Why Do We Laugh?

By Dr Joseph Mercola

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

When you stop and think about it, the sounds people make when something strikes their funny bone are kind of odd; maybe even bizarre. But the whoops and snorts that sometimes constitute a spontaneous explosion of mirth is a science, researchers say.

There are reasons for a good belly laugh that psychologists believe involve far more than a simple side effect for amusement.

Another question besides why we laugh is, why does laughing until you hurt feel so good? One reason is because it’s inherently physical. Terms like “convulsed” and “doubled over” with hilarity or “splitting one’s sides” denote intense engagement that involves both your body and mind.

There are many reasons why we laugh. Some of those are odd, too. People sometimes break into giggles in uncomfortable situations, for instance. They can’t help it. Maybe they think it fills uncomfortable silence, or they want to mask embarrassment in an awkward situation, such as walking into the wrong restroom.

Writer Sam Thomas Davies says, “A nervous laugh is often a physiological release of negative emotions like anxiety, confusion, discomfort or stress a person feels in a social situation.”1 It’s a habit that, rather than relieving anxiety, actually heightens it.

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Previous Articles by Dr Mercola:

• Battered Bees and the Threat to Our Food Supply
• The Biggest Cause of Anxiety and Depression is Traumatic Life Events
• Zika: Brazil Admits It’s Not the Virus
• Plants Are Smarter Than You Think
• How the War on Drugs Has Caused More Harm Than Good
• The One Size Fits All Vaccination Schedule is Not Safe for Every Child
• Scientific Links Between Processed Foods and Depression
• How Sugar Harms Your Brain Health and Drives Alzheimer’s Epidemic
• The Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
• Can a Hug a Day Keep Infection Away?
• Fluoride Deception Continues: US Government Ignores Fluoride’s Role as an Endocrine Disruptor
• Magnesium: An Invisible Deficiency That Could Be Harming Your Health
• Medical Errors: Still the Third Leading Cause of Death
• The Magic Healing Power of Mushrooms
• The Science of Healing Thoughts

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