“Laughter is and always will be a form of therapy.”
– Audrey Hepburn
Humor can bring back the smile on your face no matter what you are going through. A single joke is able to lift your spirits and make your entire day. Laughter is so powerful that it can significantly improve your well-being.
And there is actually scientific proof of its extraordinary healing powers!
Can laughter boost your health?
The benefits of laughter can affect both your mental and your physical health. Experiencing feelings of joy can help you overcome depression, decrease stress and anxiety levels, and give you the emotional strength to face your fears.
Interestingly, a recent study concluded that the well-being of people who have a tendency for humor and optimism is considerably better when facing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simultaneously, it can serve as natural pain relief by increasing your pain tolerance which is of immense help when recovering from an illness.
Besides, we cannot exclude the placebo effect humor has. Sometimes, when your mood has been significantly improved, you stop focusing as much on the pain you experience, which makes you believe it has reduced or even diminished.
As noted by Psych Central, laughter works as a connection between our mental and physical health, cultivating benefits that uplift us from within.
How does humor improve your wellness?
Curiously, experts have found that people who laugh more have stronger immune systems. While they couldn’t determine whether humor strengthens the immune system, they concluded that it acts as a shield from everyday stress factors.
Laughter also has the power to release endorphins – the happy hormones which help ease symptoms of some mental health issues. According to a 2016 research, “Laughter therapy is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological alternative treatment for stress and depression.”
Scientists have also determined that laughter may help lower your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. Although, it is important to note that their findings were based on self-reports.
But wait, there is more!
Another great benefit of humor is that it can serve as a coping mechanism when facing hardships. However, to use laughter as a tool to overcome challenges, you should be able to handle it appropriately in sensitive situations.
Last, but not least, laughing more may also improve your ability to learn new things. A 2015 study linked humor to a significant advance in older adults’ short-term memory. The experts claim:
“Because older adults can experience age-related memory deficits, complementary, enjoyable, and beneficial humor therapies should be implemented for them.”
Hopefully, this article has helped you see that humor and laughter are powerful tools benefiting your mental, as well as your physical health. So, whenever you get the chance to laugh, don’t hold yourself back.
And if you cannot find a reason to do so, Psych Central suggests trying The ComedyCures Foundation, which is “here 24/7 to tickle your funny bone.”
