This post is about humor and if it helps to dispel pain. Also does it only work while you are laughing or does it have longer lasting effects?
Humor or humour, however you spell it, can be a powerful anecdote to pain according to the research.
A 1995 study demonstrated that a significant increase in pain tolerance was seen in the groups being shown a humorous film compared to the other groups that were not.
In 2011 research led by Oxford University’s Robin Dunbar conducted experiments in the lab and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to discover laughter's effect on pain. They found that genuine laughter releases endorphins in the brain - chemicals that activate pain-killing effects. There was also a "dose-related" response to laughter, meaning that people who laughed more felt less pain later on.
In 2013 it was reported, at The European Pain Federation Congress, that humor can increase pain tolerance and improve quality of life. According to Thomas Benz (RehaClinic Zurzach, Switzerland), targeted humor interventions should be part of pain therapy.
So humor activates the release of endorphins and it also helps lessen muscular tension, meaning its effect on pain is both mental and physical.
A 1995 study demonstrated that a significant increase in pain tolerance was seen in the groups being shown a humorous film compared to the other groups that were not.
In 2011 research led by Oxford University’s Robin Dunbar conducted experiments in the lab and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to discover laughter's effect on pain. They found that genuine laughter releases endorphins in the brain - chemicals that activate pain-killing effects. There was also a "dose-related" response to laughter, meaning that people who laughed more felt less pain later on.
In 2013 it was reported, at The European Pain Federation Congress, that humor can increase pain tolerance and improve quality of life. According to Thomas Benz (RehaClinic Zurzach, Switzerland), targeted humor interventions should be part of pain therapy.
So humor activates the release of endorphins and it also helps lessen muscular tension, meaning its effect on pain is both mental and physical.
"As a result, humor helps to reflect pain, thus helping both the patients as well as their carers to deal better with stress," said Professor Willibald Ruch, Zurich University. "Humor can be used specifically as a cognitive technique, for example in terms of a distraction to control the pain and increase pain tolerance."Also the helpful effects can last longer than just the time you are laughing due to the endorphins.
For your laughing pleasure we have included a collection of jokes relating to chronic illness.
It's interesting to read some of the studies into humour and pain - there's plenty of scope for more research into this area. I personally have found humour to have been crucial throughout my chronic illness and pain journey. "...targeted humor interventions should be part of pain therapy" < in conjunction with other therapies and prescription painkillers, humour is a good way to take the edge off. x
ReplyDeleteSo agree with you on all counts and I do appreciate your sense of humor that i see in some of your blog posts and how you do not take yourself so seriously even when living with chronic illnesses.
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