6 Reasons Why Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Laughter Reduces the Stress Response ... When you laugh there's a contraction of muscles, which increases blood flow and oxygenation. This ... ChopraLogo Self-care Dropdown Certifications Dropdown Retreats Dropdown Articles Dropdown Tryourapp Cart Account Self-care Everythingyouneedtolivealifeintotalbalancefromtheauthorityinwell-being. Phone Chopra:Meditation&Well-beingapp Takewell-beingwithyouwhereveryougowiththeChopraapp Book ExploretheScience Learnmoreaboutthetime-testedandscientificallybackedChopramethods. Book OnlineCourses Signupforself-pacedcoursesdesignedtodeliverbalanceandhealth. Lightbulb DoshaQuiz DiscoveryourDoshainsecondsandgetonthepathtobetterhealth. Certifications Deepenyourwell-beingpracticesanddeveloptechniquestoteachotherswithaprestigiousChopracertification. Lightbulb CoachingCertification Helpothersthriveandfindpurposewithamind-body-spiritapproach. Lightbulb MeditationCertification Mastermeditationandlearnhowtogiveotherstheirownpersonalizedmantra. 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Lightbulb AllArticles Lightbulb Meditation Lightbulb Ayurveda Lightbulb Mind-BodyHealth Lightbulb Nutrition&Recipes Lightbulb Yoga Lightbulb PersonalGrowth 6ReasonsWhyLaughterIstheBestMedicine Pinterest Facebook Twitter LinkedIn QUICKLINKS Close MyProfile Support LogOut LogOut LogIn Createanaccount Close PersonalGrowth 6ReasonsWhyLaughterIstheBestMedicine PersonalGrowth Psychology TamaraLechner September11,201501:19PM Pinterest Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Haveyoueverbeeninatenseordifficultsituationwhenyousuddenlyburstintoafitofgiggles?Orfeelareleaseorrejuvenatedafterwatchingaside-splittinglyfunnymovie?Itturnsoutthere’ssomescientificveracitybehindtheoldadage“laughteristhebestmedicine.”“Laughteractivatesthebody’snaturalrelaxationresponse.It’slikeinternaljogging,providingagoodmassagetoallinternalorganswhilealsotoningabdominalmuscles,”saysDr.GulshanSethi,headofcardiothoracicsurgeryattheTucsonMedicalCenterandfacultyattheUniversityofArizona’sCenterforIntegrativeMedicine.Perhapsthat’swhyDeepakChoprasaysthehealthiestresponsetolifeislaughter.Studieshavefoundthatlaughtercanhavehealingproperties;andit’scontagious.Herearesixreasonswhyyoushouldstartlaughingtoday.LaughterisContagiousThediscoveryofmirrorneurons—whatcausesyoutosmilewhensomeonesmilesatyou—givescredencetothebeliefthatlaughteriscontagious.Whenyou’refeelingdownfindingfriendstolaughwithcanhelpyourbraintriggeritsownlaughterresponseandfostercloseness,bothofwhichcontributetoyoursenseofwell-being.Whydoyouthinkthatsenseofhumorissuchanimportanttraitwhenlookingforapartner?Welikethefeelingofsharedlaughterandourbodywantsasmuchofthisfeelingaspossible.LaughterReducestheStressResponseWhenyoulaughthere’sacontractionofmuscles,whichincreasesbloodflowandoxygenation.Thisstimulatestheheartandlungsandtriggersthereleaseofendorphinsthathelpyoutofeelmorerelaxedbothphysicallyandemotionally.LaughterBoostsImmunityAccordingtoonestudydoneatIndianaStateSchoolofnursing,mirthfullaughtermayincreasenaturalkillercelllevels,atypeofwhitebloodcellthatattackscancercells.LaughterIncreasesResilienceResilienceistheabilitytoseefailureasnaturalprogressiontosuccessratherthanasanegativeoutcome.Peoplewhoareresilientarehappierandmoresuccessful.Theabilitytoacknowledgemistakeswithoutbecomingangryorfrustratedplaysanimportantroleindevelopingresilience.Laughingatmistakesallowsustorecognizethatmakingerrorsisapartofbeinghuman.LaughterCombatsDepressionStudiessupportlaughterasagreatwaytogetoutsidethedownwardspiraltodepression.Beingunhappycanbecomeapatternormindsetifwedon’tstepoutsideofourselvesoccasionally.Bybeingawitnesstooursituationratherthanallowingourselvestofeelthevictimwecanfindthehumorinitandseewithfresheyes.Evenforcedlaughterreleasesacocktailofhormones,neuropeptides,anddopaminethatcanstarttoimproveyourmood.LaughterRelievesPainPeoplewhoarelaughingdon’texperiencelesspain,howevertheyreportbeinglessbotheredbythepaintheydoexperience.It’snotaboutchangingpainlevels.Theamountofpainremainsthesame,butyourperceivedpainlevelsreduceandyourbeliefthatyoucancopeincreases.Laughterbyitselfisn’tthesolutionbutitcanhelpapersonovercomediscomfort.QuickHackstoBringMoreLaughterIntoYourLifeMakehumoraprioritybyreadingafunnybook,watchingacomedy,orlisteningtoyourfavoritecomedian.Sharelaughterwithfriends.Spendmoretimewithpeoplewhohavefun.Practicelaughteryoga,whichDr.Sethipracticesandteachesonoccasion.Rememberthatlifeisfunny.Theabilitytolaughatyourselfmakesyouattractivetoothersandcanhelprelieveyourownstress.Focusonfindingthelaughablemomentsinyourday,andthentellafriendyourfunnystoryasawaytoincreasethepoweroflaughterbysharing.Knowwhatisn’tfunny.Laughingattheexpenseofothersisn’tfunny.Bediscerningaboutyourhumorbylaughingwith—notat—people.Yourabilitytolaughcanbecultivatedwithpracticesostartbyprioritizingfun.Findoccasiontobesilly.Rememberlaughter,likesmiling,isneverdepletedwhenyoushareit.Yurtoğlu,N.(2018).Http://www.historystudies.net/dergi//birinci-dunya-savasinda-bir-asayis-sorunu-sebinkarahisar-ermeni-isyani20181092a4a8f.pdf.HistoryStudiesInternationalJournalofHistory,10(7),241-264.doi:10.9737/hist.2018.658Tugade,M.M.,Fredrickson,B.L.,&Barrett,L.F.(2004,December).Psychologicalresilienceandpositiveemotionalgranularity:Examiningthebenefitsofpositiveemotionsoncopingandhealth.Retrievedfromhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1201429/HelpForDepression:LaughToActivateHappyFeelings!(2018,December13).Retrievedfromhttp://www.laughteronlineuniversity.com/laughter-scares-depression-anxiety-boosts-moodstates/ RelatedArticles PersonalGrowth HonoringOurInherentConnectionwiththeEnvironment KimberlySnyder ReadMore ChevronRight PersonalGrowth HowNatureHelpsSolveAnyCrisis DeepakChopra™,M.D. ReadMore ChevronRight PersonalGrowth FallinLovewithNature RogerGabriel ReadMore ChevronRight MindIcon BodyIcon SpiritIcon Bringbalancetoyourinbox We’llsendyoucontentyou’llwanttoread—andputtouse. 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