Spending time on an
Positive Mood Can Help Improve Emotional Health
One study even found that increases in a good mood (also known as “positive affect”) may counteract unhappy or fearful states characteristic of mood disorders such as those involving anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia.
Also, having fun has positive biological effects. When we do pleasurable activities, it releases dopamine which leads to positivity and can counteract more uncomfortable feelings of hopelessness and stress. Finally, having fun allows us the opportunity to connect and create bonds with others.
Having regular fun in your life can help you feel less overwhelmed by the stressors you face. This can help you change your attitude toward your lifestyle stressors so that you're less reactive to stress when you experience it.
You do not only de-stress, you also boost your social life. It is especially important to gather the right people around you. If you do not feel comfortable, you won't be happy. But if you have the right positive people accompanying you, party nights can be the very best.
Yes, activities that make you laugh can reduce the symptoms of depression. Laughter affects the levels of certain hormones in the body, which can have a positive effect. Stress, on the other hand, negatively alters those levels, increasing depression symptoms.
Spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing. In fact, people with hobbies may be less likely to experience stress, low mood, and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed.
According to Dr. Matt Bellace at Lynn University in Florida, laughter releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which serves as a reward for the brain, creates a sense of euphoria, and plays a pivotal role in our motivation to continue the behavior.
Yes, we can eliminate anxiety disorder and feel completely normal again – actually, we can feel much better than normal once we've done our recovery work. But we must do the right work. Otherwise, we get the same result: issues with anxiety that cause problems with stress and symptoms.
Why can happiness skyrocket your anxiety levels? It comes down to a fear of happiness. Researchers use a “fear of happiness” scale to determine correlations between happiness levels and fear of something bad occurring.
“Happiness is a byproduct of fun,” Dr. Rucker says. When we do things that we see as fun, over time, we'll perceive our lives as being happier. “We used to view happiness as a framework of cause and effect,” he says.
Having fun relaxes us, gives us space to reflect, helps us learn, and shows us how to promote our wellbeing. I can have fun just as a child can have fun with whatever I've got and just as I am. I don't have to do or be anything else first. If I am willing to let myself, I can have fun putting on my shoes.
When teachers use activities that make learning engaging and fun, students are more willing to participate and take risks. Having fun while learning also helps students retain information better because the process is enjoyable and memorable.
Happy People Are Healthier: Some 65% of Studies Show a Link Between a Cheerful Disposition and Improved Wellbeing. A study led by psychology professor Ed Diener shows that there is a link between happiness and health. Happy people tend to be healthier and live longer and chronic unhappiness can be a true health threat.
Feeling lonely can have a negative impact on your mental health, especially if you've felt lonely for a long time. Some research suggests that loneliness can increase stress. It's also associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems.
In a way, your anxiety means your only protecting yourself from anticipated unhappiness. So why does it feel like anxiety is sometimes triggered by happiness? It's because the moment you are relaxed and happy, you can start to feel vulnerable. You may get the feeling like you're letting your guard down.
Research in neuroplasticity has shown that the brain is malleable, and can even be 'trained'. The same way exercise makes muscles stronger, you can also strengthen neural pathways with certain behaviors and thought patterns, and reduce the symptoms and frequency of anxiety.