Why is laughter a natural medicine for mental illness?
Author : Dr. Jakir Hossain Laskar, PhD
When sensation of joy and humour occur according to relief theory, we laugh. Laughter, which is the physiological response to humour, releases stress, tension, anxiety and negative psychic energy. Laughter can increase immune cells and antibodies that can fight infection which help improving human resistance to disease. Laughter can also decrease stress hormones and triggers the release of endorphins, which are the natural feel-good chemicals in the human body. Our overall sense of well-being can be promoted by these endorphins which can also temporarily relieve pain. During smile, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine that produces feeling of happiness.
Laughter is the natural medicine for somato-psychic illness
Laughter is a potential antidote to stress, pain and intra-psychic conflict. Physical health benefits of laughter are: 1. It lowers stress hormones, decreases pain sensation and it does boost immunity, relaxes our muscles, prevents heart disease. 2. Before going to bed if you watch a comedy show or read a comic genre, you will have greater chances of a peaceful sound sleep what you need after a long exhaustion throughout a day. 3. Our neuroendocrine system which monitors the glucose level of the blood is affected by laughter. Fear psychosis, stress and anxiety are negative emotions which can increase blood sugar level. A good dose of laughter can check blood glucose. 4. Laughing increases the number of cells which produce antibody and intensifies the effectiveness of T-cells to strengthen the overall immune system of our body. Laughter has also several mental health benefits. It can improve mood by relieving stress, anxiety and tension. It can add joy and fun to life. Besides, laughing has some social benefits too. It strengthens relationships, attracts others to us, helps defuse conflict, and enhances teamwork that eventually may promote group bonding. In a nutshell, laughter is good for our health. It relaxes the whole body, protects the heart from heart attack and other cardio-vascular problems by improving the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow all across the periphery. Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway disclosed that people with a strong sense of humour outlived those who don’t laugh as much. Laughter brings people together and strengthens healthy relationships.
Ways to bring more laughter into your life
Bring humour into conversation, smile will come. Spend time with fun, with playful people and when you hear laughter, move towards it. Count your blessings and distance yourself from negative thoughts that are a barrier to humour and laughter. You can also create your own opportunities to laugh. Watch funny videos and read the funny pages. Invite your co-workers or friends to go to a comedy show. Share a good joke or a funny story to others. Play with a pet, do something silly, play with children making time for fun activities. You can go to a ‘laughter yoga’ class. You can develop your sense of humour by laughing at yourself, by finding your inner child and by not dwelling on the negative.
Children laugh more than 300 times a day, whereas adults laugh less than 20 times a day. Which is why, children don’t suffer in mental depression and on the contrary, adults succumb to major depressive disorders and some sort of anxiety neurosis.
Laughter is a globally recognized form of communication which is largely a involuntary response with facial expressions and breathing patterns. Our brain can detect fake laughter, most intelligent people understand the difference between real and staged laughter with their brain’s activated anterior medial prefrontal cortex which help them feel other people’s emotions. Laughing can burn calories; almost 30 calories are burnt by laughing for 15 minutes. Laughing is contagious which is why television shows play a ‘laugh track’ after a funny moment even when we do not see the source of laughter. People laugh up to 25 times more when they are in the company of others than when they are alone. Laughing is also a good workout as it strengthens your facial muscles and abdominal diaphragm. Studies show, for every 20 minutes of sound full-body laughing can add around a day to your overall life-span. Numerous whole-hearted laughter help our body to fight off chronic mental diseases by lowering the level of our stress with the alteration of body cortisol level.
Laughing is one of the best medicines. But if you are laughing for no reason, you need medicine. Laughing without causes is a sign of mental illness. People suffering in schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, dementia, Parkinson’s disease laugh without reason. Consult psychiatrist for them.
