What’s in a Laugh?

As a person with a “neuro-spicy” brain, I can be quite literal, very literal in fact. Which means sarcasm can be challenging for me. If I can’t find any non-verbal cues to suggest otherwise, I assume the person is being serious and often miss the joke. I do, however, love a good laugh. I love the release of it, especially those laughs that explode unexpectedly and take over your whole body as well as your ability to stop.

Across the world, in all cultures, people laugh. Babies laugh before they can speak. Birds do it, dogs do it, even tickled rats do it. Scientists think our inclination to laugh evolved from the panting sounds of playing mammals, such as chimpanzees, which signalled non-aggressive play. Laughter strengthens social bonds, fosters trust and tells us a situation is safe. It can be incredibly contagious (ask any child trying not to giggle in class) and is sometimes used to manage, or mask, awkwardness and anxiety in social situations.

Laughs come in all shapes and sizes. I remember a friend from my school days whose laugh sounded like a machine gun. Some laughs are snorts or wheezes; others leave you breathless. When was the last time you laughed? I mean loud, deep belly laughter, or hysterical can’t-stop-even-though-your-cheeks-hurt-and-tears-are-streaming laughter?

Laughter has physical and psychological benefits, according to gelotologists (the science of laughter is known as Gelotology - even its name sounds humorous). By increasing respiration and blood circulation, laughter is like a full-body exercise. Unfortunately, it isn’t true that laughter burns more calories than going for a run. It does, however, raise energy expenditure and heart rate by about 10–20%, equating to an extra 10–40 calories burned for every 10–15 minutes of laughing. To put that into perspective, it could take up to three hours of laughter to burn off a Snickers bar.

Physically, laughing helps reduce stress by lowering levels of cortisol and adrenaline. It releases physical tension and can leave muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Laughter also releases endorphins, increasing feelings of pleasure and reducing pain. It may even help boost the immune system (and has been known to alleviate skin allergies).

Laughter is an important factor in relationships. A study of lonely hearts ads found that both men and women specified a sense of humour more frequently than intelligence, education, profession or sex drive. That’s hardly surprising when you consider that couples who frequently laugh and smile together tend to feel closer, report higher levels of relationship satisfaction and stay together longer.

We are 30 times more likely to laugh in the presence of other people. So if you have friends who you can do this with hang on to them tightly. There is so much seriousness in our world, so much grey, so find yourself friends who add colour, fun and fits of hysterical giggles. These people are like gold dust! I have a little “team of love”, friends whose company I treasure for many reasons, but our cuddle-puddles of laughter are definitely up there in the top 5!

If you haven’t found your own laughter-filled circle yet, don’t give up! It may be through laughter yoga, shared interests, or simply daring to be your wonderfully literal self, but your people (and your kind of laughter) are out there waiting for you.

Lauren Richards GMBPsS, MSc, EMCC, HGDipl, Cert Ed., BSocSc 

Positive Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist and AuDHD Coach

www.larkcoaching.co.uk

larkcoaching@gmail.com

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