People often say that laughter is the best medicine, but it is more than just a saying. This has been applied to real life in order to derive a therapy method dedicated to helping people mentally cope with a wide range of health issues.
Laughter is a form of workout that releases endorphins that help reduce stress. Our body cannot distinguish between real and fake laughter, thus a positive impact can be generated even if you are not necessarily happy or you do not necessarily find something funny.
Laughter therapy aims to reduce stress and is often used by companies to maintain a happy workforce. It is also used in hospitals to help those coping with terminal illness.
Benefits of Laughter
Laughter draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter relaxes the whole body and boosts the immune system. It enhances blood flow and reduces risk of cardiovascular issues. In addition, laughter aids in diminishing anger. A study in Norway even found that it helps you live longer. Furthermore, mental health benefits include easing of anxiety and tension, strengthening resilience, and improving mood. It has helped in shifting perspectives and seeing things in a lighter context. Laughter also lowers stress hormones and has been observed to have social benefits.
How can you integrate laughter in your life?
There are multiple ways to do this. The simplest being humoring yourself and engaging in things that make you laugh more often. Another easy way is to subscribe to cartoons and jokes or even recalling a funny event. However, there are professional programs, such as laughing yoga and laughing therapy, that you can take part in – some of which may be accessible for free on the internet.