We’ve all laughed until it hurt, and yet it felt so good. How about replicating that laughing fit to induce happiness during sad and challenging times?
Although it may seem difficult to get a good laugh while you’re feeling blue, it may be possible to fake a laughter and trick your body into feeling good. It turns out that the brain cannot differentiate between a genuine laugh and an artificial laugh. The muscle movement of laughing promotes the secretion of endorphins, the “feel-good” chemical associated with exercise. This neurotransmitter is released regardless of the type of laughter and reason for laughter. This so called “laughing therapy” is also associated with decreases in physiological stress responses and an increase in immune responses.
Regardless of whether you decide to laugh it out with your friends, watch silly cat videos or “fake it until you make it”, a good humorous laugh can greatly change your perspective and attitude in times of challenge. Next time you find yourself feeling down, take a deep breath and fake a laugh. It just might turn into a real one.
Gilbert, R. (2014). Laughter therapy: Promoting health and wellbeing. Nursing and Residential Care, 16(7), 392-395.
MacDonald, C. M. (2004). A chuckle a day keeps the doctor away: Therapeutic humor and laughter. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 42(3), 18.