Imagine a free, natural, and side-effect-free antidepressant that boosts your mood, strengthens relationships, reduces pain, and even improves your health. It exists—and it’s called laughing fits and cuddling.
Science proves that these two simple, everyday activities flood your body with powerful, mood-boosting hormones, rewiring your brain for happiness and resilience. Yet, most people neglect them entirely.
If you’re feeling anxious, disconnected, or just want to supercharge your emotional well-being, here’s why you should start having full-blown laughing fits twice a week and cuddling for hours regularly.
How a Laughing Fit Rewires Your Brain and Body
A 10-20 minute laughing fit isn’t just fun—it’s a full-on hormonal explosion that shifts your entire emotional state.
What Happens When You Laugh Until You Cry?
Endorphins ↑ (30-80%) – Your body’s natural painkillers surge, making you feel euphoric and reducing pain sensitivity.
Dopamine ↑ (20-50%) – The reward and motivation neurotransmitter skyrockets, leaving you energized and happy.
Serotonin ↑ (10-30%) – The same hormone antidepressants boost, helping stabilize mood and fight depression.
Oxytocin ↑ (30-80%) – The bonding hormone strengthens social connection, reducing feelings of loneliness.
Cortisol ↓ (30-60%) – The stress hormone plummets, relaxing your nervous system and reducing anxiety.
Why You Should Have a Laughing Fit Twice a Week
It’s a mental reset – Laughter shifts your brain into a positive, stress-free state, making it easier to tackle problems.
It lowers anxiety & depression – Studies show that laughter therapy significantly reduces cortisol, increases serotonin, and boosts emotional resilience (Manninen et al., 2017).
It’s a social glue – Laughter enhances bonding and trust, strengthening relationships and making you feel more connected.
It’s a painkiller – It reduces physical pain by flooding your body with endorphins, similar to a mild dose of morphine (Dunbar et al., 2012).
How to Trigger a Laughing Fit on Demand
Let’s be real—forcing laughter feels awkward. But hacking your brain into genuine laughter is totally possible. Here’s how:
Watch “unstoppable laughter” videos – People laughing uncontrollably triggers mirror neurons, making you laugh too. Try "news anchors laughing fails" or “babies laughing uncontrollably or "Funny videos compilation.”
Comedy binge challenge – Dedicate 30 minutes to watching stand-up, blooper reels, or classic comedy scenes (think: Monty Python, Jim Carrey, or Key & Peele).
Try laughter yoga – Yes, it’s real. Fake laughter often turns into real laughter and has identical hormonal benefits to spontaneous laughter.
Challenge a friend to a “no laughing” contest – One person tries to stay serious while the other makes ridiculous faces, noises, or impressions. First to laugh loses.
Tickling (if you're into it) – Tickling releases massive bursts of dopamine and endorphins, often leading to a full-blown laughing fit.
Why Long Cuddles Are a Biological Cheat Code for Happiness
Cuddling isn't just warm and fuzzy—it’s a neuroscience-backed therapy session that reprograms your brain for deep emotional well-being.
What Happens When You Cuddle for 1-2 Hours?
Oxytocin ↑ (100%) – The ultimate bonding hormone floods your system, reducing loneliness and increasing trust.
Dopamine ↑ (80-100%) – The pleasure hormone surges, improving mood and motivation.
Serotonin ↑ (50-80%) – Long cuddles work like an antidepressant, stabilizing mood and reducing sadness.
Cortisol ↓ (70-90%) – Stress and anxiety melt away as your nervous system shifts into deep relaxation.
Pain tolerance ↑ (50-100%) – Oxytocin and endorphins reduce physical pain, acting like a natural analgesic.
OK, But How Long Does It Last?
So you’ve had a full-blown laughing fit or spent two hours wrapped in a deep cuddle session—amazing. But how long do those feel-good hormones actually stick around?
Laughing Fit (20 Minutes) – Short and Intense Boost
Endorphins & Dopamine (happiness + motivation) → Last 30-90 minutes, giving you an instant energy boost.
Serotonin & Oxytocin (mood stability + connection) → Stay elevated for 1-2 hours, keeping you in a positive, uplifted state.
Cortisol Reduction (stress relief) → Effects last up to 4 hours, keeping anxiety at bay long after the laughter fades.
Cuddling (2 Hours) – Deep, Lasting Impact
Oxytocin (bonding + emotional security) → Spikes for 4-6 hours, with subtle effects lasting up to 24 hours.
Dopamine & Serotonin (happiness + relaxation) → Remain elevated for 4-8 hours, helping you feel calm, loved, and content.
Cortisol Reduction (stress melting away) → Can last up to 12 hours, keeping your nervous system in a relaxed, peaceful state.
Why You Should Combine Both
A laughing fit floods you with an immediate mood boost, while cuddling extends the feel-good effects for hours. Do both, and you’re looking at an all-day emotional high with a stronger stress buffer and deeper social connection.
This isn’t just feel-good fluff—this is biochemistry hacking at its finest.
Why You Should Cuddle for Hours Regularly
It’s an anxiety eraser – Oxytocin has a powerful calming effect, shutting down overactive stress responses (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998).
It strengthens relationships – Whether with a partner, friend, or pet, deep cuddling creates unbreakable emotional bonds.
It combats loneliness – The oxytocin surge from cuddling mimics the emotional security of deep connection, even if you’ve been feeling isolated.
It promotes deep sleep – Cuddling releases serotonin and melatonin , helping you fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality.
How to Get More Cuddling in Your Life
Make it a ritual – Schedule 1-hour cuddle sessions with friends and family, or spouse just like you’d schedule a workout or meditation.
Cuddle while watching movies – A perfect, effortless way to get extended oxytocin boosts.
Get a pet – Petting or holding a dog, cat, or even a weighted blanket triggers identical oxytocin surges to human cuddling.
Use a body pillow – If you’re alone, hugging a body pillow still releases oxytocin and lowers cortisol.
Ask for it – Be upfront with your partner or close friends. “Hey, I read this article that says cuddling for an hour is like a happiness drug—let’s try it!”
→ The goal: Regular 1-2 hour cuddling sessions. Let oxytocin do the rest.
Final Thoughts: Your New Emotional Superpower
If you’re looking for the fastest, most powerful way to hack your brain into happiness, nothing beats laughing fits and long cuddles.
Twice a week: Have a full-on laughing fit. Make it uncontrollable. Let your stomach hurt. Daily or weekly: Cuddle for hours or as long as you can. Let oxytocin flood your system.
Your brain has all the chemicals it needs to feel amazing—you just have to trigger them.
So go ahead. Laugh until you cry. Hold someone (or something) you love for hours. Your mind and body will thank you. :)
Comments