No matter what generation one is from, laughter has always been there to provide humans with a form of distraction from troubles and life stresses. Thus, whoever coined the saying "laughter is the best medicine" really knew what the saying is all about. Clinically and scientifically proven to boost one's immune system (Johnson 2) and improve the blood circulation, laughter, aside from helping in preventing occurrences of diseases, also helps in the relief of physical pains such as arthritis, diabetes, heart ailments, and hypertension. Emotionally, laughter lifts one's spirits and can change a negative perspective to a positive and healing one (Recker 2007).
How Laughter Promotes Mental Healing
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activates the "fight or flight response" (Science Daily) as symptoms such as raised heart rate levels, perspiration, and blood pressure. However, laughter controls these occurrences by appeasing emotional stress and expelling negative energy that manifests as body and muscular tension, which further result to modulated speaking and even breathing.
Based on scientific research, laughter provides very positive outcomes to individuals, including:
Promotion of Muscle Relaxation
Studies show that muscles tend to relax after a good and hearty belly laugh (Recker 2007). In fact, it relieves tension faster than when watching peaceful sceneries. Relaxation and reduction of tension are common manifestations of a good belly laugh.
Diffuses Tough Emotions
Anger, anxiety, depression, and fear all contribute to feelings of tenseness in the body. When the body is in constant state of tension, body organs such as the heart react through increased breathing and palpitations. However, because laughter is therapeutic, through it one "releases energy built up from repressed thoughts" (Johnson 36). In addition, based on studies geared on laughter, feelings of anger and hostility towards others and the self diminish especially after watching funny videos or TV programs (Recker 2007).
Shifts Perspective from Negative to Positive
Adding humor to daily activities allows one to view situations in a pragmatic and less intimidating standpoint, giving way to psychological distance that could otherwise make a person feel overwhelmed with various kinds of emotions. This helps lessen stress levels and boosts energy levels, which allows one to concentrate on tasks and accomplish more. In addition, seeing the humorous side of situations always helps turn the circumstances around.
Progressive Mental Utility
Based on research conducted by the American College of Cardiology, when one laughs, the hormone dopamine is released and that motivates a person to proactively enjoy and complete an activity. It helps promote affirmative mental position, creativity, mental alertness, open-mindedness, resilience, and reduces inhibitions (American School of Laughter Yoga 3).
Increased Mental Retention and Learning
Laughter rouses both the left and right sides of the brain, thus, facilitating learning and mental preservation easily. As it improves one's creativity level, so is the mental alertness of the individual. It is already proven that children and adults' learning curve is higher when lessons are incorporated with a bit of humor (Recker 2007).
Other Benefits of Laughter
Apart from mental healing, a daily dose of laughter helps strengthen the immune system. Thus, people who laugh a lot and have a good sense of humor are more often healthier or heal faster than those who tend to be ill-tempered all the time. Laughter also protects the heart because the act of laughing increases blood flow in the arteries going to the heart, which protects against cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack. Furthermore, laughter triggers the release of "feel-good" hormones called endorphins that are commonly associated with positive well-being and can help in alleviating pain.
Laughter also has social benefits for people who enjoy laughing and have a good sense of humor. It strengthens relationships among family members, friends, and colleagues, and because of its positive impact on people, others naturally gravitate to those who laugh a lot as it helps in improving one's disposition in life. Work-wise, laughter promotes teamwork and group bonding, thus, teams are able to meet their goals as a group.
Regardless of how miserable or pessimistic an individual feels, laughter is a therapeutic and can give a lift to one's emotional state to a positive well-being.
Works Cited
American School of Laughter Yoga. N.d. PDF file.
< https://media.laughteryogaamerica.com/pdf/scientific-benefits-of-laughter.pdf>.
Johnson, Sharon. “Laughter's Healing Benefits: The Healing Power of Laughter.” Oregon State University Southern Oregon Research and Extension. N.d. PDF file.
Recker, Nancy. “Laughter is Really Good Medicine.” The Ohio State University Extension (2007): n. pag. PDF file.
< http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/pdf/Laughter_Good_Medicine.pdf>.
Science Daily. N.d. Web.
