It's fun to laugh with our friends but did you know it can be beneficial to your health?
If you’ve spent time with me or been on my FB page, you know I am a bit of a nutter. My sense of humor and wicked side can’t be stifled or hidden. It's a big part of who I am. It's also a big part of how I survived the traumas and stressors of my past. In my very first blog I shared a bit of that past and my journey forward. There was a constant need and use of humor to see me through. My mother had a way with humor, and that’s one strong gene I got from her. I'll be sharing more stories about her later, I’m sure.
Nothing brings you out of a funk faster and back into balance, than a good laugh. It lightens our load, inspires us, connects us to others, and can even ground us when we are feeling out of control. It can help us release the anger that many of us (yes, I'm talking about me) hold onto.
It's easy to see without all the grown-up responsibilities, how children can easily laugh hundreds of times a day. With all the daily stress and tasks, we must face as adults, those laughs can become few and far between. Maybe we need to seek them out more often, to improve our emotional and physical health, strengthen our relationships and find happiness again.
#1 - Laughter relaxes the whole body
A good laugh relaxes physical tension and stress leaving muscles loose and relaxed up to 45 minutes later. That's a good massage from the inside!
#2 - Laughter triggers the release of endorphins
Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals that promote an overall sense of well-being and can even relieve pain. We have a natural, built-in mood enhancer.
#3 - Laughter boosts the immune system
By decreasing stress hormones and increasing the immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, laughter helps improve our resistance to disease. Take that cold season!
#4 - Protects the heart
Laughter can even improve the function and flow of blood vessels, protecting against heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues. Talk about heart strong.
#5 - Lightens you up
Nothing diffuses anger and conflict more than a shared laugh. By looking at the funny side of a conflict or disagreement can help put our problem into a new perspective and help us move on without holding onto resentment or bitterness. Lighten up dude!
There are so many benefits a laugh can bring.
Physical Health Benefits | Mental Health Benefits | Social Benefits |
Boosts immunity | Adds joy and zest to life | Strengthens relationships |
Lowers stress hormones | Eases anxiety and tension | Attracts others to us |
Decreases pain | Relieves stress | Enhances teamwork |
Relaxes muscles and tension | Improves mood | Deescalate conflicts |
Prevents heart disease | Strengthens resilience | Puts problems into perspective |
I hope you will humor me this month as I delve more into laughter as medicine. I think laughter is something we can use more of these days and it's worth exploring as a health benefit.
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