Help For Those Suffering From Illness and Stress!
All images in this article and the video are from pixabay.com and are free for use under CC0 Public Domain
Are you stressed out? Unfortunately there is a very high possibility that you are! According to the American Psychological Association 75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month and nearly half reported that it has increased in the past year.
Are you or a loved one coping with an acute or chronic illness? Sadly this problem touches all of us sooner or later.
The good news is that there is a form of free help that acts as an effective drug but it has no cost and no side effects! What is it? Laughter.
Laughter does more than just offer a complete workout for your muscles; it also causes a rush of stress destroying endorphins. Do you have trouble laughing? No problem, your body can't differentiate between real and fake laughter so they both have the same benefits!
How I got Interested In Laugh Therapy
My son, like many students, often felt overwhelmed with the pressure and stress of studying, homework and exams. One day I decided to break the tension by laughing. Once I started we both got on a role and we just couldn't stop. The release that it provided was so powerful and beneficial that we started to do it on a regular basis.
Please check out a recording of my son and I that I made of one of these sessions.
WARNING: The laughter in this short video is very contagious!
Laughter Therapy in Mainstream Medicine
Scientific studies on the benefits of laughter therapy began in the 20th century. Norman Cousins' book “Anatomy of an Illness” which he wrote in 1979 may have increased the interest in this form of treatment. In it he chronicles how he used laughter and vitamin therapy to recover from a fatal illness, ankylosing spondylitis (a rare form of degenerative arthritis). I highly recommend this classic as a very interesting read.
Today many hospitals provide laughter therapy in their treatment of illnesses and the history of its development has been helped by various Laugh Therapy pioneers.
Dr Madan Kataria - who developed laughter yoga in Mumbai - is given credit for popularizing laughter therapy in the mainstream. Kataria set up the first laughter club in 1995 and there are now thousands of laughter clubs worldwide.
The Physical Benefits of Laughter:
- Increases oxygen intake while stimulating the heart and lungs
- Boosts the immune and circulatory systems
- Causes the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers
- Increases alertness, memory and creativity
- Serves to relax muscles in the entire body
- Helps digestion and soothes stomach aches
- Decreases pain
- Balances blood pressure
The Psychological Benefits of Laughter:
- Improves overall attitude
- Reduces stress and tension
- Induces relaxation
- Produces a general sense of well-being
- Helps improve sleep
- Fortifies relationships and social bonds
Ten Inspiring Quotes About Laughter
1. A good laugh heals a lot of hurts. — Madeleine L’Engle
2. A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. — Phyllis Diller
3. Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand. — Mark Twain
4. Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. — Lord Byron
5. An optimist laughs to forget; a pessimist forgets to laugh. — Tom Nansbury
6. As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul. — A Jewish Proverb
7. He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast. — Proverbs 15:15
8. He who laughs, lasts! — Mary Pettibone Poole
9. I have not seen anyone dying of laughter, but I know millions who are dying because they are not laughing. – Dr. Madan Kataria
1 0. From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. — Dr. Seuss
We Were Born With The Gift of Laughter!
Did you know that children laugh about 400 times a day whereas adults manage a measly 15?
Since laughter is free and has so many benefits why not make it part of your daily life and laugh more?
Why not do laugh therapy?!
Until next time,
