Laughter is like magic—it’s the best medicine and a language everyone understands, no matter where you’re from. Take Charlie Chaplin’s funny silent movies, for example. They made people from all over the world laugh with their perfect timing and silly antics. We all crave a good laugh, starting from our earliest memories of watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry. These TV shows and stand-up comedies keep us smiling, boost our mood, and make us feel great.
Kisha Hodges, familiarly known as Lady Bombay, a standup comedian, is among those who have mastered the healing power of laughter. She believes in laughter as a source of mental healing for those in pain.
But how come laughter is the best therapy, and what do experts mean by it when they say so? Let’s dig deeper.
The Impact of Laughter on Psychological Health:
Dr. Brian King, a neuropsychologist and a standup comedian, describes how laughter delicately relates to a person’s cognition and behavior. Whatever we perceive as comedy stimulates chuckling, an emotion that positively impacts our nervous system.
As a result, our nervous system sends signals to the glands in our body to produce endorphins—a hormone that reduces stress, relieves pain, and increases a person’s sense of wellness.
An increased stress level triggers physical symptoms like dizziness, insomnia, chest tightness, and hyperventilation and affects an individual’s overall health. To keep it simple, it activates the human body’s panic mode. Here comes the role of laughter. It relaxes an individual’s mind, minimizing the overstimulation of nerves and reducing the body’s stress levels.
This way, it restores the body from flight or fight mode to normal. Therefore, if continued, panic episodes decline, and an individual naturally heals.
It is why Kisha is a staunch supporter of spreading laughter. For her, this is beyond a theoretical concept; it has happened practically in her life. Not only that, but through her comedy, she has helped others transform their lives and overcome anxiety, depression, and other emotional troubles.
While advocating its significance, she mentioned, “I have been through depression myself. People do not believe me when I tell them that I have seen about 15 psychiatrists. While taking my history, one psychiatrist suggested strengthening my stand-up comedian career. He believed comedy would help me heal. I started doing more shows. To be honest, I didn’t believe him at first, but it helped me. I would not suggest something I had not experienced myself.”
The Impact of Laughter on Physical Health:
The benefits of laughter are not confined to mental health only. It plays an integral part in impacting physical health as well. It also lowers blood pressure and maintains a healthy blood sugar level, which benefits diabetic patients.
Apart from its other advantages, laughter also has analgesic properties. Analgesics are painkiller medications that help limit the body’s sense of pain. A study conducted in 2016, Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter, explains laughter’s curative properties, highlighting its role in stopping the excessive production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Therefore, Kisha emphasizes that laughter is a non-pharmaceutical and noninvasive medicine for various problems. It has mental and physical benefits and helps a person socialize better. She acknowledges the part comedy plays in connecting people.
This way, they resonate with each other, feeling heard and accompanied in their struggles. Consequently, it helps them practice an optimistic approach towards their hardships.
Kisha’s sole purpose in life is to make others laugh, which rejuvenates their spirits and is holistic for her.
She tries to have regular shows to bring joy and relief to her audience. She addresses the benefits of laughter at the conferences she is invited to speak at. If she could devote her whole life to one thing, that would be to make others happy and help them.
We have only one life to live. Therefore, our social and humanitarian responsibility should be kindness and compassion towards others. We can not change others, but we can change ourselves, just like Kisha, who focuses on what she can do for others and how to add positivity to their lives. Her actions inspire those who come after her to continue this movement of kindness and compassion. This way, we can become a source of comfort and relief for those around us.
Published by: Martin De Juan
