Anxiety Needs a Good Laugh

You've heard that laughter is the best medicine. It is not only a figure of speech, but there is truth to the saying -- anxiety needs a good laugh.

Laughter is such a great way to feel better and to overcome negative feelings you may be feeling. If you struggle with chronic anxiety, incorporating plenty of laughter into your life can help to relieve many of those anxiety symptoms that you experience.

How a Good Laugh Is Helpful for Anxiety

My family and I joke around. We joke around a lot. My husband knows that one of the best ways to help me when I feel overwhelmed is to make me laugh. Whenever my family and I have experienced an extremely stressful situation, not only has it been helpful to stay positive, but it has also been helpful to find humor in the situation.

But how does a good laugh help anxiety? Laughter helps you relax by relieving muscle tension and improving your mood. When you laugh, you are focused on the here-and-now, and whatever it is that is making you laugh, instead of worrying about the past or the future. Laughter also increases your feel-good brain chemicals. So there are physical and psychological ways that laughter is helpful.

How to Get More Good Laughs in Your Life

There are several ways to get more good laughs in your days to combat anxiety. First of all, I think it is important to surround yourself with people who make you laugh. We don't have to all be comedians, but you know that when you are around others whose company you enjoy, humor is an integral part of that relationship. Make sure there are people in your life who make you smile, make you laugh, and help you to focus on what is joyful and humorous.

It is also important to focus on the positive rather than the negative. When I was younger and overwhelmed by anxiety, I wasn't quite sure how to cope. Because of this, I often used negativity to cope with it. I would often allow myself to feel angry about stressful situations, and I would focus on negative aspects of whatever my situation was at the time. As I've gotten older, I've learned that this only ultimately increased the chronic stress that I've felt. I've learned that it is instead helpful to focus on what is positive and to look for the aspects of a situation that put a smile on my face.

Another helpful way to use humor to help your anxiety is by spending time with animals. My family and I have always loved animals, and spending time with our dogs has helped us to find laughter, even when going through stressful situations.

Lastly, find things that are funny. Watch a funny movie, a funny show, or even short video clips on social media that make you laugh. Sometimes, successfully coping with intense anxiety can be accomplished by doing something as simple as switching on a funny TV show that makes you laugh. You may be surprised by how quickly you feel better.

Having plenty of laughter in your life can help you overcome anxiety. Share the ways you use humor in your life to cope with anxiety in the comments below.