How to Control Anger With Laughter

In addition to bringing people closer together and reducing tension, laughter can also be a helpful tool for conflict resolution and a contributing factor in how to control anger. All of us have heard that laughter is the best medicine. There are many benefits to laughing, including reducing stress, elevating mood, and boosting energy levels. But it’s also good for your relationships.

In new relationships, humor can be beneficial both for attracting the other person and for avoiding awkwardness that may arise while getting to know one another. Keeping things interesting, fresh, and vibrant through humor can be beneficial for established relationships. Additionally, it can help overcome conflicts, disagreements, and those small irritations that can accumulate over time and ruin even the strongest relationships.

How to control anger with laughter

We have a natural tendency to turn our anger (and frustration, annoyance, irritation, and other lesser forms of being disturbed by circumstances around us) into laughter. Eventually. When we look back on some of the funniest stories we tell about ourselves, we realize how funny they are, but the passage of time allows us to see them in a more constructive light.

The problem is that eventually is too long to wait. You may have experienced this if you have recently gone to the DMV or had trouble calling your cable provider. By the time your natural sense of humor replaces your angry feelings, you don’t want to be burned out.

Distract yourself.

In one study, two fake traffic jams were created (because there aren’t enough real ones out there apparently). There was one case where drivers were left to their own devices to fuss and fume.

Another experiment used three distractions – warm and fuzzy (a puppy being walked alongside the vehicles), sexy (a good-looking man and woman walking by), and funny (someone doing silly human tricks near the vehicles). Researchers measured how frequently both groups displayed anger outwardly (by honking, shouting, stomping around outside their cars, or shooting the finger).

There was a significant reduction in angry responses in the group of participants with distractions, and humor was found to be the most effective distraction. Humor beats puppies, that’s right! Put plenty of silly, stupid, funny distractions in the places where you know your anger response is most prone to being overactive – your car, your office, at home near the phone, in case you need to complain about something that doesn’t work.

Count on basic math.

If you spend thirty minutes more laughing each day (by watching a funny movie, reading a humorous book, etc.), basic math dictates that there are thirty fewer minutes left for you to be angry (unless you set your alarm for 2 a.m. so you can have more time to fume). If that’s the case, you may need more help than this article can provide).

Google it.

The next time you feel like your head is about to explode with rage over an issue you are intellectually convinced is not worthy of the energy of your anger, check online for funny stories and videos related to the issue. The purpose of this exercise is to allow you to find the humor in your specific situation faster because you are removed from the situation. Laughing at another’s mistake or problem is always easier than laughing at our own.

Be angry funny.

This isn’t like Tyra Banks’ Ugly Pretty concept on America’s Next Top Model. You could emote your anger in a more humorous manner instead of in a more traditional manner. Instead of shooting the finger, make up a silly hand or arm gesture. Curse in a funny or jumbled made-up language (“What in the haberdasheries and hemoglobin is going on?”). When you circumvent your usual response, your brain will begin to recognize the absurdity of your negative emotions more quickly.

Write three jokes about it.

The source of the best comedy comes from negative emotions (think about what your favorite comedy TV show or movie is really about when you’re trying to be funny on purpose). Whenever you’re unnecessarily upset about something, take five minutes to make three jokes. It doesn’t even matter if they are good. It’s the process that matters.

Relieve stress with laughter.

A good sense of humor isn’t a cure-all, but there’s growing evidence of the positive things laughter can do.

Short-term benefits of laughter

A good laugh has a great short-term effect. Not only does it lighten your mental load when you start laughing, but it also causes physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulates many organs. Laughter increases the intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the release of endorphins in the brain.
• Activates and reduces your stress response. Happy laughter wakes up your stress, then cools down your stress response, which raises and then lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. the result? Nice, very relaxing feeling.
• Release the tension. Laughter also stimulates blood circulation and helps muscles relax, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects of laughter

Laughter doesn’t just cheer you up quickly, though, it also benefits you in the long run. Laughter can:

Boost your immune system.

Negative thoughts manifest as chemical reactions that affect your body, putting more stress on your system and lowering your immunity. Conversely, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. relieve pain.

Laughter can reduce pain by prompting the body to produce its own natural pain relievers. Improve personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations easier to deal with. It also helps you connect with other people.

Improves mood.

Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety and make you feel happier. It can also boost your self-confidence.

Improve your sense of humor

Are you afraid that your sense of humor is underdeveloped or non-existent? No problem. Humor can be learned. Developing or improving your sense of humor may be easier than you think.

Add humor to your playlist. Find something simple like a photo, greeting card, or cartoon that makes you laugh. Then hang them in your home or office, or collect them in a file or notebook. Always have a funny movie, TV show, book, magazine, or comedy video ready when you need it. Watch joke sites or silly videos online. Listen to a humorous podcast. Go to a comedy club.

Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Find a way to laugh at your situation and watch your stress melt away. Practice laughing, even if it seems reluctant at first. It is good for your body. Consider trying laughter yoga. In laughter yoga, people cultivate laughter together. Laughter is forced at first but soon turns into spontaneous laughter.

Share the laughs. Make it a habit to spend time with friends who make you laugh. So, reciprocate your kindness by sharing funny stories or jokes with those around you. Browse your local bookstore or library for a selection of joke books and add some jokes to your list to share with friends. You know what’s not fun. Stop laughing at other people’s victims. Some types of humor are inappropriate. Use your best judgment to distinguish between a good joke and a bad or offensive one.

Laughter is the best medicine. Come on, try it. Raise the corners of your mouth in a smile and laugh, even if it seems a little reluctant. When you smile, appreciate how you feel. Are your muscles tight? Do you feel freer or more relaxed? This is the natural miracle of laughter at work.

Do you need counseling for anger management?

If you struggle with how to control anger, or if it is disrupting your way of life and relationships, it’s never too late to get help. You may struggle to replace anger with humor, but if you contact us, you will be placed in the care of a therapist who can walk you through anger management.