Discover better mental health with laughter

It’s been said for a long time that laughter is the best medicine, and research is now proving that it really does improve your mental health and boost your immune system. On its own, it’s not a cure-all, of course, but it can boost your health so you’re less likely to get sick and make it easier to recover if you are. Based on this, Dr Madan Kataria of India has even developed Hasya Yoga, [1] or “laughing meditation”! A good sense of humour is one of the greatest strengths you can have.

Laughter and physical health

The physical effects of laughter include a workout for the muscles of your face and body, plus your heart and diaphragm. This improves blood flow and oxygen circulation, reduces blood pressure, strengthens the muscles so they can do their jobs better, and helps them relax. One minute of laughter can burn one to four calories. Laughing from ten to fifteen minutes a day could help you lose up to four pounds a year. [2] It’s small, but the effects add up!

You might also have noticed that laughing can relieve pain. Not only does it release muscle tension it releases endorphins, the chemicals which make you feel good – not to mention it can be an effective distraction from feeling down.

Doctors have also found that laughter can boost the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, it can also keep stress hormones low and reduce blood sugar. Expectant mothers who laugh a lot pass the benefits on to their baby, too!

Laughter and mental health

As mentioned above, finding something to laugh at is a good distraction from pain or bad feelings, but it goes deeper than that. By releasing endorphins, laughter can relieve negative emotions so they feel less severe once you start thinking about them again afterwards, and it helps to keep your mind on positive thoughts. If you were already feeling okay, laughter can push you into feeling great!

The effect is so strong that laughter can make a big difference in reducing clinical depression and anxiety. [3] One effect of those problems is to make it harder to find things funny, but studies have shown that laughter and smiling can still benefit you even if you have to consciously force them, and once you’ve started it’s a lot easier to keep going. See if you can intentionally start laughing.

Laughter also improves oxygen and blood circulation to the brain, which can help you feel more awake and think more clearly. Try reading the ‘silly season’ news, cartoons or other more light-hearted content in your newspaper in the morning to set you up for the day.

Laughter and relationships

Laughing together helps to build bonds between friends and family. Sharing a laugh helps you to feel closer together, and to let go of petty grudges. It improves everyone’s mood and helps you cope with troublesome situations.

At work, laughter’s health benefits mean fewer sick days and higher productivity and it helps co-workers to bond and befriend each other. When meeting clients, customers, or new co-workers, laughing together breaks the conversational ice and helps everyone feel happy to work together.

Try to make sure you laugh every day! You should see the benefits soon.

And if you find it difficult, contact me to see how hypnotherapy might help you get there.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter_yoga [accessed 6.1.21]
[2] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm [accessed 6.1.21]

Other references: [accessed 6.1.21]
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/laughter-good-for-you/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27439375/
https://welllifefm.com/ourresources/the-social-benefits-of-humor-and-laughter/