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Benefits of Humor and Laughter

Humor/laughter has both physical and emotional benefits.  Studies to date indicate that laughter can do each of the following.

  • Relieve the blues or depression
  • Decrease anxiety, fear and stress
  • Increase production of endorphins which reduce the feeling of pain.
  • Raise the level of infection fighting antibodies
  • Improve overall energy
  • Increase heart rate and blood flow
  • Enhance sleep
  • Burn calories
  • Lower blood sugar levels
  • Help boost the immune system

Laughter is also a mild aerobic exercise for the stomach and face muscles.

Studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines (MRI ) indicate that even faked laughter has health benefits.

Norman Cousins is sure that laughter cured him of his illness. He wrote about it in his book: Anatomy of An Illness (inexpensive used copies of which are available online from sellers such as Barnes and Noble offsite link.

How To Get Humor In Your Life

If humor is missing from your life, there are many easy-to-access ways you can bring it in. For example, by watching current or old comedy reruns on television. F

  • Check your local television listing for comedies that appeal to you. Consider getting access to the Comedy Channel if you do not have it.
  • View a DVD of your favorite humorous movie or television series.
    • "I Love Lucy" was a series Dr. Norman Cousins screened to help heal.
    • Online and mail order DVD companies such as Netflix (www.netflix.com offsite link) have inexpensive memberships.
    • The American Film Institute lists its take on the top 100 funniest films at: www.afi.com offsite link. Type "Funniest films" into the search box.
    • Lou Sabini, a film historian, suggests the following "screwball comedies" from the 1930s: Bombshell, It Happened One Night, The Thin Man, Libeled Lady, Topper, My Man Godfrey, Midnight.
  • Hang out with a funny friend.
  • Go to a comedy club.
  • Look for humor in the situation. It may be hard to find - but it is usually there. If you watch comics on t.v. or in a club, you will see that they often take everyday situations and find the humor. 
  • Listen to comedy CDs in the car or comedy recordings on your Ipod.
  • Read joke or cartoon books or look for jokes and cartoons on the internet. If you don't own a computer, use one at your local library. Or ask a friend to print some for you.
    • Search on "Jokes" or "Funny Cartoons" until you find a site or sites that hit your funny bone. 
    • Look at sites such as www.HumorProject.com offsite link which includes humor resources.
  • Watch young children or young pets - particularly for the funny things they do.

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