... and the parrot says, "When it comes to stress, it's time to get serious about laughter."
Whether it's a giggle or a guffaw, laughter in all its forms is good for you. Even gelotology, the scientific name for the study of laughter, is a word that lends itself to a smile.
Here are just a few of the benefits of a good laugh: It lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system and reduces pain. Laughter decreases the levels of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, cushioning mood disturbances and uplifting our spirits.
"Make a plan to expose yourself to as much humor as possible. Make laughter a part of the therapy process," says Dr. Bart Jarvis, a clinical psychologist and head of the NCCOSC Programs Division.
Jarvis has written about laughter as a treatment for Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. "Laughter helped me overcome PTSD, and I wanted to study its effects on others," he says. "Emotional resilience is something that can be acquired, and one of the best tools we have to build it is humor."
Laughter is especially useful for putting space between yourself and a horrible situation, Jarvis adds. "With hindsight, most of the bad things we go through in life have a hilarious element to them when looked at with some distance."
But these are dark days, you say. What's there to laugh about? Rent funny movies, watch old sitcoms, go to to a comedy club, form a humor group among friends, Jarvis says.
"Don't hold back or try to keep it in. Allow yourself to get into humor and laugh out loud."
You might even check out what's called Laughter Yoga (http://www.laughteryoga.org), an easy routine that combines the breathing and stretching exercises of yoga with ha-ha-ha rather than om-om-om. With such fans as Oprah Winfrey and noted medical author Dr. Andrew Weil, the movement claims to have more than 6,000 laughter yoga clubs around the world.
When all else fails, fake it. Research shows that the body cannot distinguish between real, deep laughter and bogus belly laughs. The positive benefits of a good laugh are the same either way.
Stress Busters