Have you ever heard of laughter therapy before? If not, it is something you may want to check in to, especially if you are experiencing issues such as depression.
Believe it or not, laughing can have many positive effects on our bodies. There have been many studies done on laughter therapy and the results were more than pleasing. This alternative form of treatment is really hitting the scenes hard and for good reason.
Check out this article from Health Central, in it you will find tons of useful information on laughter therapy.
Ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, hee.
Come on get silly and laugh with me.
Giggle gaggle, wiggle waggle, ho, ho, ho.
When you’re feeling happy, let it show.
I got the sillies and when you get ’em,
You’ll be silly like me.
I can’t stop laughing as you can see.
(Lyrics from Barney & Friends, “Laugh with me!”)
Remember laughing so hard as a kid that your sides would nearly split open and tears would stream out of your eyes? When is the last time you have laughed like that as an adult? A Psychology Today article entitled “Happily Ever Laughter” cites a study which shows that the average child in kindergarten laughs some 300 times a day whereas the typical adult laughs a measly 17 times a day. If you haven’t laughed in awhile maybe it is time you did. There is much research to show that laughter really is the best medicine for a lot of different types of maladies including depression.
In this post we are going to explore how laughter can make us feel better physically and emotionally. What does the research show about the benefits of laughter? If you look in the literature there are a multitude of research studies to show that laughter can help with everything from our cardiovascular health to reducing anxiety and feelings of depression.
Here are some of the ways laughter can help us:
• Laughter may strengthen the immune system by activating cells that attack viruses.
• Laughing may lower blood pressure for some by inducing relaxation and preventing the release of stress hormones such as cortisol.
• Some describe laughter as “internal jogging” as you inhale oxygen which stimulates heart and blood circulation.
• Laughter can trigger the release of endorphins which give you a sense of well being. These endorphins are also natural painkillers.
• Laughing can reduce stress and anxiety because it naturally relaxes you. Laughter induces your heart rate to slow down and your blood pressure to decrease.
• Some experts say that laughter increases our creativity as it encourages a new perspective to look at things.
• Laughing with others may be the best way to reap the benefits of laughter as it improves our mood through social connection and an increased feeling of belonging. Laughing with friends can decrease feelings of alienation and lowers our risk for depression.
Image Credit: hello quizzy
To learn more about laughter therapy and to see the rest of this article, Health Central
