No joke.  Laughter is good for you.

There’s an old saying that “laughter is the best medicine,” but it is scientifically proven to be true! Laughter releases chemicals in the brain that can reduce stress levels and it can even improve overall mood and reduce pain. It triggers the nervous system to recognize being in a safe situation and is calming and relaxing. It increases circulation but decreases blood pressure. Numerous studies have been done that show how laughter helps in specific health conditions such as diabetes, COPD, arthritis, and cancer.

Psychotherapy, a.k.a. counseling, is critical when it comes to healing and managing thoughts and emotions. However, there is often another step that is important to consider: Take action.

It is very normal and very common for a child to need an educational assessment or another form of developmental/ psychological assessment as they are growing up. Sometimes they are tested because there are negative concerns present, other times it is more of a routine check, but it is never anything to worry about beforehand. 

We all get overwhelmed, some easily and more frequently than others, and it takes a very experienced person to know exactly what to do to calm down again. I have compiled 15 tried and true ways to help yourself loosen up when things get too tough to manage.

She was a straight-A, overachieving, well-rounded, scholarship-deserving teenager. And then, she found herself raising two of her own. Both her daughter and son are very bright, gifted according to their schools. Friends teased her about overdoing the classical-music-in-utero, which supposedly would produce smart kids.

Parenting, for me, is the most rewarding and yet the utmost difficult experience in the world. I have never felt such love, wonder, and happiness until I looked into the eyes of my children. I have also never felt so completely overwhelmed, incapable, and underwater.

We see our children and spouses daily around our house as we run from activity to activity, but how often do we think about the quality of the time we spend with them? In movies, every family sits down nightly together to enjoy an elaborate dinner at 6pm, and talks altogether. I would imagine that scenario is far less common now, but we likely still see our families around dinnertime at least for a few minutes every day, before returning to our tasks.

I have struggled with anxiety my entire life. From a young age I would give myself stomachaches from holding my stress in my stomach. I clenched my teeth, leading to dental problems. I had consistent migraines from overthinking. These health problems led to worse anxiety, which spiraled the more I got older. I was entirely unable to speak to strangers, I wouldn’t sleep the night before anything remotely important, I worried about each and every little thing I lacked control over, and I constantly had negative thoughts.

If you’re like me, you tend to spend a lot of time thinking about past, current, future, or hypothetical situations whenever you’re anxious, trying to sleep, or trying to sort through something. You think about a past event from three years ago where you said something awkward and feel embarrassment that you couldn’t or can’t “fix” that situation.

Our emotions can seem to be out of our control sometimes, but learning how to manage or balance them can really help us. Many of us have anxiety, so our worrying and overthinking gets out of hand. Some of us have depression, causing our sadness or helplessness to seem overpowering. Anger issues can cause emotional distress from ruminating thoughts.

Hardships and trauma will happen to everyone, no matter how safe we are,  as we are living in an imperfect world. We can’t prevent getting hurt, losing things, or struggling whatsoever. If we had the choice we would probably wish that everything would always be perfect for us all the time so we don’t have to feel sad or scared or worried, but we will never have that option. Each one of us has had experiences that we wish did not happen

Adding a new person to a household or having a person move out is a big deal for everyone involved. No matter what the size of the house, how close the relationships are, and what schedules are like, a change in the family unit’s living situation can be very difficult on all occupants. When a new baby is born, a grandparent moves in, a child is adopted, a high school graduate moves out, an older child moves out, etc., everyone living in the house experiences a change in atmosphere that must be adapted to. 

What psychological problems do we have a natural predisposition to developing? Are we able to prevent these through avoiding certain situations? What psychological problems are the result of our circumstances and experiences? Does our brain chemistry give some of us an easier time avoiding these issues compared to others experiencing the same things?  

All of us have friends or need them, as a friendship is one of the most important social connections in existence. Our friends are people we choose to join our lives and can become even closer than family. Having friends reduces stress, increases self confidence, boosts serotonin, and can encourage a healthy lifestyle.

ou may have heard of the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator/ Personality Test, where participants get assigned one of 16 different 4 letter acronyms describing their personalities through a self questionnaire. Some personality tests were scientifically designed and the ones that are offer valuable insights about people, which can be useful for employers, family members, or self-reflection.

Whether you enjoy adventuring and spending your vacation days constantly busy and exploring, laying down by a beach and reading a book, or traveling to see family and friends, vacationing is a great thing to prioritize when it is possible to do so. Adventurous vacations may cause you to fulfill your inner desires and bucket list goals, leaving you with fun memories and stories to carry forever.

What we eat is what builds our body, so of course it affects our brain functions and hormonal regulation. Choosing foods that make us run and feel better can help relieve mental health distress and brain fog! If you were to search the phrase “foods to help with (mental health condition)“ there would be many medical journals with diet plans and specific foods recommended to you based on your condition.

Conflict happens. It is a normal part of relationships because we are all different people with different needs and opinions. You can’t choose to not have conflict or to just avoid it entirely, but you can choose to avoid fighting. It is important to learn how to solve problems in a healthy way using techniques from positive conflict management. 

The concept of time in solitude may either sound ideal and wonderful to you, or more like a punishment. While some people prefer spending the vast majority of their time in the company of others, they will still find themselves needing to fulfill their natural need of private space and alone time occasionally, and that is a good thing! 

Attitudes involve a set of emotions and beliefs toward a concept that influence our behavior and tend to be enduring. Sometimes our attitudes are personal and trivial, such as what toppings we put on our pizza or what music we like to listen to. Our attitudes towards country music, let’s say, may stem from what music our parents played for us as children. If they enjoyed it, we may have a positive attitude towards it.