The Power of Laughter, Humor, and Play

Laughter has a powerful effect on health and well-being. A good laugh relieves tension and stress, elevates mood, enhances creativity and problem-solving ability, and provides a quick energy boost. But even more importantly, laughter brings people together. Mutual laughter and play are an essential component of strong, healthy relationships. By making a conscious effort to incorporate more humor and play into your daily interactions, you can improve the quality of your love relationships, your connections with co-workers, family members, and friends.

When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes our brain and readies us to smile and join in on the fun.

Humor, laughter, and play enrich our interactions and give our relationships that extra zing that keeps them exciting, light, and joyful. This shared pleasure creates a sense of intimacy and connection— qualities that define solid, lasting relationships

Physical health benefits of laughter and humor Laughter bolsters your physical health by:
Decreasing stress hormones
Improving the flow of oxygen to the brain
Reducing physical pain
Lowering blood pressure
Strengthening the immune system
Protecting the heart

The mental health benefits of laughter are tied to the physical benefits. Laughter is a particularly powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. Having a sense of humor offsets depression and anxiety by:

Releasing endorphins. When you laugh, your brain releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that boost mood and override sadness and negative thoughts.
Putting things into perspective. Most situations are not as bleak as they appear to be when looked at from a playful and humorous point of view.
Connecting us to others. Our mental health depends, to a large degree, on the quality of our relationships—and laughter binds people together.