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The Woman Warrior is 
Alive in all of us

Laugh....Seriously

6/26/2015

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Picture
Day 3- Laugh it off…seriously.  I recently spent an hour or so in a traffic jam with my husband while on our way to visit with family.  I have a very difficult time sitting still and not doing anything…I am a woman warrior, of course so my creative juices started flowing.  I made a sign in the car that said “The Zombies are Coming!” and placed this sign on the side windows of my car.  My husband (the driver) did everything he could to ignore the fact that people were giving us the “bug-eyed” look as they passed our car.  I laughed and laughed and then snickered some more.  Laughing has a very therapeutic value to it.  Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.  So, as you can see there are many benefits to laughing every now and then or on a regular basis. 

The link between laughter and mental health

  • Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can’t feel anxious, angry, or sad when you’re laughing.
  • Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.
  • Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which    can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
 
Not sure how to laugh on a regular basis?  Here are a few tips for that!
-    Watch funny videos/movies/shows/programs...whether it is slap-stick humor like “The Three Stooges”, cutting-edge sarcastic movie like “The Bridesmaids”  or blooper shoes like America’s Funnies Home Videos”, watching things on TV that make us laugh is a great experience.
-       Do NOT laugh when other people fall…well maybe just a little bit even if it sounds really mean, any form of laughter is better than none.
-       Go to a comedy show or look for funny jokes on Google or your favorite search engine.  It is amazing how many funny jokes are out there….just not to be told by me (I am horrible at telling jokes).
-       Laugh at yourself.  Have you walked somewhere and accidently tripped over your own feet or the sidewalk or whatever and then looked around to see who was watching you?  Yep, I do this sort of thing all of the time.  I laugh at all of my funny accidents unless I am on the ground in excruciating pain…then I expect everyone else to laugh, of course only after you make sure that I am still alive!
-       Fake it ‘till ya’ make it.  This may sound funny (note the bad play on words) but our brain has a very difficult time determining the difference between a fake laugh and a real laugh.  The same biological process happens either way.  This means that if you “fake” laugh, you will still feel really good (after you get over feeling weird for fake laughing, that is).  Now try it!  Did it work? Are you feeling better?  Even for a second?  Good, my work is done for the day.

Enjoy your day today and keep laughing!


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    About this Woman Warrior!

    Samantha Afanador is a Licensed Professional Counselor  and the proud owner of a private counseling practice in Apex, North Carolina Peak Professional Group.  She has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field and has been a woman warrior since the very tender age of 16 when she first stood up for women's rights in the Dominican Republic.  She has played many roles in her life and uses her sense of humor, authentic projection of herself and her clinical knowledge to support and mentor those around her.

Live with Purpose & Intention

Office: (919) 335-3105
Mobile: (919) 800-8114
24 hour crisis coverage line:  (919) 412-5685
Fax: (919) 355-5694
Email: Sarah@peakprofessionalgroup.com

  • About
  • Virtual Visits
    • My Virtual Visit
    • Virtual Groups >
      • Be Badass Women's Virtual Group
    • Sign My Virtual Visit Informed Consent
    • Provider Virtual Log in
  • Meet the Peak Family
    • Samantha Mahon, LCMHC
    • Pendy Payne, LCSW
    • Erika Hoeckberg, LCSWA
    • Sarah Mariano, LCSW
    • Laurie Nicholson- Counseling Inter
    • Bethany Collins, LCSW
    • Julianne Evans, LCMHC
    • Laurie Macdonald, LCSW
    • Matt Morano, PhD, LCMHC
    • Chantel Washington, LCMHC
    • Beverly Brosnick, LCSWA
    • Maxwell Kirn, LCSW
    • Cindy Hickman, LCMHC
    • Joanne Lisa, NCC, LCMHC
    • Alicia Blankenship, LCSW
    • Join our Team- Private Practice Opportunities >
      • Probably the most Badass Therapist position ever!!!
  • Appointment Request Form
  • Rapid Resolution Therapy
  • New Client Forms
    • SIgn my Informed Consent For Treatment
    • Sign My Virtual Visit Informed Consent
  • FAQS
  • Learn more about us!
    • Individual Counseling
    • PPG- Couples and Family Therapy services- Apex and Pittsboro >
      • The Simple Things in Love & Life
    • Counseling & Therapy Facts >
      • What is Therapy?
      • Do I need Therapy? >
        • Online Screening Tools
      • What does it feel like to be in therapy?
      • How do I find a therapist?
      • Paying for therapy
    • Insurance
    • Our Therapist Bookshelf
    • The Woman Warrior
    • Proactive Parenting
    • Counseling in Pittsboro
  • Contact
  • School-based Referrals
  • Need some Inspiration?
  • The Struggle Bus Blog
  • About
  • Learn more about therapy
  • Contact your therapist!
  • Stress Management during Quarentine
  • Keepin' it real
  • The Peak Response to Covid-19
  • Covid 19 Updates