“I was greatly elated by the discovery that there is a physiologic basis for the ancient theory that laughter is good medicine,” wrote Norman Cousins.
A life bereft of humor and laughter is inconceivable to me. Through ups, downs, and the day to day, I find comfort, insight, and resilience through humor. I’m drawn to laughter.
It’s not unusual to hear about and observe the positive role that humor, joy, and laughter play in the interactions of my colleagues with our clients, their families, and other supports. When clients are facing health and memory changes, life can get challenging. Humor can be one of the creative solutions that inspires hope, so our clients live well, care well, and age well.
Reflecting on how humor and laughter have benefitted my life, my colleagues’ lives, and our clients’ lives, I was curious to know, is laughter good medicine?
Norman Cousins, editor-in-chief for over 35 years of the Saturday Review, thought so. He put his theory to the test in his own life when diagnosed with a case of sudden-onset connective tissue disease. Cousins was in chronic, crippling pain due to this life-threatening illness. This is when he embarked, in collaboration with his skeptical physicians, on developing his own recovery program, one infused with self-induced bouts of laughter.
He shared this journey in his book, Anatomy of an Illness, which sparked interest in the healing benefits of humor and laughter. Cousins later joined the faculty at UCLA, becoming an adjunct profession in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, where his research interest was the connection between attitude and health.
Laughter’s benefits
Laughter has many benefits. May you find these facts encouraging.
Relieves stress. A good belly laugh activates and then calms your stress response. It can increase, then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. Result? A relaxed feeling.
Soothes tension. Stress has physical symptoms. Laughter can speed up circulation and aid muscle relaxation, contributing to the reduction of stress’s physical symptoms.
Pain relief. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce natural painkillers. Cousins’ own experience bears this out. “I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep,” he reported. “When the pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion picture projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free interval.”
Stimulates your body. Laughter enhances breathing. Increases endorphins released by your brain. Stimulates your lungs, heart, and muscles. Next time your laugh heartily, be mindful of the way it makes you feel.
Immune system boost. Negative thoughts have a ripple effect, manifesting into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and possibly serious illness.
Improves mood. Laughter can help lessen stress, anxiety, even depression. Laughter may even make you feel happier. It can also improve self-esteem.
Increases personal contentment. Laughter can make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people. I saw this in action every time I facilitated an Alzheimer’s family support group for care partners. Caregiving is serious, demanding work. What brought this group together was a genuine concern of how best to support the person in their care. Humor and laughter were common attributes of our group. It helped make the day-to-day responsibilities of caregiving more manageable. It bonded the people in the group in a beautiful way. And it lightened the journey.
Find the humor. Laugh more often.
Smiling and laughter are universal. They can also be contagious. Try practical ways to increase the laughter in your life.
Pay attention to what makes you laugh. Seek more of those laughter inducements. Remember those inducements during difficult and stressful times.
Visit a comedy club. Look for comedy bits online. Get tickets to see a favorite comic if they’re coming to town. Three of my favorites are Jim Gaffigan, Kathleen Madigan, and Brian Regan.
TV shows and movies with comedic content abound, with access to a huge library online. Speaking of libraries, visit your local library to check out DVDs. Either way, revisit whatever has brought laughter in the past. Use apps like IMDB to search. Ask friends for suggestions.
Books and magazines work too. I treasure anything written by Nora Ephron or Calvin Trillin. When I need a chuckle, I can read a couple paragraphs of anything they’ve written to induce laughter and shift my mood. Which writer does that for you?
Did you love the comics as a kid? Get back to the comics page in the Sunday paper. Keep greeting cards, comic strips, and photos that make you laugh nearby. Hang them up or keep a laughter file. Refer to it when you need a boost.
Words have power. Use positive language. Use these words as part of your internal narrative as well as verbally. Positive self-talk can me a mood lifter.
Spend time with people who make you laugh. For me, this is the easiest and most enjoyable way to fortify my day with more laughter. And there’s the added benefit of social connection. I encourage you to do that same!
Humor can’t cure all ailments, but evidence is growing in support of the positive things laughter can do. Laugh and reap the benefits!
Struggling to find humor on the journey? We are experts at helping you bring back the laughter! Click here to schedule a get-acquainted call with one of our Certified Care Managers.
