Laugh Out Loud: Laughter Can Improve Pain Tolerance
Laughter Can Improve Pain Tolerance
Can you remember a time where you couldn’t stop laughing? One time one of my family members watered a plastic plant for a few months thinking it was real. When I found out, I laughed for days. Thinking about it now still makes me smile.
Recent research points to the importance of laughter in leading a healthy life. It appears that laughter may be one way to protect ourselves from stress. Stress affects us in different ways. Some stress, like a difficult relationship, can affect us emotionally, whereas other stress, like a medical procedure, can be physically painful. A recent article published in Proceedings of the Royal Society presented a series of experiments which show that laughter can be beneficial to people. These experiments compared the pain tolerance of people who participated in activities where laughter was encouraged through watching comedy videos or live comedy performances to people who did other activities. People who watched comedies and laughed were able to tolerate more pain than those who did other activities.
The authors of the study speculated that laughing releases endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals in your body that help you cope with physical and emotional stress. Endorphins also have a pain relieving effect.
Laughter may also promote social relationships. When you laugh with another person and have fun, you will want to spend more time with that person. Having good support from other people is very important for your health and for managing stress.
These findings show that laughter is important for a healthy life and can help us cope with physical pain. In fact, laughter is a simple stress management technique. Nearly everyone can do it!
So, one way to manage stress is to laugh more. It is easy to do this. Get together with fun friends or watch funny movies. You may feel better after doing so.
What makes you laugh?
Learn more about stress, health, and stress management at: www.stressandhealthonline.com.
Category: Laughter, Stress Management
About the Author (Author Profile)
Kristen is a psychologist who lives in central Florida and enjoys writing about stress and health. When she is not writing, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family and pets, reading, traveling, yoga, and trying to finish her never ending yard renovation.Subscribe
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Hi, loving the blog! Stopping by from the Alexa weekend Blog hop and wrote an excellent report. I would love for you to write a review for me on Alexa, also a new follower on GFC
J’S REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS
Thanks so much! have a great day
Hi Jenni–
Thanks for stopping by and for providing me with a review. Saw your site today and loved it!
Great post. I went to a festival this summer and took Laughter Yoga. It was great.
Am following you on GFC and left you a review on Alexa.
Happy Blogging!
Pam Maynard recently posted..Do You Spank Your Children?
Thanks Pam! Glad you enjoyed Laughter yoga. Thanks for following!
Great post! I think laughter is a way to deal with pain. And thanks for stopping on my blog.
Rebecca
Rebecca Pacrem (@DvrDame) recently posted..Marina Is Replaced On The Fresh Beat Band
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Loved it! I love to a “laugh out loud”. Even years down the road, I’ll think of something that made me LOL and just start laughing again! Left you an Alexa review, you deserve it.
Mom Blog Society recently posted..I will do my reviews today
Thanks for coming by and for all of the opportunities to network at MBS!
Okay, well I think I’d hate to be a part of a study that inflicted pain even if I am laughing through it! I love to laugh… who doesn’t? I’ve started listening to the NPR show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” on my morning dog walks and let me tell you, that show is funny. What a great way to start the day. I have no doubt that laughter is the best medicine. And as a parent of two teens I need all the humor I can get right now! Thanks for the great post! ~ Suerae
Suerae Stein recently posted..Fab Foto Friday – Arizona Flora
I know–it is wild the things that they do in research. It surprises me that people sign up for studies that involve pain. Thanks for stopping by again Suerae!
Hello
Thank you for the post, I liked it. I think that laughter really is one of the best medicines for stress. When I am thinking about a funny situation in the past or watch something funny, I always feel a little bit better afterwards. And the best thing is that it does not cost a penny.
BR, Mat
Mat recently posted..How to de-stress while at work
Hi Mat,
Thanks for coming by. Laughter is a wonderful way to reduce stress. I always feel great after laughing with friends or family.