Locations:
SearchA psychologist highlights some of the mental health benefits of laughter as people from all over the world celebrate April Fools' Day.
Cleveland Clinic News Service | 216.444.0141
We’re available to shoot custom interviews & b-roll for media outlets upon request.
CCNS health and medical content is consumer-friendly, professional broadcast quality (available in HD), and available to media outlets each day.
images: 0
video: 0
audio: 0
text: 0
CLICK HERE to download soundbites, b-roll, script and web article.
For download password, contact ccnewsservice@ccf.org.
CLEVELAND - Sometimes all it takes is a good joke to turn our day around.
On this April Fools’ Day, Cleveland Clinic psychologist Kia-Rai Prewitt, PhD, explains why laughter can truly be the best medicine.
“A lot of us hold tension in our bodies, and laughing gives us a chance to actually exhale and release some of that tension,” Dr. Prewitt said.
In fact, turning to laughter can help us deal with some of the day-to-day stress we all face.
That’s because enjoying a joke can release feel-good chemicals in our brains, giving our mood an overall boost.
Dr. Prewitt said embracing laughter and not taking everything so seriously can be freeing for our mental health.
Humor may also help us get through tough times and find a more positive outlook in difficult situations.
It can be a means to connect with others as well.
“When you find something you can all laugh about, humor is a great thing to enjoy with company. You don't want to laugh at anyone else's expense, of course, but if there's a shared joke or something that most people would find funny – it really can be a good way to connect with someone,” Dr. Prewitt said.
Although laughter may come more naturally for some, Dr. Prewitt stressed that’s not the case for everyone.
She said it’s important to find ways to tap into your sense of humor – whether that be watching a funny movie or going to a comedy show.
