December 30, 2020 Typically This Is the Time of the Year That We Look

December 30, 2020

Typically this is the time of the year that we look back fondly and make personal resolutions for the new year. It doesn’t take any time at all reflecting on 2020 before uttering, “Can’t wait until this is over!” or some like phrase. (Yes, mine might have just had an explicative embellishment in it!) So we’re in agreement, this year will not be missed, remembered yes, but most certainly not yearned for repeating…EVER!

Moving on to the new year, I’m not usually a resolution gal. On average, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside by the second week of February. The reality is I only keep them for about a month. Instead of resolutions, I dream of my hopes and desires for the new year. I make plans for trips, gatherings, parties and all fun things…not zoom meetings, conference calls and virtual hugs. (you’re probably asking yourself at this point, where is this newsletter going? Honestly, I’m really not sure yet…but stick with me.)

It seems we are surrounded by blessings, yes, but also a measure of melancholy. The grand question…how do I personally and how do we all “SNAP OUT OF IT” and move forward. (That snap phrase is from one of my dear friends and usually is accompanied with a slight head bop. Feel free to smack your head if you’d like!) For myself, the answer is clear…laughter! It is simply good medicine for the soul and the body. This got me wondering how laughter actually works physically in the body. Yes, this is a medical nerd situation!

We all know that laughter is one of our tools for combating stress. Research into laughter reveals it’s a potent drug with the contagious power of a virus (Irony intended) that benefits us in these ways:

Laughter is a potent endorphin releaser. Laughing with others releases endorphins in the brain…you know, the homegrown feel-good chemicals—via opioid receptors. The more of these receptors a given person has in their brain, the more powerful the effect. 9These must be the individuals like me that are very funny and quick witted!) These opioid receptors are the ones also that bind to highly addictive drugs, like heroin. This suggests that laughter induces euphoria not unlike a narcotic---but minus the obvious drawbacks. Laughter contagiously forms social bonds. The above endorphin effect explains why social laughter is so contagious. Spreading chuckles and the following endorphins in a group setting promotes a sense of togetherness and safety. Each brain in a social unit is a transmitter of those happy feelings, which triggers the feel-good in other brains via laugher. It’s like dominoes! One falls and the rest have no choice but to follow! You have all experienced the situation where one person starts laughing and others follow and soon all are involved, even when no one knows what is being laughed about! One thought here—think COVID is laughing and that’s why its so contagious? No, that’s stupid, it’s a silly virus molecule. One thing is sure though…we are going to have the last laugh!

Laughter fosters brain connectivity. Not all laughter is the same and our brains can decode the differences. Research shows there are differentiations in how we perceive laughter. From joyous versus taunting versus tickling laughter. Each type fosters rigorous brain region connectivity that kicks in when we hear a laugh, and our brains decipher what sort of communication is coming through and intended. Think of it as exercise for our brains!

Laughter is central to relationships. One study showed that women laugh about 126% more than males, while men seem to be more the instigator of laughter. This study had an interesting application on how relationships form and are maintained. Women typically rate a sense of humor as a top three trait for a potential mate. It’s no surprise that couples that laugh together, stay together. (Unless a wife uncontrollably chuckles when her husband hits his coconut head…but that’s another story!) Like it or not, laugher is a nonnegotiable trait for relationships.

Laughter has an effect similar to antidepressants. Laughing activates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Just a quick review—serotonin is the hormone that stabilizes our mood. It impacts the entire body and enables brain cells to communicate with each other. This is the brain chemical that is affected by most common types of antidepressants. (it’s about transmission across the cell synapses for those other medical nerds out there.) It’s not clear how long laughter has this effect on serotonin release, but it makes sense that the more the chuckles, the more the happiness effect.

Laughter protects your heart. Laughter also has an anti-inflammatory effect that protects blood vessels and heart muscles from damaging effects of cardiovascular disease. How this happens isn’t totally understood, but it seems related to lessening of the body’s stress response. Cardiologists could possibly improve health by being more comedic! Laughter should be a part of every heart disease prevention program…oh wait, it’s already in my plans for all of you!

Call it what you’d like…laughter, hysterics, snickering, giggling, hooting, chuckling, chortling, and my favorite, guffawing…makes a difference in our lives. Admittedly, laughter isn’t always the correct response. These are serious days and situations, but a measure of joy can be found in a guffaw. My prescription for everyone in 2021….laugh, enjoy it and spread it around. Send your whistling nurse any and all jokes. I will be laughing!