We Can All Use a Good Chuckle Now and Again

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Angel Blair

I think we can all agree that life has been especially heavy lately. The world turned upside down last year with the pandemic and we are still living with uncertainty and concerns daily. Stress levels have soared, and this can have lasting negative effects on one’s health. So how can we help manage our stress? There are many ways, but a fun one is through laughter.

Having a good chuckle is good for the body and the soul. You wouldn’t necessarily think that laughter could have real, significant health benefits, but it can! Especially for managing stress. Laughter helps to stimulate organs, reduce stress hormones, and relieve pain. It helps boost mood and soothe tension in the body and helps combat depression and anxiety. It’s fun to do and even something you can fake at first until it comes more naturally. There are many benefits to laughter and its skills are plentiful.

It’s important to look for humor in life wherever you can find it. Life is stressful and chaotic and finding ways to lessen the heaviness of it is key. There are many outlets to find laughter in everyday life. And making this a goal can help to reduce stress, without putting in a lot of effort. Laughing with friends and family, at media, and even at yourself can bring instant change to your attitude and demeanor. Things can get so serious a lot of the time. Finding ways to laugh and humorize situations can be just what is needed to lighten the load at times.

After reading more about laughter and its wellness benefits, I see even more truth to the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine.’ The expression of laughter not only increases happiness and elevates mood, but it also helps connects us to others and stimulates positive thoughts and feelings. So let out a chuckle…it can do a world of good.

MS Humor, Maybe.

Posted on July 23, 2018 by MSAA

By Lauren Kovacs

Funny, not so funny. I know MS is really a mean demon. It tries to throw peanuts at you like a demented circus clown. I hate clowns.

Try and find humor in it, where you can. Be silly. Wear what you want, for example. Try and do what makes your moment. MS changes all day.

I can only wear certain sneakers. I like silly sneakers. Being in kids shoes, I wear whatever ones I like. The ones with lights are not yet in my closet. I have some dignity; however, I love my pink polka dot Chucks and my Sketchers with sparkles.

I do have some adult-restraint on apparel, but not too much. I wear only pull-on shorts/pants now. I kinda had a funeral for my button shorts/pants. Go crazy. There is little control with MS. Control your wardrobe. I am not saying wear big red floppy shoes and an orange wig, but have some fun.

Laugh at yourself. I fell at the doctor’s office recently. I jumped up and shouted, “I’m ok!” I didn’t really jump. I kind of slither up my walker. The only thing was a wee bump on my ego. Chocolate is great at ego repairs, too.

I once told a MRI technician that my lesions light up like a Christmas tree and I recommend he wear sunglasses. When he had to stick me eight times for the IV, I could not find any humor in that. I do not identify well as a pin cushion, and then spending almost two hours in a Pringles can they call a MRI was not funny.

Find humor in MS. Laughter is the best medicine, they say. I have to use a life vest in my own pool now. I call it buoy training. I have very little control in the water now. I would be a floating chicken nugget for a shark, if I was in the ocean.

MS can be very depressing. It is like MS jail. I had to turn in all my talents, before the life-long stay. Heck, I had to turn in my coordination, too. Trying to drink grapefruit juice out of a cup ended up on my face and in my hair. That hand earthquake left me with a burning eyeball. Make light of stuff.

Laugh off your quirks, when you can. If you laugh at yourself, it helps you and others move on. I know MS is mean and a thief. Making light of most MS incidents can help you not to dwell on the MS monster as much.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh….

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Angel Blair

So I don’t think many people would argue the fact that there are some days that just plain stink! I mean those days where it doesn’t seem like anything can go right and you have a giant bulls-eye on your back that the universe is using to its full advantage. We find ourselves stuck in this limbo of imbalance and misfortune and it can be a real downer! So what can help pull us out of these moments that seem chuck full of calamity? How about laughter?

We’ve heard the saying ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ but how true is this statement? How can humor really heal or remedy a situation for us? According to an article in Psychology Today, laughter can help make you feel better, literally. It can decrease blood pressure and stress levels and positively affect mood and even sleep habits. Laughter causes physical changes in the body that helps to reduce tension and increase endorphins that lead to positive feelings.

Sure there will be times throughout life where a situation does not call for any kind of humor or laughing elements, but there will be other times that are so comical or ironic that you can’t help yourself but to laugh at the circumstances. You’ll notice that laughter can be contagious as well, a good kind of contagious, like smiling is, where you can’t help but to join in with others who are experiencing the joy. If you find yourself in a moment where you can treat yourself to a good, hearty laugh, take advantage of it, and feel free to spread the wealth.

Reference:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-heart/201401/laughter-improves-overall-health-0

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