Don’t you just somehow feel better when you laugh? It turns out, that’s not just fantasy.
Laughter has physical and emotional health benefits.
Studies show that laughter can
- support the heart. If we’re laughing, we’re not stressing. The stress hormones make chronic inflammation worse and threaten the heart. Laughter stimulates your heart and lungs in good ways, bringing oxygen and reducing the stress response.
- relax muscles. Good, deep breathing is part of laughing. It stimulates oxygen flow to the muscles and triggers muscle relaxation.
- lessen pain. The body’s natural pain-relieving hormones, the endorphins, are released when we laugh.
- boost immunity. Laughter helps combat infections and other diseases by releasing neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
- ease mood. Laughter is emotionally distracting. It can interrupt the blues or anxiety and cast everything in a new light.
- increase self-esteem. It’s easy as a caregiver to feel at the mercy of many forces and to feel like you can’t do enough. Laughter helps counteract feelings of low self-worth.
Want more laughter in your life?
- Read children’s books. They are often silly (Amelia Bedelia, anyone?). Ask a librarian for recommendations. The illustrations alone may bring a chuckle.
- Look for humorous gift cards at the store. Maybe even buy one to put on your refrigerator. In a couple of weeks, send it to a friend, and give yourself a new one!
- Play with a pet. If you don’t have a pet, find out if there’s a dog park nearby and go watch. Dogs are naturally joyful.
- Spend time with funny people. Some people have a knack for finding the humor in things. Laughter is contagious. You may even learn to laugh more at yourself!
- Choose comedy. When you’re selecting a movie to watch or a screensaver for your computer, look for something funny. Consider humorous podcasts. Visit joke websites or buy a joke book to add some humor to your conversations with others.
- Make silly happen at home. Dress your toast with raisin eyes and jelly mouth. Wear goofy socks. Play a game with friends.
Or just plain start laughing. Whether you’re laughing at someone’s joke or laughing for no reason at all, your body responds the same. Some people enjoy going to “laughter yoga” sessions where the point is to laugh in a group. It’s contagious!
Laughter is good medicine. And it’s free!
Are things getting too serious at your house?
Consider injecting more humor in your life. As the Roanoke and Lynchburg experts in family caregiving, we at Gentle Shepherd Hospice know how big the stakes are when caring for an ailing family member. Still, laughter can ease the stress and doesn’t take away from your vigilance. It’s just one more tool in your toolkit to help you avoid burnout and continue the important work you do for as long as you are needed to do it. You don’t have to do this alone. Give us a call at 1-800-789-0586 (toll-free).