Humor as Strength under Stress
Humor as Strength under Stress
This guest post is by Apex Therapy staff member Jess Kopitz, MS, TLLP
Some days simply don’t go our way. Maybe you woke up feeling off, or perhaps something stressful threw your day into a tailspin. One way or another, we can end up having a bad day. Regardless of the cause, when you’re feeling overwhelmed or worn down, laughter is probably the last thing on your mind.
Surprisingly, though, research suggests that laughing might be just what we need in those moments.
Humor Impacts Our Brains
Ever notice how good you feel after a deep, hearty, genuine laugh? That’s no accident. Humor has a surprising impact on our brains. Humor can even buffer the effects of stressful events on mood.
This is more than a feeling, it’s a chemical reaction. When we laugh our brains release endorphins, which are some of the feel-good chemicals that can help us feel like things are okay. At the same time, laughter lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, helping us to relax and let go of our stress.
Humor also lights up our hardwired reward system in our brains. This is done through the dopamine pathway, which helps us to feel happy and like we’ve done something good. So when stress starts to get us feeling down or angry, humor can counteract this, pulling our mood back up and leveling us out.
Furthermore, humor can help us build our resilience. It activates the parts of our brain that handle emotional regulation, making it easier to keep things in perspective. It also allows us to see the positive in the world, which can help us rewire our brains to focus and see more positives around us. If we’re having trouble finding positives, humor can remind us that they can always come back. There’s always a chance for more laughter.
Humor throughout Our Bodies
Time and time again, science has shown us that stress can have harmful effects on our bodies. It can lead to things like high blood pressure, muscle tension, and poor immune function. But there’s good news: Laughter can help counteract these effects. In addition to decreasing cortisol levels, laughter can increase t-cells to boost immune system functioning, helping us to fight off illnesses. This means that laughter and humor may be the perfect antidote to stress, particularly for our bodies and physical health.
Similar to light exercise, laughter gets our heart pumping and increases blood flow. It forces us to take deep breaths, improving oxygen flow which can help to relax our muscles. When we laugh, the reduction in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline helps our whole system to feel a little less on edge. So, next time we’re feeling tense or under the weather, finding something funny to laugh about may be a good way to combat these issues.
Reframe Stress with Humor
One way you can use humor as a source of strength in stress is through reframing. Reframing is a common tool we can use to take a situation or thought and flip it on its head to make us feel better. To do this we can try finding a humorous way to look at something stressful. This works particularly well for the small everyday stresses we may encounter. For example, if you’re stuck in traffic, imagine you’re the star of a story where the universe conspired to delay you with the most ridiculous obstacles. If that thought makes you smile, you’re already using humor to lighten the load!
Scheduling in Time for Humor
When stress piles up, it can be helpful to make time to step away and find something funny. Watch a comedy, listen to a hilarious podcast, or break up a stressful task with mini laughter sessions. If we’re working on something tough, try a system like 30 minutes of focus followed by a quick 5-minute dive into a funny video or meme. However we can fit it in, giving ourselves a moment to laugh can help us to reset and recharge.
Humor is a great way to cope with stress, protecting us against some of its worst effects. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Jess Kopitz, MS, TLLP, serves as a therapist, provider of psychological assessment services, and coordinator of assessment programs. She uses psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness-based strategies in work with adolescents. She is also an active community volunteer in the community to support mental health in under-resourced areas.
