Kick Depression to the Curb With Laughter

In 1991, my depressive episodes got so bad that I needed to voluntarily check myself into the psychiatric unit of our town's hospital. I was a resident there between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Every night, many of the residents, myself included, watched television. One evening we watched "Christmas Vacation", starring Chevy Chase. The movie was about two and a half hours long. If you've seen it before, I'm sure you'll agree it's a pretty funny movie. But there is one scene that had me just about rolling on the floor with laughter. Aunt Bethany is asked to say Grace at the dinner table but she recites "The Pledge of Allegiance". From that point on to the end of the movie I just couldn't stop laughing. A a result, my depression was completely gone for several hours and I got the best night's sleep that night since I'd been in the unit.

Laughter causes many neurochemical changes within our bodies. Serotonin and other "feel good" chemicals are released into our blood stream and up into our brain. At the same time laughter reduces the hormones in our system associated with stress including epinephrine, cortisol, and dopac. Our sense of well being increases and we experience life more positively.

So with that in mind, here are 5 sure fire methods that you can follow to create laughter and kick depression to the curb:

1. Watch a comedy - Whether it be a movie, sitcom, or old fashioned slapstick, nothing gets laughter started better than comedy. My favorite has always been slapstick because I love visual humor. When I was going through some pretty intense depressive episodes, I'd play an episode of the old "Honeymooners" show and my depressive symptoms were subdued for awhile.

2. Play with a baby/child - Try keeping a straight face while playing with a child or making funny faces at a baby, it's impossible. Most children simply do not have a care in the world and nowhere is it more evident than when they are at play. If you like kids, it's very easy to get caught up with them in the moment. The sounds they make and the things they do can be extremely funny. If you don't have a child, just visit a playground or park and watch them at what they do best.

3. Practical jokes - Practical jokes are always funny as long as they do not harm anyone physically or psychologically. My favorite has always been the whoopee cushion. Place a whoopee cushion under the chair of an unsuspecting friend or relative and let the fun begin. Just make sure the "victim" has a reasonable sense of humor. For more examples, just type "safe practical jokes" into your favorite search engine.

4. Try Laughter Yoga - This one is relatively new and different because the laughter is not caused by something or someone funny. Laughter Yoga is really an exercise done by breathing in deeply and exhaling out while unconditionally laughing at the same time. This exercise is based on the scientific fact that the body cannot tell the difference between real and fake laughter, as a result, you can still get the same physical and psychological benefits

5. Look for laughers - Spend some additional time each week with people you know who have a great sense of humor and love to laugh. After all, laughter is contagious and nowhere is it more contagious than in a group. Very often, one person starts in and before you know it the entire group is in hysterics. So share funny stories and jokes or watch a comedy together with your significant other, relatives, or friends. The only condition is that each must have a good sense of humor. In unity there is strength or in this case, laughter

Give each of these a try and determine which method or methods are the most comfortable for you and then practice. The great thing about laughter is that you don't have to wait for a depressive episode to occur. You can practice laughing any time of the day. In fact, it's a good idea to incorporate laughter into your daily routine for the many physical and psychological benefits associated with it. So here's to kicking depression to the curb with a good hardy laugh.

Dave Kanofsky is a proud affiliate with Wealth Creations Network, your zero out of pocket way to creating wealth. Dave Kanofsky is also passionate about helping people who have depression to overcome their symptoms and to create wealth for themselves. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now and start to make money online.