Dr Hunter “Patch” Adams is an American physician who took an
unconventional approach to practicing medicine. From his early years he
experienced the harshness and brutality in life. After three attempts at taking
life own life, he decided to begin a revolution. He enrolled in the Medical
College of Virginia during which he developed his unique style of treating
patients.
اضافة اعلان
Adams believed that traditional medical practice should be
accompanied by love, humor, and creativity. He would often dress as a clown in
an attempt to cheer up his patients and make them laugh. In the late 1960s and
1970s, this was considered bizarre and unconventional, but since then, numerous
studies have been published that suggest humor and laughter have a serious role
in health and wellness.
How does laughing heal?
Our brain is a huge bundle of nerves that communicates with
itself and the rest of the body using electrical impulses and biochemical
messengers. With a certain combination of different messengers, we are able to
feel and experience a wide range of emotions. Similarly, experiencing certain
emotions can increase the release of specific messengers that can have a broad
effect on the body and mind.
When we laugh, three main chemicals are released: dopamine,
oxytocin, and endorphins. Dopamine if often referred to as the “feel good”
chemical, as it interacts with the pleasure center of the brain. Its release
gives a slight euphoric effect and essentially acts as a natural high. It is
also said to improve learning, motivation, and attention.
Oxytocin is considered the “love hormone” and “bonding
chemical” as it plays an important role in human behavior. This ultimately
results in increased bonding, trust, and empathy for others.
Endorphins act as
our body’s natural painkillers. They also work on the pleasure center of the
brain and can treat pain similar to morphine.
They also work on the pleasure center of the brain and can treat pain similar to morphine.
Laughing and physical pain
Many studies have been done on the effects of laughter and
humor in the setting of medicine. In 1996, a study focused on patients who had
recently undergone surgery and were recovering. They found that those who
watched
comedy movies had reduced intensity of lamentations, as well as lesser
need for pain medication. The main reason for this is the release of
endorphins, which are largely underestimated as a pain killer option.
By laughing for just a few minutes beforehand, we are able
to endure approximately 15 percent more pain. Currently, it is standard
practice to use opioid-based analgesics (pain killers) such as morphine and
oxycodone. Although these medications are excellent analgesics, they are associated
with many side effects and may induce abuse and addiction. The duration of
endorphins are not as long lasting as opioid medication, but when used in
conjunction with each another, fewer analgesics are needed to produce the same
effect.
Laughing and health
Laughing, humor, and a general positive outlook are
associated with numerous health benefits. Laughing helps reduce muscle tension
throughout the body and leaves them relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
Laughter also has a great cardioprotective role in health by
improving the function of blood vessels, increase blood flow and circulation,
and lowers
blood pressure. Overall, this helps reduce the risk of
cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks. Additionally, laughing
helps improve your immune system by increasing the release of immune system
components such as immunoglobulins A and E. Furthermore, laughter has been
studied in many people with certain
diseases and has been associated with
improved control of diseases such as COPD, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Laughing and emotions
Humor and laughter also have many positive effects on
emotions and
mental health. Due to the release of dopamine, there is positive
improvement in memory, learning, attention, and motivation. Similarly, the
euphoric effects of dopamine help counteract many negative emotions.
Laughing can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and
depression. A naturally occurring messenger in the body known as cortisol
serves an important role in the body, but it is also the primary stress
hormone. Laughing helps reduce levels of cortisol which, in turn, reduces the
amount of perceived stress as well as improves the immune system.
Due to the release of dopamine, there is positive improvement in memory, learning, attention, and motivation.
Humor and comedy often work by highlighting absurdities in
life or exaggerating mundane aspects. This shift in perspective can help when
dealing with situations. It helps create a psychological distance which is
useful in situations that are overwhelming or cause conflict.
Laughing and social wellness
Humans are social by nature. Finding humorous topics that
are shared with others helps form new bonds with others. It can also be an
effective means to resolve resentments, disagreements, and conflicts.
Furthermore, humor and laughter can have a positive effect at individual level.
Humor enables you to be more spontaneous and releases your inhibitions by
lessening the fears in your head.
How to improve your humor
Humor is a natural aspect of life, and we use it constantly
to cope. However, instead of humor being reactive, we can become proactive in
making humor. Smiling is the first step to laughing. By practicing smile, you
become more inviting to others, which opens up opportunities for
humor.
Additionally, smiling helps release the chemicals that put you in a better
mood.
Although certain types of humor may seem bleak, all humor
starts from a place of appreciation. By being appreciative of the life around
you and practicing mindful awareness, you will become more receptive to humor.
People who are happy and in a good mood often want to share
it in order to prolong their feeling and also feed off the enjoyment they get
from it. The next time you are at work or school and see a group of
acquaintances laughing, see about joining in. More often than not, it will be a
positive experience and in the future they would also be more likely to involve
you.
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