Laughter is Good Therapy

-The average adult laughs about 15 times per day
-The average preschooler laughs about 400 times per day.

“Psychotherapists have discovered humor as an aid in the treatment of several clinical disorders, most notably depression. Humor has been reported to strengthen the bond between client and therapist in the treatment process, increasing the progress toward recovery.” (Fry and Salameh, Catholic Health Association.)

As a therapist, I see people all the time who take themselves way too seriously. And one way that I know when a client is starting to heal is by the degree to which they are willing to laugh at life and at themselves.

I will never forget how impressed a mother was that I was able to “heal” her 14 year old son so quickly. In fact, it was humor that started him on his road to recovery. Early on I realized that the young man was terribly serious, and that his seriousness was a cover for intense fear; fear of rejection, fear of failure and fear of looking imperfect to family and friends.

The first 3 sessions he cried; then I discovered that he had a secret love of the comic strip “The Far Side.” I happened to have a large “The Far Side” book, so I loaned it to him. The next session was spent talking about the cartoons he enjoyed the most, and we laughed until he cried again. Until that day his mother hadn’t realized that he had a passion for humor. But after that day, both of his parents started lightening up and began laughing with him and his siblings regularly. The boy relaxed. In fact it seemed that the whole family began feel happier. They thought I was a miracle worker, but in fact, humor entered their life and tension began to fade.

Today laugh like a child, and it will be a great day.

Research has shown that laughing can help in:
• lowering blood pressure
• reducing stress hormones
• increasing muscle flexion
• boosting immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gammainterferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers producing a general sense of well-being.

Quotes:

Seven days without laughter make one weak.
-Joel Goodman
A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
-Victor Borge