Laughter is the best medicine, right? Laughter indeed has a positive impact on health, well-being, and longevity. It is advised that you always laugh, and the benefits are numerous. However, the benefits transcend beyond physical benefits.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the emotional benefits of laughter.
7 Emotional Benefits of Laughter
Laughter can be good for your mental and emotional wellbeing. In what ways? Here are the emotional benefits of laughing.
1. Reduces stress
It’s been shown that laughing can reduce stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, as well as increase levels of dopamine and endorphins (natural painkillers). This can help us cope with the demands of modern life and improve our overall health.
2. Serves as pain killer
It helps relieve pain by releasing endorphins into your body, which are responsible for blocking pain signals to the brain. These endorphins ease pain by triggering natural opiates in the body.
Endorphins are also released during exercise and have a similar effect on the brain as morphine does on the body — they alleviate pain by acting directly on nerve cells in the brain.
3. Makes you feel good
Laughter is one of the best ways to improve your mood and has a positive effect on others. When you laugh, your positive emotions are strengthened, while negative emotions are weakened. Laughter also helps you relax and improves your sense of well-being.
4. Boosts immunity
Laughter increases the level of immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is an antibody that protects you from germs and infection by fighting off colds and flu viruses. This can help ward off illness during cold and flu season!
5. Improves your mood
Laughter helps to boost your mood by releasing endorphins into your bloodstream. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that give you a sense of euphoria and make you feel good about yourself.
They’re also known as “the happy hormone” because they help keep you calm and contented when faced with stressful situations.
6. Promotes bonding between people
Laughter promotes bonding between people because it encourages social interaction, which is especially important for people who may be shy or introverted by nature. Just being around other people who are laughing can help put you at ease.
Also, humor is a powerful social bonding tool that strengthens relationships by helping people feel closer to one another and giving them something to talk about.
7. Treats unhealthy mindset
Unhealthy mindsets such as depression, anxiety, and negative emotions (like grief, sadness, or loneliness) can be treated and reduced to the minimum by laughing.
Research has shown that laughter is a potent therapy for depression. This is those who are suffering from depression are advised to always be around people that make them laugh or visit places or events that make them laugh.
Laughing releases endorphins which reduce not only physical pain but also mental pain. So one of the most effective ways to combat unhealthy mindsets is to laugh.
Conclusion
The impact of laughter on your emotional health cannot be over-emphasized. Always ensure to surround yourself with people that make you laugh. Visit comedy shows, cinemas, or sports shows to catch a good laugh. Beyond the emotional health benefits of laughter, laughter can improve your physical health and even your longevity.
