Why laugh when in pain

But those are just results. The question is, HOW does this effect take place? What is the physical basis for laughter making us feel good? Well, these scientists think it might have something to do with endorphins. And endorphins have something to do with PAIN. Dunbar et al. Endorphins are opioid chemicals that you actually produce, in your own body, and which can help combat pain or facilitate feelings associated with reward.

Unfortunately, they are limited to the central nervous system, and do not cross the blood-brain barrier. This means that it's hard to measure endogenous levels of endorphins in humans, as most humans object strenuously to a spinal tap in the name of science.

But there's a solution to this. You see, endorphins, particularly beta-endorphin, regulate pain responses via a central mechanism. So you can measure the activity of beta-endorphins in humans indirectly, just by measuring their pain tolerance. It's not a perfect measure, but it gives you an idea. And it's at least better than a spinal tap. Those really don't lend themselves to studies of laughter and happiness.

So the authors of this study needed to elicit laughter. In order to do this, they had to make the study social. Think about it, you generally don't laugh too much when you're by yourself, even if you're watching something funny unless, of course, you are practicing your Mad Scientist Laugh, which must be done at least once a day to really keep in practice.

The easiest laughter and the most laughter is to be found in groups. So the authors tested various types of group laughter. A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:. Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though.

It's also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:. Are you afraid that you have an underdeveloped — or nonexistent — sense of humor?

No problem. Humor can be learned. In fact, developing or refining your sense of humor may be easier than you think. Laugh and the world laughs with you.

Find a way to laugh about your own situations and watch your stress begin to fade away. Even if it feels forced at first, practice laughing.

It does your body good. Consider trying laughter yoga. In laughter yoga, people practice laughter as a group. Laughter is forced at first, but it can soon turn into spontaneous laughter.

Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Learn more about why this occurs.

What are emotional needs, exactly? We break it down and give you 10 basic ones to consider. Fear of commitment can pose a big challenge in long-term relationships. Here's a guide to identifying potential commitment issues and overcoming them. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Causes Nervous Laughter? Medically reviewed by Timothy J.

Legg, Ph. Why do we laugh when we are nervous? Medical causes. How to stop laughing. Treatment for conditions. When to talk with a doctor. The bottom line. Read this next. Hackers break into FBI email system Austria to bring in lockdown measures for unvaccinated people as Covid cases spike Pope thanks journalists for helping uncover clerical sexual abuse scandals Sign In. Don't have an account?