Using Humor in Our Lives

Written by Cathy Weidner, LCSW

You can change your life for the better simply by learning to laugh more!

Why?

It......Reduces stress

        Boosts immunity

        Relieves pain

        Decreases anxiety

        Stabilizes mood

        Rests the brain

        Enhances communication

        Inspires creativity

        Maintains hope

        Bolsters morale.

How does it do all of that?

Humor allows us to gain a fuller and more realistic perspective of our problems by performing a cathartic or cleansing release of tension.  Laughing invokes feelings of joy and merriment.  It is much easier to think creatively around a problem than when our mind is filled with a sense of helplessness or inadequacy.

Shared laughter within a group promotes bonding and unity.  People are more willing to offer and accept suggestions when they have shared a laugh within the group.

Some researchers feel that laughter is contagious like a yawn.  It is felt that humans have a detector specifically devoted to laughter.  This response triggers other neural circuits in the brain that invoke more laughter - hence making it contagious!

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       Laughter is not the same as Humor. 

Laughter is simply the physiological response to humor.

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Laughter Can Heal

Laughter makes us feel good for a reason.

Laughter appears to reduce levels of certain stress hormones.  It provides a safety valve that shuts off flow of stress hormones and the fight or flight compounds that come into action in times of stress, rage, or hostility.  Stress hormones suppress the immune system, increase the number of platelets and raise blood pressure.

Laughter boosts the immune system.  When in a state of humor, natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses increase, as do Gamma-interferon (a disease fighting protein),  T-cells which are a vital part of the immune response, and B-cells, which make disease destroying anti-bodies.  It also increases the concentration of salivary immunoglobulin A, which defends against the entry of infectious organisms through the respiratory tract.  Laughter basically brings balance to all components of the immune system.

Blood pressure is lowered and there is an increase in vascular blood flow, and an increase in oxygenation of the blood which further assists healing.

Laughter may lead to hiccuping and coughing, which clear the respiratory tract by dislodging mucus plugs.

Do you often feel exhausted after a bout of contagious giggling?  This is because you just had an aerobic workout!

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Laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 10 minutes

on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike.

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Copyright © 2003 by UT Southwestern Medical Center