HA, HA, HA! These simple expressions of joy are key components to one's emotional and mental health. The importance of laughter is illustrated in the proverb, "What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul."
The movie "Patch Adams" is a testament to the power of laughter and the positive changes it can elicit in others. Dr. Patch Adams used humor as a way to inspire and uplift his patients, even those with the most acute needs.
Adams knew what research now supports — humor has the power to improve one's sense of well-being and alleviate stress, even in the most dire of situations.
According to Dr. William Fry, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Stanford University, the therapeutic benefits of laughter are numerous. His research, spanning more than 30 years, shows that laughter increases the release of endorphins (natural painkillers) in the body and is similar to the hormone released when exercising. The endorphins help increase good feelings and decrease feelings of sadness or depression.
Laughter is not a substitute for therapy — but it is a tool that, when used appropriately, can lead to many health benefits, physically, mentally and emotionally. Robert Holden, a contributor to the field of laughter and mental health, and Herbert Lefcourt, a psychologist at the University of Waterloo, have found that laughter has the following benefits:
n Improves pain tolerance
n Reduces stress and anxiety
n Promotes a sense of happiness and inner well-being
n Improves the ability to cope with life's stressors
n Increases one's overall enjoyment in life
n Increases the oxygen level in blood, which in turn improves energy and emotional control
n Promotes and encourages relaxation.
Research conducted by Lee Berk at Loma Linda University also has shown the physical benefits of laughter. His experiments consistently illustrate the positive effect that laughter, happiness and joy have on the immune system.
According to Berk's findings, when we laugh our bodies create white T cells, commonly known as "happy" cells, that help prevent infection and keep us healthy.
More recently, laughter has been recognized as a powerful tool in yoga, helping to improve and sustain one's mind, body and spirit.
According to the Laughter Yoga Web site (www.laughteryoga.org), the benefits of combining laughter and yoga are numerous. This form of exercise provides a physical method to release feelings and suppressed emotions and also serves as "emotional catharsis" for those who take part. Just 10 to 20 minutes of laughter per day has been shown to have a profoundly positive effect on the human body and mind.
According to Holden, laughter teaches love, inspires hope and encourages human contact and communication. Laughter provides a sense of joy in a world that often is fraught with confusion and despair.
Clearly, it makes a lot of sense to promote laughter, recognize its importance in our daily lives and share the joy of laughter with children.
We all can benefit by keeping this motto in mind: "The most wasted day of all is a day in which we have not laughed."
This column was written by Youth First's Kate Murray. Youth First is an Evansville non-profit organization focused on youth substance-abuse prevention, healthy behaviors and success in school. Contact the organization at (812) 421-8336 or at www.youthfirstinc.org.
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