Evidence supports the use of humor in healing because it has the ability to provide a growth in meaningful relationships, and an increase in mental and physical health benefits. Three talking points could address these issues: mental health benefits, physical health benefits, and increasing the development of relationships that cultivate humor.
Belief that humor aids the healing process comes from a variety of medical specialties including psychotherapy, oncology, and pain management. Humor is beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes and pain from procedures and surgeries.
It is believed that humor and laughter increase the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for many bodily functions including those that control heart rate and emotional reactions. Studies point to laughter in the reduction of heart disease by reducing stress and regulating the heart rate.
Humor that leads to laughter can reduce a patient’s response to pain by creating a diversion while regulating the biological substances that modulate pain. Medical professionals encourage patients with pain to watch funny movies or find a way to integrate humor into their lives.
Humor plays a role in mental health, in part by changing a person’s point of view so they are able to see they have the ability to adapt to difficult situations by maintaining a more positive outlook in the face of adversity. Again, there is evidence that humor increases endorphins and hormones that are responsible of feelings of well-being.
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