PHILOSOPHICAL PHURSDAY: How many times have you been up to your eyeballs with stress, feeling like your last straw has been broken by a wayward camels back? You find yourself juggling so many things and trying to keep them all up in the air at the same time. Or You've got so much on your plate, you just want to scream, throw it all up in the air and just run for the hills?
It's quite common you know, we all have those moments. Quite often in fact, and of course the last thing you want at a time like that is for someone to come up to you and ask if you're alright? Or even worse utter the words "Just calm down". Well I think I have the answer.
It was subject that was touched on by myself and a couple of work colleagues, on the way back from bowling night on Monday. (Oh and for those that know who I was in the car with, Yes it's possible for us to has a sensible conversation!) Anyway, when it comes to relieving stress, the more more giggles and guffaws you can squeeze into your day the better. I could probably draw you a graph if you like showing the amount of laughter directly reducing the levels of stress.
Sure, a good sense of humour and a few giggles can't cure all ailments of course, but there are a whole raft (No I've never understood this saying either) of positive things that laughter can do.
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. It stimulates many of the organs and so actually enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air. It stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins (No not dolphins) that are released by your brain.
Once these dolphins are released, (yep I'm going with dolphins) they activate and relieve your stress response. In fact a rollicking good laugh actually fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure at the same time. The result of which is a good, calm and relaxed feeling. It soothes tension and stimulates circulation and aids muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
But it doesn't stop there! Oh no! Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up. It's also really good for you over the long haul. As it also improves your immune system. The trouble is that negative thoughts set off chemical reactions that affects your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. On the other hand, positive thoughts and having a giggle actually releases things called neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially even more-serious illnesses.
If that wasn't enough, it's also a fantastic pain killer! Laughter actually eases pain, because it causes the body to produce its own natural painkillers. It can even break the pain-spasm cycle common to some muscle disorders. True fact! On top of which, a good hearty laugh always makes it easier to cope with difficult situations. It helps you break from the situation that is causing the stress and helps you connect with those around you.
Plus of course it generally improves your mood. I'm not saying it's a cure for long-term depression, but it may well help lessen the load, and if only briefly chuck out the anxiety and make you feel happier.
So no matter how stressful and panic-ridden you day may be, make sure you try and squeeze in as many laughs, chuckles, giggles and guffaws as you can.
Do look after yourselves, and each other.
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