Laughing

Laugh now, it's good for your health.

Laugh For Health:

Poem: Solitude

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all,—

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain."

Laughter is often considered the best medicine, and this isn't just a saying. It's a complex response that involves many parts of the brain and produces many health benefits. It's a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Laughter lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can temporarily relieve pain. Moreover, laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughing also improves the function of blood vessels. It increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can't feel anxious, angry, or sad when you're laughing. It shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and reduce conflict. Laughter also has significant effects on mental health by reducing stress, increasing happiness, and even improving self-esteem.

Laughter is contagious; it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also strengthens relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When shared, it serves to unite people during difficult times. Shared laughter is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. All emotional sharing builds strong and lasting relationship bonds, but sharing laughter also adds joy, vitality, and resilience.

In conclusion, laughter holds power to heal and renew. Its importance lies not only in its ability to promote physical and mental health but also in its capacity to enhance our relationships and connect us with others. Whether with a spontaneous giggle or a boisterous belly laugh, embracing laughter is embracing life. By prioritizing moments of humor and joy, we can enrich our lives in profound ways, making laughter a true cornerstone of a happy and healthy existence.

Empirical studies support the idea that laughter can ease depression. The act of laughing triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can temporarily relieve pain. Furthermore, laughter improves the immune system, relaxes the body, and reduces physical tension. These effects can last for up to 45 minutes after laughing.

Laughter also has social benefits that can be therapeutic for individuals dealing with depression. Sharing a laugh can foster emotional connections and support from others, reducing feelings of isolation often associated with depression. It helps shift perspective, allowing people to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. This cognitive shift can reduce the stress and anxiety contributing to depression.

Finding ways to incorporate more laughter into daily life can be simple and does not require a lot of effort or planning. Here are a few strategies:

1. Engage with funny media. Watching comedies, listening to humorous podcasts, or reading funny books can evoke laughter.

2. Spend time with people who make you laugh. Social interactions with friends or family members who have a good sense of humor can naturally lead to laughter.

3. Attend a comedy show or a laughter yoga class. Such events provoke laughter in a group setting, which can be especially powerful.

4. Find humor in daily life. Try to notice the amusing side of everyday situations.

5. Practice smiling more often. Smiling is a precursor to laughter, and research shows it can improve mood.

Incorporating laughter into one's life as a tool to combat depression should complement, not replace, traditional treatments like therapy and medication. It's always advisable to consult with a healthcare provider about the most appropriate treatment plan.

Laughter's therapeutic value, while beneficial, is one component of a comprehensive approach to managing depression. It's important to recognize the complexity of depression and the necessity for a multifaceted treatment strategy that can also include lifestyle changes, psychological therapy, and medication, as advised by healthcare professionals.

Norman Cousins was a prominent American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate. His name became synonymous with the healing power of humor following his remarkable recovery from a life-threatening illness, which he attributed significantly to laughter. Cousins's journey into the relationship between positive emotions and the body's capacity to heal is not just a personal anecdote but a landmark moment in psychoneuroimmunology, the study of how the mind influences the immune system.

A true story that exemplifies the healing importance of laughter:

Norman Cousins is most famously known for his book Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient, in which he detailed his diagnosis of a rare disease that causes severe pain and difficulty in moving. Faced with a grim prognosis, Cousins embarked on an unconventional path to healing, one that would underscore the therapeutic potential of laughter.

Rejecting the hospital setting's gloom, Cousins checked into a hotel room where he prescribed himself a regimen of laughter. He bought reels of Marx Brothers films and episodes of Candid Camera, immersing himself in humor for several hours each day. Cousins discovered that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect, providing him with at least two hours of pain-free sleep. He reported that as he laughed more, his pain diminished, and his mobility increased.

Cousins' experience was more than anecdotal; it had physiological explanations. Laughter, he found, released endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. It also reduces the levels of stress hormones, which suppress the immune system. His recovery, deemed miraculous by some, illustrated the potent effects of a positive mental state on physical well-being. Cousins's work paved the way for further research into how emotions and attitudes could influence health outcomes, inspiring many in the medical field to reconsider the role of mental health in physical healing processes.

Beyond his personal battle with illness, Norman Cousins became a lecturer at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he taught courses on the biochemistry of human emotions, further exploring the connection between health and happiness. His work in this area contributed significantly to the acceptance of holistic and integrative approaches in medicine, acknowledging the complex interplay between the mind and body in the healing process.

Norman Cousins' legacy is a testament to the power of laughter and positive emotions in the face of adversity. His personal victory over a debilitating disease using laughter as a key tool in his recovery illustrates the profound impact that mental states can have on physical health. Cousins's story is not just about one man's journey to wellness but a broader lesson on the healing capabilities inherent within us, underscored by the timeless adage that, indeed, laughter is the best medicine.

Exploring Cousins' work remains a beacon for those interested in the healing arts, reminding us of the profound ways in which our emotions can shape our physical realities.