Let’s face it laughter is not something that comes easily when we’re struggling with our situation. If I think back to the years when I was feeling overwhelmed by my grief I’m thinking back to a time when I hardly laughed at all. Infertility had sucked ALL the fun out of my life. My mojo had fled to the far side of the moon and I felt grey and empty with about as much sparkle as a limp lettuce. I was most definitely in “the winter of our discontent” and it showed it on my face. Victor Hugo once said that “Laughter is the sun that drives the winter from the human face” yet is there more laughter than that? Are there some tangible health benefits to having a giggle?
Laughter is a sign of good will to others
It is believed that only humans laugh. Other primates may pull back their lips and grimace in something that almost resembles a laugh: however, it is not quite the same. So why did humans evolve into a fit of laughter? A 2010 study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains it is “because some forms of smiling are voluntary and easily faked, laughter, which required a more synergetic contraction of the wider musculature, is believe to have evolved in humans to express a secure, safe message to others.”
Laughter lowers blood pressure
High blood pressure is linked to stress and it’s hard to remain stressed when you are laughing. In a 2017 study the blood pressure of 40 patients undergoing haemodialysis decreased over an eight-week period. During that time the patients listened to CDs of comic shows for 30 minutes for 16 sessions. Journal of Dental and Medical Research
Laughter reduces anxiety and other negative emotions
In 1990 researchers falsely led a group of 53 college students to be believe they were going to receive an electric shock after a period of waiting. There were three different groups. One listened to humorous tapes, another listened to non-humorous tapes whist the third sat in silence. Their anxiety levels were monitored whilst they waited for the electric shock. The humour group reported that their anxiety decreased during the wait and those who believe they had the highest level of humour felt the least anxious of everyone being assessed.
Laughter gives your immunity a boost
We’ve all heard the saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” well a laugh a day can keep the cold bugs at bay. One way of measuring a body’s immunity is the IgA antibodies. Several studies have shown that they are boosted by laughter. Researcher have also discovered indications that laughter increases the body’s NKs (natural killer cells)
Laughter: a natural anti-depressant?
Laugher therapy is frequently used in long-term care facilities to help reduce the impact of depression on the patients. The therapy includes singing funny songs, hand and dance routines, laughing exercises and clapping. Sessions usually last about 40 minutes and are scheduled twice a week. Formal research is very new, and results are not easily found on the Internet: however, the Korean Journal of adult Nursing reports that results are promising.
So, there you have it, five great benefits of having more laughter in your life. I’ll be sharing five more benefits on Friday 5th October.
In the meantime, you might be wondering when I did something with the express purpose of inducing laughter? Well it happened to be yesterday as I was sweeping up Bailey’s moulting fluff. Not something that I usually associate with laughter. However, as I was about to photograph the huge mound to share on Facebook, Bailey photo-bombed the shot and I decided to record a video.
I admit it’s not a huge belly laugh because Bailey get’s a little confused by those. However, it was a genuine chuckle as I suggested we found a way a gluing his hair back onto his body, so he didn’t get cold during the winter.
Learning to allow laughter back into your life will take time and this is one small step in the right direction.
In CANBACE friendship!
If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about so if you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website please let me know and I will keep your words private.
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