Laughing is the Best Form of Therapy
#LetsLaughDay is coming up on Saturday, March 19, and I encourage you to join in the fun!
The origins of the quote “Laughter is the best medicine” is up for debate, but the truth of the statement is something that more and more people can agree on! The Mayo Clinic notes that a good laugh has both short and long-term effects.
Right away, laughing induces physical changes to your body:
It stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, increases your oxygen-intake and causes endorphins to be released by your brain.
It relieves stress and relaxes you by increasing, then decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
It soothes tension by stimulating your circulation and relaxing your muscles.
Over the long term, laughter may:
Improve your immune system by releasing neuropeptides that fight stress and even illnesses.
Relieves pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers, like endorphins.
Helps you connect with other people, and feel better about coping with difficult situations.
Improves your mood, lessening stress, depression and anxiety.
What if you’re failing to find the humor in a situation? You can reap the physical benefits even by “faking” your laughter. It turns out, your body won’t know the difference!
For National #LetsLaughDay, share a joke with a friend, watch a funny sitcom, or just laugh your head off for no reason at all – it’s good for you!
