health of The healing power laughterEver noticed how much better you feel after a good old belly laugh? Humour creates a more positive perspective and releases pain-killing endorphins, so could it be time to seek out more laughter in your life? Words: Claire lavelle There is a reason that endorphins are recognised as a natural painkiller. The word itself is actually an amalgamation of endogenous (meaning from within the body) and morphine. The way these substances work is by interacting with the opiate receptors in the brain to trigger positive feelings and reduce perception of pain. These ‘feel-good’ hormones can be triggered by exercise, chocolate and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, as well as by laughter. For those living with a condition such as arthritis, the pain-relieving effects of a good old giggle can often mean the difference between a good and bad day, where it feels very much as if the pain is in control of you, rather than the other way around. ‘I work with a lot of people who manage chronic conditions and what I consistently find is that they have a great sense of humour,’ says Stephanie Davies, former stand- up comedian and founder of training organisation Laughology (laughology.co.uk), which offers both personal and professional development programmes based on the psychology of humour and laughter. ‘Human beings will often employ humour as a coping tool in times of stress, and that’s because we instinctively understand it to be a useful way to relieve tension in the body. Laughter helps us access positive emotions – so there really is truth behind the idea that you can “fake it until you make it”. ‘The facial feedback theory is based on work that shows how our facial expressions have the power to change how we feel – so when we smile, even if forced at first, it changes our mood for the better. And social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s theory that “power posing” (standing in a more confident way to reduce stress levels and increase chances of success) further illustrates the power we have to change our mental and physical state by consciously choosing to do so.’ So if laughter really is the best medicine, how can we get more of it? ‘Everyone finds different things funny, so it’s important to discover your own laughter triggers and access these every day,’ says Stephanie. ‘Recall funny memories or watch online videos that make you laugh. It helps to flip our perspective so that our outlook is more positive.’ See the funny side 3 of the best giggle-inducing online videos 1. Charlie Bit My Finger (One of) the originals – and still one of the best. 2. Sneezing baby panda Cute and funny – it gets us every time... 3. Policeman lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off Belt out a version of your own while watching this rib-tickler for an endorphin hit!See the funny side The concept of ‘flip’, detailed below, can help you see the humour in tough situations often presented by living with a chronic condition. ‘It changes our thought process, which changes the way we feel physically,’ says Stephanie. Try it for yourself and feel the difference! Fis for focus. ‘If we focus on the feeling of pain it makes it hard for us to think about anything else and keep a sense of perspective,’ says Stephanie. ‘Try to flip the situation and find a way to poke fun at it, which desensitises it.’ lis for language. ‘It contextualises our world,’ says Stephanie. ‘The more language we have for our emotions, the more emotionally intelligent we become’. Labelling our feelings can change how we behave – if we tell ourselves we’re stressed, we act accordingly. Change “I don’t want this pain” to “I would like to feel better”. Iis for imagination. ‘Visualisation has a big effect on the body, so practise positive visualisation,’ says Stephanie. ‘Think about a time where you felt healthy and happy. The brain and body start to react as if you were back there.’ Pis for pattern-breaking. ‘The way we talk, think and act can become so engrained that by introducing the unexpected we can really turn negative patterns around,’ says Stephanie. ‘Think of the way small children roar with laughter when someone jumps out and yells “boo”! Don’t make pain a habit – use humour to re-route your thinking.’ Video to blow up to this size Video to blow up to this size Video to blow up to this size