Grow Laughter & Harvest Health

| By: MARGO LEPE |

Has anyone really ever said they are tired of laughing? Whether you are the source or have people full of good humor in your life, that kind of medicine is the best.

Energy is transmitted in each of us. We can either impart constructive energy or pass on despondency. We channel what we circulate. Awareness of what we are communicating to ourselves and others is worth noting.

Among the most significant neurotransmitters to our well-being are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and epinephrine (or adrenaline). These four neurotransmitters play vital roles in our bodies. Stephanie Watson is the Executive Editor for Harvard Women’s Health Watch and agrees that a deficiency of any of these is certain to affect our mood, energy and well-being.

Watson says simple lifestyle changes, though, can boost levels to help you feel better.

The first, dopamine, is necessary for motivation, mood, memory and movement. Deficiency presents as addictive tendencies, tremors/ restless legs, low libido, lack of motivation, depression and mental exhaustion. Serotonin is also required to help with mood, as well as control of eating and appetite. Serotonin can also help regulate pain, alertness, and sensory perception. A lack of serotonin may lead to depression, anxiety/social anxiety, aggression, OCD tendencies, carbohydrate cravings, frequent constipation, low pain tolerance, poor dream recall, insomnia, impulsive tendencies, and low-self esteem. Serotonin is known as the mood stabilizer, and can be increased with running, meditation, a nature walk -- or simply soaking up some sun.

95 percent of your serotonin is made in your gut so be good to your body by fueling it with healthy foods.

Norepinephrine is key to good sleep. It allows us to go into REM sleep, assists with arousal, concentration, memory formation, stimulates the release of hormones that stimulate the thymus gland, and may modulate firing of serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons. A lack of norepinephrine can result in chronic stress, fatigue, pain, poor long-term memory, depression and stress.

Lastly, epinephrine (or adrenaline), assists in the fight-or-flight response, the sympathetic nervous system, constricts blood vessels, dilates air passages, and increases heart rate. Deficiency signs of epinephrine can show up as low blood pressure, low blood sugar, chronic stress and exhaustion, short attention span, and low pain tolerance.

If any of this seems concerning for you, stress not.

Happiness hacks are everywhere! Laughter exercises and physical exercise are good for releasing endorphins (the painkiller). Dark chocolate paired up with a comedy flick can also help. When your mind benefits, the body and soul do, too.

Dopamine is often called the reward chemical. Starting and finishing a task will help boost dopamine levels, as well as prioritizing self-care activities, getting sufficient sleep regularly, eating good food and celebrating your wins -- no matter how big or small!

Make a short list and check them off one by one while getting your dopamine.

Oxytocin is another feel good hormone in our body. Harvard Women’s Health Watch reports that oxytocin can help us “bond with loved ones and be released through touch, music and exercise.” Hence the nickname the “love hormone,” due to its main role of easing childbirth.

Oxytocin levels increase in the body when we fall in love and are excited by our sexual partner. So, hold hands, give hugs, and go out of your way to compliment others. Your body and heart will thank you for it!

Life is full of curveballs, but fun and laughter should still be had. Both help lower stress, essentially increasing the level of healthful hormones. Not only is laughter contagious, it dispenses an emotional and physical release. The more you laugh, the more you share it with others and invite into their lives too.

Finding humor in the toughest of times means you are winning. We all have scars and face losses in life. Laughing and having fun does not necessarily mean we are in denial of pain. It simply opens up a faucet for delight. Dictionary.com defines joy as “gladness not based on circumstance.” Being joyful does not mean you are never faced with distress; it is choosing to smile and persevere with hope and positive expectations.

Having fun may be a struggle, but it’s never too late to prioritize it in life.

What used to be fun for you? Ask friends what they do for fun. It’s okay to pull inspiration from others’ bucket lists. Keep dreaming. Learn something you have never tried before. Step out of your comfort zone to be stretched in new ways.

Whatever you choose to do or if it seems scary, look for the positive. Fear can not isolate you if you allow love and joy to surround you. Who you surround yourself with counts, too. Find people who bring out your best and the ones willing to have fun even in hard times or disappointment. Laughter is full of healing powers. Once you start laughing, you start healing.

In short, a cheerful heart is a healthy one.