Laughter is the antidote to stress

Humour helps us to remain positive and allows us to see situations in a less threatening light. It also helps us manage negative emotions.

Laughter is innate and a natural expression of emotion in our life. Have you noticed that infants begin smiling during the first week of their life and laugh out loud within months of being born? Even if you did not grow up in a household where laughter was a common sound, we can still learn to laugh at any stage of our life.

Laughter is good for physical health. It improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect us against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. A good hearty laugh relieves physical tension and relaxes our muscles. Since laughter decreases the release of stress hormones, there is an automatic increase of immune cells that fight antibodies. It releases endorphins, which have the ability to relieve pain temporarily.

You may ask how it is possible to laugh when we are in distress. When we start doing the logical thinking and not emotional thinking, then our anxiety and fear is eased and mind produces the necessary endorphins for us to think with rationale.

Logical thinking can be reflected in questions like: Is it worth getting upset over? Is the situation irreparable? Is this really my problem? Emotional thinking, on the other hand, is evident in these statements: Why is this happening to me? Do I deserve this?

Humour and playful communication strengthen our social relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. Laughing together creates a positive bond. This acts as a buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. It doesn’t mean saying or doing things to others that will hurt them or making derogatory statements.

Developing humour is not rocket science. Share some of your embarrassing moments. We should take

ourselves less seriously by talking about times when we took ourselves

too seriously. Look for the humour in a bad situation, the irony and absurdity

of life. This will help improve your

mood. Surround yourself with reminders to lighten up. Laughter is a priceless antidote n

— therapist.saras@gmail.com