Could laughter be the most underrated therapy for both children and adults? Meet Annie Harvey, affectionately known as "the laughter therapist," whose journey from stressed caregiver to laughter yoga leader offers a fascinating glimpse into how simulated laughter can transform our neurological health.
Annie shares her powerful story of caring for her parents with dementia and discovering that three minutes of mindfulness practice three times a week dramatically changed how she responded to stress. But it was a chance encounter with laughter yoga at a Dalai Lama event that truly transformed her approach to wellbeing. Now, she helps others understand the science behind why even "fake" laughter produces genuine neurological benefits.
The conversation explores how laughter stimulates the vagus nerve—that crucial communication pathway running from brain to spine—flooding our bodies with feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. For parents and educators working with neurodivergent children, this offers a powerful co-regulation tool summarized in Annie's beautiful phrase: "Let them join your calm, don't join their chaos."
What's particularly fascinating is how many neurodivergent children instinctively use humming and buzzing to self-regulate—they're naturally stimulating their vagus nerve! Annie suggests that before teaching children complex emotional regulation techniques, we might start by helping them identify where they feel laughter in their bodies, building emotional literacy through positive sensations first.
Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or simply someone who recognizes they don't laugh enough, Annie's accessible approach offers practical tools for improving wellbeing. Her upcoming "Laughter Effect" workshop and new book "The Burnout Blueprint for Caregivers" promise to bring these techniques to those who need them most.
When was your last genuine belly laugh? If it's been too long, perhaps it's time to try "faking it until you make it"—your nervous system won't know the difference!
https://www.thestilleffect.com.au/
https://www.ted.com/talks/annie_harvey_silence_to_lol
danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services
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