Laughter as therapy

Laughter

When did you last laugh so much your stomach ached?

They say that children laugh on average 150 times a day. How about you, how often do you really laugh?

And that’s not counting those polite laughs we do when we know it’s what’s expected of us.

Who are the people who always crack you up?

In terms of comedians, I still love a lot of the oldies from my childhood: Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Morecambe and Wise, Joyce Grenfell, Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, and Laurel and Hardy.

Then later- Victoria Wood, Not the Nina O’clock News, Billy Connolly, and French and Saunders.

Real belly-laughs, though, have been when spending time with friends.

Tickling my dance partner in ballet lessons until we were sent out of the class to calm down; nearly wetting myself watching a friend trying to sing karaoke; getting the giggles on stage in a production; Laughing at my bro’s endless stream of jokes. 

Once when I was staying at my parent’s house with friends, I remember laughing so hard that the milk I’d been drinking came out my nose. My mum said I’d better be careful or I’d never get a job if I laughed like that.

“Ah, Mum, maybe that’s why I run my own company!”

The Business of Laughter

In terms of business, we can take it all far too seriously, and laughing can be just what we need to keep us in a place of flexibility. This is particularly when we are feeling under pressure and anxious when our brains can close down as our amygdala is triggered.

However you will find that you can’t be stressed or negative when you’re laughing. This is because laughter reduces cortisol, and actually boosts our immune system so that we’re more resistant to illness.

Plus it triggers the release of endorphins, which are our body’s natural painkillers that improve our mood and reduce any bad feeling. And you don’t have to actually laugh to get them flowing, you can just think about laughing and it will work.

How good is that?!

Here’s a physical way to get you laughing even when you don’t feel like it:

Put a hand on your stomach and start to pant like a dog. I know, that may sound ridiculous, but you will start to feel your diaphragm pushing your hand in and out.

Now start to make the sounds Ho ho ho, ha ha ha, hee hee hee, and this usually works. I usually find that this will get me laughing.

Otherwise, have a funny meme on your phone to watch; a photo that will remind you of a happy person or place; or a silly joke that tickles you. If you’re in need of the latter, reach out to me and I’ll ask my brother, he is a constant source!

Whatever it is, find the funny. Life is too serious without it.

Where do you find your laughter?