J.(2016).A15-YearFollow-UpStudyofSenseofHumorandCausesofMortality:TheNord-TrøndelagHealthStudy.PsychosomaticMedicine,78(3),345–353.https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000275Speer,M.E.,&Delgado,M.R.(2017).Reminiscingaboutpositivememoriesbuffersacutestressresponses.NatureHumanBehaviour,1(5),0093.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0093Yim,J.(2016).TherapeuticBenefitsofLaughterinMentalHealth:ATheoreticalReview.TheTohokuJournalofExperimentalMedicine,239(3),243–249.https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.239.243Lastupdated:August29,2022RelatedGuidesManagingConflictwithHumorFindingJoyDuringDifficultTimesImprovingEmotionalIntelligence(EQ)BuildingBetterMentalHealthTryonlinetherapyGetprofessionalhelpfromBetterHelp’snetworkof20,000licensedtherapists.Getmatchedandscheduleyourfirstvideo,phoneorlivechatsession.GET20%OFFHelpGuideisreadersupported.WemayreceiveacommissionifyoufollowlinkstoBetterHelp.Learnmore.