And endorphins trigger the release of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine are the neurotransmitters responsible for joy and elevated mood. As a result, laughter creates a biological effect similar to antidepressants but without any of the negative side effects. The release of these chemicals also helps relax the muscles and slow down breathing and heart rates, effectively curtailing some of the impacts of stress.
Really, any kind of humor that comes from the desire to be playful and promote joy is likely going to bring you and your partner together and help you feel better. There are several different humor types, and not all of them have the same impact on mental and emotional health. Aggressive humor, or using sarcasm, ridicule, or criticism, on the other hand, tends to be less helpful and can even be harmful in a relationship where someone feels targeted by it.
That said, aggressive humor can work well for couples who appreciate it. For example, Alisha Sweyd, a family and relationship therapist in California, worked with first responders and found that aggressive humor helps them deal with the grisly experiences they have daily. We have to recognize that different people need different kinds of humor to experience the positive effects.
But those who are willing to go a bit deeper and try therapeutic humor might reap even more emotional benefits. If things are tense between you and your teenage son or daughter, schedule a time to do something that makes you both laugh. Laughter is one of the best prescriptions that I know for adding joy and positive energy into any relationship, so find something to laugh with your co-workers and family members about every day.
Home About Meet the Team. Gallery Videos. Emotional Wellness. Post on: Feb 25, Tonya Featherston. Tags: dr tonya life coaching restorative practices social emotional learning stress management teacher wellness-1 wellness. Share on. You'll feel more like an Upbeat Ursula than a Debbie Downer. A well-timed joke can lighten a tense situation, and it can help you resolve arguments.
Humor can help put things in perspective and assist you in seeing things from your partner's point of view. When you are experiencing the benefits of humor, you loosen up, and you're able to solve a problem more creatively. Laughing not only makes us better problem-solvers when there's tension, but it can help us bond us closer together — and increase attraction to our partners. These are all so much more necessary when your relationship feels stale.
When you have a joke that only your S. As time goes on, your inside joke can be reduced to a word, a short phrase, or small gesture, the use of which will instantly give the both of you a moment of affection. When you have amusing stories or jokes that just the two of you understand, it's the same as having a secret language.
Sure it can be creepy when twins have it, but it's sweet and romantic for you and your significant other. This held true even when controlling for other factors that might explain the good feelings, such as the length of the relationship and number of verbal and physical expressions of love.
How can we put these findings into practice? Algoe suggests that relationship partners may want to find opportunities to laugh together in order to boost closeness, especially before having difficult or conflict-prone conversations. Likewise, she speculates that shared laughter could be incorporated into staff meetings to make people feel more on the same page and, thereby, become more productive. Whatever the practical implications, Algoe believes her findings further the research on laughter, showing that social context is important for evaluating its effects.
She also hopes research like hers will encourage others to study the small, everyday behaviors that help people connect better in their relationships.
0コメント