The use of Laughter Therapy in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, chronic illness, pain and stress has become widely accepted and proven as effective. Intuitively, it makes sense. After all, laughing feels good! Laughter boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces the stress hormones, and increases endorphins and serotonin – the body’s natural painkillers. In short, laughter induces the Relaxation Response and counteracts the physical effects of stress on the body.
A study by Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University, CA, indicated that laughter decreases the stress hormones (epinephrine, cortisol, dopamine) that constrict blood vessels and suppress the immune system. Levels of epinephrine in the study group were lower both in anticipation of humor and after being exposed to humor, and those levels remained lower throughout the entire experiment. The level of dopamine, which elevates blood pressure, was also lowered.
Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness, claims to have cured his chronic pain from a serious illness by using laughter and watching comedic movies. Cousins described laughter as “internal jogging”. A good belly laugh is an aerobic activity, working the diaphragm and increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen. It also causes tense muscles to relax.
Even if you’re not suffering from a serious illness, nearly everyone experiences stress in today’s difficult world. Including laughter on a daily basis can go a long way to minimizing the physiological impact of that stress. And since stress is relative and the response is a product of the perception of the stressful event, looking at the event with laughter can change the perception and thereby the response. Have you ever noticed people laughing at a wake, in church or even at accident sites? The laughter becomes a catharsis, a way to release the stress of the moment.
Damon Scott, local radio personality on 96.5TIC-FM, makes people laugh every day. He says he loves to hear stories about how his jokes lifted someone’s spirits during their drive home after a rough day. “Laughter is the best medicine,” says Scott, “for both the recipient and the giver.” Scott gets real joy out of knowing that his listeners are enjoying his gift of laughter and feeling better about the day.
Scott also hosts the local comedy show, Ha! Ha! Hartford!, held in the small auditorium at the Bushnell Theater. Scott takes pride in putting together unique shows that not only feature stand-up comics, but incorporate music and skits to make the experience a truly relaxing evening out. “It feels like the kind of show you’d see on TV,” says Scott, “but it’s right here in our own backyard.”
Ha! Ha! Hartford! Is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation, and will be held at the Bushnell November 20th at 8:30 pm. Visit the Bushnell website for tickets and more information on the performance.
When asked where Scott goes to laugh, he says that he likes to watch sit-coms and funny movies, like Norman Cousins. And because making people laugh gives him such joy, over the last few years Scott has expanded his work to bring his laughter and his caring out into the community. He appears at and hosts many local charity events, helping Hartford-area people who are dealing with the stresses of handling serious or chronic illnesses to raise money for their special needs. Scott says that laughing with these people and giving of his time may be stressful on his schedule, but in the end, he gets the benefits, too.
Want another reason to laugh? A study by Vanderbilt University showed that laughing for 15 minutes can burn as much as 40 calories!
So, Hartford, laugh! Listen to Damon Scott, watch a funny movie, read the funny pages, tell a joke – and keep laughing to reduce your stress!
Some favorite laughter quotes:
“Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on. “
Bob Newhart
“If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old. “
Edgar Watson Howe
“If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. “
Jimmy Buffett
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. “
Lord Byron
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. “
Mark Twain
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. “
e e cummings
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