No-fuss anxiety tips #12
Have a good laugh
Welcome to article #12 in this series of 20-short blogs containing simple tips and techniques for managing anxiety. These strategies are designed to give you a sense of agency when it comes to managing anxiety. Each tip draws upon therapeutic thinking from a range of psychological and psychotherapy theories. My hope is that, rather than feel like anxiety is the boss, you’ll feel equipped to take back control of your life.
What these tips won’t do is explore the origins and purpose of anxiety for you – this type of deeper exploration is what therapy offers. That said, having strategies for managing anxiety is a great place to start. Each article is designed to be quick read, no-fuss. So, let’s get started on tip number 12: have a good laugh.
Laughing feels good and promotes relaxation. When you laugh, your muscles soften, and tension is released from your body. That’s the opposite to how your body is during an anxious state, where muscles tense. Laughing with others is especially powerful for managing anxiety: endorphins release induced by social laughter support the creation and reinforcement of social bonds. We feel less alone, less isolated, connected to others. Laughing with others helps you to let go of anxiety, feel more upbeat and more positive.
Whatever makes you LOL….
…Laughing with others helps you let go of anxiety
What makes you laugh? What gives you a good chuckle? What gets you giggling? And how can you build more laughter into your week? Here’s some ideas to consider:
Watch a comedy show: live or on TV.
Ask your work colleagues to share their best joke with you.
Even better, encourage your office colleagues to embrace Funday Fridays with a joke each Friday.
Chat with friends about fond, funny memories from the past. “Do you remember that time when…..”
Try pulling funny faces at yourself in the mirror. If you can, enlist kids’ help to boost the laughter potential.
If you’ve not discovered the other mini blogs in this series, look at blog number one, and lookout for other articles still to come. If you’d like to talk through how counselling can help you with a deeper exploration of your anxiety, do get in touch. We can work together through online counselling or through face-to-face counselling at my therapy room in Preston.