Your daily dose of giggles: Why laughter is more than just fun

I don’t know about you, but every day seems to bring a new hurdle to jump over. In light of this, I am finding that actively cultivating joy and laughter is essential to my physical and mental well-being.

Have you ever thought about how much you laugh during the course of a day? 

I’ve been pondering this topic recently, as my husband and I were talking about how I might incorporate laughter in my day, especially when my shoulder pain is excruciating.

In my quest for understanding more about the benefits of laughter, I did some research on the topic of utilizing “laughter” as a pain reliever. What I found out is that the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine,” is not just an anecdotal saying, but its foundation rests on fascinating brain science. Apparently, laughter triggers the release of endorphins, natural chemicals produced by the body that act as pain relievers and mood boosters. It can help to promote muscle relaxation, as it stimulates circulation and relaxes muscles. It also serves as a powerful stress reliever, reducing levels of stress hormones, like cortisol. 

Doctors who have been working in the pain management field have also realized that laughter can help their patients, as it produces a chemical that in turn causes laughter, and consequently, helps to reduce pain levels.

I was thinking about how funny and goofy children are and how much they laugh. One research piece said that “Children are reported to laugh between 200 and 400 times a day. Adults on the other hand, laugh closer to 15-20 times per day.” It’s no wonder that kids laugh more, as children have less worries and responsibilities, are more social and playful, and they are not as self-conscious or inhibited. It seems to me that children possess a brilliance that adults often lose. Sometimes I think it’s a shame that we ever have to grow up. LOL. 

For me, I am learning to not to allow the serious side of adulthood overshadow the importance of daily laughter and joy, especially when I’m dealing with pain. I am also gradually and actively choosing to engage with humor and levity, rather than passively reacting to it, and subsequently as a tool for my pain management. I’m making a concerted effort to try and integrate the following ideas into my daily routine:

• Look for comical media, like funny movies, TV shows, videos, or podcasts. I used to love the I Love Lucy reruns. 

• Engage in more playful activities, like a comedy club, family game night. Our last dog, Krieger, provided hours of joy and laughter, especially when we played ball with him. He was a super smart boy, but clumsy when it came to catching the ball with his mouth. Most of the time, the ball would either hit him on the head or bounce off of it. It was sad, but hilarious! 

• Find humor in my everyday life, whether it’s being silly or making light of me forgetting this or that. One thing I’ve been working on is to laugh at myself and my mistakes: it’s helping me to take myself less seriously and to truly enjoy who I am. 

• Spend time with friends and family who have a good sense of humor. I have a good friend who could have been a comedian. When she breaks into her goofy and silly dancing, it gets me laughing hysterically and even snorting. 

• I just recently heard about Laughter Therapy, or Humor Therapy, which is a growing area of research and practice helping to use the power of laughter to improve well-being and manage physical and emotional distress. 

Laughter is truly the best medicine!