It’s easy to dismiss laughter as just a response to something funny, but it’s a full-body reset disguised as a good time. Whether it’s a giggle, snort, or full-on belly laugh, your body responds the same way: your stress response softens, your muscles unclench, and your mood lifts… sometimes for hours. In fact, research shows that even one solid laugh session can lower cortisol (the stress hormone) by up to 37%. Not bad for something that feels like play.

And no, you don’t have to join an improv troupe at Sacramento Comedy Spot to get the benefits. But you should probably buy a ticket and go watch one sometime. Just being around people laughing can trigger those same chemical shifts in your brain.

Why Laughter Actually Works

Laughter floods the brain with endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers and mood boosters. At the same time, it helps reduce levels of adrenaline and cortisol, the hormones that spike when we’re stressed. Your heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, and your muscles relax. That loose, light feeling after a deep laugh? It’s your nervous system standing down.

But laughter isn’t just physical. It’s mental, too. When you laugh, it temporarily shifts your perspective. Something that felt overwhelming may not seem so huge after a good laugh. Humor lets you zoom out, take a breath, and remember that not everything has to be so serious. In a world that often is, that’s no small thing.

It Doesn’t Have to Be “Natural”

We tend to think laughter has to come spontaneously to count. But turns out, fake it till you make it applies here too. Even forced or voluntary laughter can produce the same physiological effects. Your brain often can’t tell the difference and sometimes that fake laugh turns real anyway.

So if you’re in a stress spiral, try this:

• Watch your go-to funny movie or show (comfort rewatches work great)
• Call that one friend who always cracks you up
• Scroll a silly meme account
• Google “people slipping on ice” (it’s never not funny)

Humor as a Daily Habit

Laughter isn’t just for when things get bad. Building it into your daily life can make you more resilient when stress does hit. Save the silly stuff that makes you laugh. Follow funny creators. Let yourself be goofy. Let the people around you be goofy, too.

And when in doubt: go laugh at someone brave enough to do improv. They’re doing the world a public service.

Laughter as medicine isn’t just a cute phrase. It’s a legit, well-researched way to calm your nervous system and lighten your mental load. It’s free, available anywhere, and you don’t need to be in a good mood to start. Sometimes, the laughter brings the good mood with it.