Laughter is the best medicine!

 Ever hear of the term “psychoneuroimmunology”? No? Well, let me tell you all about it.  Psychoneuroimmunology is the science of how mood affects the immune system and overall good health. It’s not really a new science ­—doctors have always seen a difference in how a person’s attitude and life circumstances can affect their rate of recovery from illness. However, now it’s been officially discovered, studied, and named.

It has been proven that a good attitude contributes to your good health, and that laughter makes you healthier. Studies show that a positive attitude and laughter can increase the number of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells are the ones that fight such invaders as bacteria and viruses— you want to have lots of white blood cells. They’re essential to the functioning of your immune system. Studies also show that depression causes a lack of those same white cells. When you’re depressed and thinking you just want to die, your body actually begins to stop fighting disease.

 Studies also show that children laugh 300 times a day, adults only three times. That is sad. Why does laughter leave us as we age? Have we adults become too serious for our own good? Increasing your joy and laughing more will increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life. With that in mind, make it your mission to add more laughter to your life.

 How do you do it? Well, how about watching a comedy show or movie? If you’re feeling down, a movie that makes you laugh could be the best medicine. Record your favorite sitcom each week so you can watch it again when the need for laughter arises. Keep a stock of comedies on hand, or have recordings of your favorite comedians available for listening to when you have the blues. I like to start each day by reading the comics. The library has whole books full of comics. The internet has comedy central.

 You probably have friends who know how to make you laugh; after all, a shared sense of humor is one of the things that attracts people to their friends. If you’re in need of a little laughter therapy, call those friends. Make sure they know they can call you, too.

Check your e-mail, FB, twitter and any other networks you are involved in. You know how you get those stupid jokes and goofy photos from people you barely know? Well, this may be the time to click Open rather than Delete. You might luck out and find that today’s offering really is funny.

            Take some time to think about what makes you laugh, and have a laugh list ready for times when you’ve had a rough week or are feeling blue (when you’re sad or stressed is not the time to be figuring out what to do). Pull out your laugh list and take action on one of your ideas. Let yourself go, and enjoy. Beef up your psychoneuroimmunological system. You’ll be healthier for it.

Further Reading

Anatomy of an Illness, by Norman Cousins