Have you ever just needed to laugh?
I have, and I seem to need laughter more and more every day. With people around me losing their jobs, health and even lives, laughter is one of the few things that helps me make it through each day. I feel happier and more energized when I laugh. I think it’s good for me.
Apparently science is starting to think the same way.
Back in the 1970s, a regular guy named Norman Cousins was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. With his doctor’s supervision and permission, he treated himself with humorous videos and shows, and his disease went into remission. He wrote a book, “Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient,” and science noticed.
Since then there have been multiple studies related to laughter. One study of 20 high-risk diabetes patients found that watching 30 minutes of something funny resulted in lower stress, higher HDL, or good cholesterol, levels and lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Another study discovered that laughter could prevent a heart attack.
Not only can laughter make blood vessels work well, increase hope and lower stress, but it can also help you enjoy classes. A 2005 study at Ohio University’s Zanesville campus incorporated humor into an online psychology class and used Blackboard, an online system similar to Angel, to tally academic performance. When the results were compared to another online section of the class without the humor, researchers found more student involvement in the humorous section.
So what should we do with all this newfound information?
The short answer: laugh more. Read a comic strip. Watch a funny movie. Tell a joke, even a bad joke. Find what’s funny in every situation and laugh about it. Personally, I’m going to visit my favorite humor sites online.
I know there’s a war going on. I know the economy is recovering from a recession. I know life is hard for everyone going to school and trying to get a job. However, if I don’t find something to laugh about, I won’t be able to make it through today, let alone the week or the quarter. If you’re with me, crack a smile. Even better, find a reason to laugh.