Now that midterms have passed, I’m anxiously waiting for my grades and hoping that I’ll maintain straight A’s by the end of the semester. Earlier this week, I noticed my roommate watching a police sitcom called, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” at our apartment. I joined her as we both zoned away from reality just to watch a show that made our stomachs hurt and smiles widen.
There are certain seasons in life that can make our world a little bleak, and less satisfying due to stress or difficult circumstances. No how matter old someone may be, laughter is timeless, contagious, and cures the negatives of life. Here are some facts that can ensure your soul that laughter is the best medicine:
Laughter Releases Endorphins and Serotonin
Laughter is a healthy physical reaction that helps regulate our physiological state with the release of endorphins and serotonin.
Endorphins are the “feel good” chemicals produced in the hypothalamus that are made to help the body cope with stress or pain. With that in mind, laughing with others releases endorphins to the brain that help build social connections and ease social anxiety.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter located in the central nervous system that helps regulate bone density, sex drive, blood clotting, digestion, and mood. In the context of laughter, serotonin acts like an antidepressant that helps boost happiness, well-being, and regulates the body’s internal clock. So while you’re laughing at your friend’s joke, your brain is producing the best chemical reactions your body needs to relax, feel good, and enjoy the moment taking place.
Laughter Boosts the Immune System
There is an interesting connection when it comes to laughing and the lymphatic system (aka the body’s detox system).
The lymphatic system is made to remove excess fluids from body tissues, absorb fatty acids then transport fat into the circulatory system, and produce immune cells. So what happens when we begin to laugh so hard that our stomachs began to churn? When that happens our diaphragm moves up and down at a quick rate that creates negative pressure within the largest lymphatic vessel located at the root of the neck. This increases the lymphatic fluid that passes through the lymph nodes (bean-like structures that filter substances) which produces lymphocytes (white blood cells). When we laugh, we produce white blood cells that’ll help give us immunity from many diseases including cancer.
Laughter Improves Your Sense of Humor
Life wasn’t meant to be easy, and when we realize the negativity of the world, it can suck the bliss right out of us. However, we cannot let the negative aspects of the world harbor in our everyday lives. Having a sense of humor helps us have a better perspective on life as it can diffuse conflicts, strengthen relationships, and improve self-esteem. Great humor is linked to aid learning, communicate better, and help strengthen group cohesiveness. Also, it is important to differentiate negative humor (i.e. self-deprecating jokes, sarcasm, and mockery) because it doesn’t produce the same healthy results as the positive aspects of humor. Essentially, having a good sense of humor is a great coping mechanism to laugh at our situations, and not let the small things hinder our happiness.
At the end of the day it is important to not let the daily stresses of life weigh down the inner joy you have, if all else fails watch your favorite sitcom until you achieved a hearty laugh.
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