ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Ley Your Dreams Come Alive – With FCMB Loans
Home Cover

How laughter boosts your mental health

30th October 2016
in Cover, Features
0
How laughter boosts your mental health
0
SHARES
142
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Oge Okafor
([email protected])

Laughter is the best medicine, so goes a popular quote, which might be the reason why comedians like Alibaba, Bovi, Basket mouth and others have not only carved a niche for themselves in entertainment but   are also smiling to the bank.
When it comes to relieving stress, particularly in times like this in Nigeria where economic recession and political strife seem to be stifling our happiness and existence, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor recommends. In order to regain your sanity, have a good laugh. Scientists say it takes about 43 muscles around the face to frown and just 17 to smile. Laughter does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief.
Mental health is simply a level of psychological wellbeing or the absence of mental illness. According to World Health organization, WHO, mental health is defined as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her potential, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and fruitfully and able to make a contribution to the community.
The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in WHO’s definition of health thus: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Meanwhile, Mental Health Commission defines good mental health as a sense of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem. It enables us to fully enjoy and appreciate other people, day-to-day life and our environment. When we are mentally healthy we can form positive relationships, use our abilities to reach our potential and deal with life’s challenges.
Also, the author of  Shadows in the mirror – the many faces of depression, Dr Vivian Ikem during the recently commemorated World Mental Health Day stressed the need for public intervention in depression and mental health issues. She stated why it is important to educate people on the need to speak up as well as stop stigmatization of mental patients.
According to her “Nigerians hardly talk about mental health and many think of depression simply as sadness, weakness, weak faith, something that is demon-inflicted or influenced by black magic, something to be ashamed of or as an issue specific to western communities.
Mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardized criteria. It is a big health concern for low to medium income countries like Nigeria, which affects as many as one in five people.
A mental health problem also affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves but to a lesser extent than mental illness. Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity.  Some of the major types are anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders and depression.
These illnesses may also be referred to as mental disorder, mental impairment or psychiatric disability. Depression, which affects both young and old, has been predicted by the World Health Organization to be the leading cause of death and disability by 2020 only after ischemic heart disease.
Mental illness results from complex interactions between the mind, body and environment.  Factors which can contribute to mental illness are long-term and acute stress, biological factors such as genetics, chemistry and hormones, use of alcohol, drugs and other substances, cognitive patterns such as constant negative thoughts and low self-esteem, social factors such as isolation, financial problems, family breakdown or violence.
These factors can be minimized by a strong and supportive community environment.
According to Mayo, a good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefits
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally; it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

Stimulate many organs
Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.

Activate and relieve your stress response
A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.

Soothe tension
Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation both of which can help reduce some physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects
Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:

Improve your immune system
Negative thoughts result in chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuro peptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.

Relieve pain
Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

Increase personal satisfaction
Laughter can make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.

Improve your mood
Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.
When it comes to health in later life, researchers find laughter may really be the best medicine. A new study led by Georgia State University, suggests combining laughter with moderate exercise may improve the mental health of older adults as well as boost their motivation and ability to engage in physical activity.

sunnews

sunnews

Related Posts

We inherited  pension problems spanning 20 years  – Ejikeme, CEO, PTAD
Business

We inherited pension problems spanning 20 years – Ejikeme, CEO, PTAD

27th June 2022
Archbishop Martins, Tinubu mourn victims of explosion
Cover

Northern govs stall selection of Tinubu’s running mate 

27th June 2022
Kalu steps down as The Sun Publisher, Neya Kalu takes over
Cover

Kalu steps down as The Sun Publisher, Neya Kalu takes over

27th June 2022
Next Post
BREAKING: Abia North Senatorial election inconclusive-INEC

16,723 INEC officials to conduct Ondo guber poll

Jegede promises friendly tax regime

Jegede loyalists protest in Akure

osinbajo

Attack on communities: 800 herdsmen now in custody, says Osinbajo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Highlights

Blues for the disenchanted

Youths mobilising to vote beyond tribe, religion –Cleric

Dissecting the many hazards of dollarising Nigerian economy

Obi Cubana unveiled as New Face of Global Power Bank

FG presents licences to marginal field investors Tuesday

CVFF: $350m Cabotage vessel fund intact, not misappropriated –Saraki

Trending

We inherited  pension problems spanning 20 years  – Ejikeme, CEO, PTAD
Business

We inherited pension problems spanning 20 years – Ejikeme, CEO, PTAD

27th June 2022
0

From Uche Usim, Abuja Dr. Chioma Nnenna Ejikeme, the executive secretary and chief executive officer of the...

Bayelsa judgment: APC, PDP trade blames

PDP, APC bicker over corruption allegations in Plateau

27th June 2022
Tinubu eulogises Carrington

Northern govs stall selection of Tinubu’s running mate 

27th June 2022
South East’s presidential nightmare

Blues for the disenchanted

27th June 2022
Pope names Archbishop Kaigama as Onaiyekan’s successor

Youths mobilising to vote beyond tribe, religion –Cleric

27th June 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • We inherited pension problems spanning 20 years – Ejikeme, CEO, PTAD
  • PDP, APC bicker over corruption allegations in Plateau
  • Northern govs stall selection of Tinubu’s running mate 
  • Blues for the disenchanted
  • Youths mobilising to vote beyond tribe, religion –Cleric
  • Dissecting the many hazards of dollarising Nigerian economy
  • Obi Cubana unveiled as New Face of Global Power Bank
  • FG presents licences to marginal field investors Tuesday
  • CVFF: $350m Cabotage vessel fund intact, not misappropriated –Saraki
  • 2023: Supremacy battle threatens Obi, Kwankwaso alliance
  • Strike-ASUU, other unions not invited to last Thursday’s meeting –Labour Ministry
  • Our roads, forests not safe from criminals –Ondo monarch
  • Kidnappers demand N200m to free my priest, reverend sister –Kukah
  • Anger as abductors kill Rev. Father, 2 others in Edo
  • Why Kanu fled Nigeria –IPOB
  • Bloodbath in cathedral
  • Oyetola welcomes 10,000 PDP members into APC
  • To gain advantage: How low can you descend?
  • Supreme Court’s naked dance
  • Insecurity: Makinde okays recruitment of additional 500 Amotekun corps

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Posting....