Why Laughter Might Just Be Your Best Medicine
You know that feeling when you laugh so hard your face hurts, your eyes water, and you wonder if you just did a full-body workout? That’s not just you being dramatic (well… not entirely). It turns out, laughter really is good for you – mind, body, and soul.
As someone who combines comedy with psychology (yes, it’s a thing – I made it one), I’ve long been fascinated by the weird and wonderful power of laughter. Here’s why it’s more than just a social nicety or a noise you make to avoid awkward silences.
Laughter is a Physiological Reset
When you laugh, your body releases a glorious cocktail of endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that give you a natural high. Laughter also reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It relaxes your muscles, lowers blood pressure, and gives your heart a little cardio kick (without the lycra).
Basically, it’s like yoga, but horizontal and fun.
Your Brain Loves a Good Chuckle
Ever notice how problems feel smaller after a proper giggle? That’s because laughter activates the brain’s reward system, boosting dopamine and connecting different areas of the brain involved in cognition and creativity.
You’re not just laughing at the joke, you’re reprogramming your nervous system to feel safe, social, and sharp.
Laughter is a Social Superglue
Humans are pack animals (even if you’d rather binge-watch alone with your dog). Laughter is how we bond. It builds trust, breaks tension, and creates a shared moment of “oh thank God, it’s not just me.”
In workplaces, laughter can reduce conflict, increase collaboration, and remind everyone that they’re not machines, they're messy, magical humans. In relationships, it's a pressure release valve. In therapy… well, sometimes it’s just the best way to end a very awkward silence.
The Neuroscience Bit (Because I’m That Kind of Comedian)
According to research, laughter activates the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system, areas involved in emotional regulation and decision-making. That means laughter can literally help you get your sh*t together, emotionally speaking.
And if you’ve ever laughed during a stressful situation and then felt weirdly clear-headed after? That’s not denial. That’s your body regulating itself through joy.
Why I Do What I Do
As a performer, I don’t just want to make people laugh, I want them to leave feeling lighter. I want to poke at the things we’re told to keep silent about. The burnout. The boundaries. The difficult people. The weird family secrets.
Because when we laugh at what’s hard, we take its power away.
Final Thought
Laughter doesn’t solve everything. But it does make things more bearable. And in this world, that’s no small thing.
So come see a show. Or rewatch that ridiculous video of the goat in pyjamas. Your nervous system, but perhaps not the doom-scriolling algorithm, will thank you.