Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

JC Jones MA RN

Want to decrease anxiety and stress in your life? Plan positive experiences where you know you are going to laugh. Researchers studying the interaction between the brain, behavior and the immune system have found that just looking forward to a good laugh can trigger the release of beta-endorphins and HCG - hormones that protect health. Looking forward to a good laugh can also reduce stress hormones - cortisol, epinephrine and dopac. When these hormones are chronically high due to stress, the immune system is weakened.

Look for humor all around you and opportunities to laugh - and to make others laugh. If you are feeling stressed, choose comedy shows or movies to watch as entertainment rather than dramas or horror movies that might increase your stress. Be aware of opportunities to help kids, teens and the elderly laugh well and often also. Humor distracts us from negative emotions and connects us to others.

Thank you dana v. photostream for use of beautiful photo Laughter & Joy.

Labels: humor therapy, laugh medicine

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