A really good belly laugh

I was reading Miranda Hart's excellent book 'I haven't been entirely honest with you' and happened across some statistics I simply couldn't not share. Quoting Dr Caroline Leaf, Hart shares that "a really good belly laugh can maker cortisol drop by 39 per cent and adrenalin by 70 per cent, and increase endorphins (the 'feel-good' hormones) by 29 per cent."

Wow! Those are quite some statistics. For those needing to re-set their nervous system and reduce levels of activation this is important stuff, I can't think of a nicer way of improving mental and physical health than laughing.

Miranda goes on to explain that laughter we deliberately prompt even when not amused works as well as spontaneous laughter, physiologically its the belly laugh that matters. I'm definitely elevating laughter to the top of my list of ways to help clients re-set when they feel stressed.

Why not give it a try and see how it feels? A belly laugh a day may well keep the doctor away!

#laughter #mentalhealth #endorphins