Laughter Can Decrease Stress – But Not Always

Posted: Mar 08 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

Stress is a major issue for so many people. It can be caused by everything from issues at work and financial issues to problems with personal relationships and more. Long-term stress can lead to a variety of health issues including depression, heart disease, obesity, ulcers, anxiety disorders, cancer, and more. Even short-term stress can cause sleepless nights and overeating, as well as a host of other effects. As you consult with your weight loss surgeon in Ft. Myers about bariatric surgery, consider also the health benefits of being open to a good laugh during your day to day stressors.

Many studies have been conducted over the years about how laughter affects stress. In general, laughter has been found to reduce stress, or at least to help people cope better with stressful situations. Studies have revealed that those who have approached life’s most tense moments with a touch of humor have a longer life span in general. However, it is important to note that there are different brands of humor, and some are more effective as a coping mechanism than others.

Humor can be broken down into four main types, and these include telling jokes about yourself in a self-defeating way, telling jokes about yourself in a self-enhancing way, telling jokes about others in an aggressive or attacking way, or simply finding humor in the smallest of situations in a way that is not negative to you or others. In general, men are able to better pull off all of these types of humor than women, including being sarcastic and even aggressive with their humor. For women, however, being sarcastic and negative often creates a more tense situation for them. Studies have revealed that others simply do not respond as well to a woman being aggressive and sarcastic, even in humor, than they respond to a man making jokes of a similar nature.

It may take some time for an individual to refine their sense of humor to get the maximum stress-reducing benefits from it. However, altogether studies have concluded that laughter is a great way to diffuse a stressful, tense situation. Using laughter to reduce stress is a great way to promote health and longevity.