Depression is No Joke. How Nurses Can Use Laughter to Defeat Stress

Nothing is better than somebody making you laugh after having a bad day. Laughter is indeed the best medicine laughter can decrease cortisol in the body and increase feel-good chemicals in the body so that you can feel relaxed and happy.

Humor in the workplace can help with nursing challenges that feel impossible. It gives nurses a reason to laugh when things are out of control, reducing depressive symptoms.

After all, nurses need a reason to laugh in the workplace, and laughing with coworkers can be a great way to lift each other’s mood.

Why Depression is Common Among Nurses

Feeling sad after a negative event or when life doesn’t go your way is normal. Depression, however, can impair a person’s mood and cause them to feel a persistent loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.

Other depression symptoms include feeling constantly sad and anxious, a feeling of “emptiness,” difficulty concentrating, and physical aches. To be considered for depression, a person must feel depressed for at least two weeks or more.

Depression can often go together with burnout, according to a 2021 study, so nurses who feel burned out can also feel tired, lethargic, and not in the mood for anything.

Nurses are also more likely to experience depression with burnout when faced with demanding work situations with high stress. While burnout can cause nurses to be chronically exhausted and impair their performance at work, depression can play a role in the low moods that appear with burnout.

Finding Ways to Laugh on the Job

Because depression can co-occur with burnout, nurses must find ways to cope with the demands of their work through coping methods that work for them.

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

Nursing is a serious field that requires skill, patience, and dedication. But taking yourself too seriously can cause you to push yourself too hard and, if you’re not careful, lead to burnout in the future.

Life isn’t serious all the time. On times when your workplace is more relaxed, talk to your colleagues and share with them what’s happening in your life. You don’t even need to laugh talking to another nurse about your day or sharing a funny video you saw that made you smile is enough to improve your shift.

You can also ask a more experienced nurse about the funniest moment they witnessed at work with a patient. Even if you don’t laugh, you can expect an interesting story.

Laugh with Your Patients, Too

It’s not surprising that patients can also make nurses laugh hysterically. From bad medical reactions to wisecracking jokes, patients can bring the most fun to an otherwise stressful medical situation.

Of course, laughing at your patients is not advisable, but you can laugh with them through an enjoyable conversation or a common interest.

Sometimes, having a conversation with a patient, especially one who’s elderly or stuck in a hospital, can make them feel happier and less alone. It also brings some positive social interaction for you.

Find Humor Outside of Work

Life isn’t all about nursing. Find ways to destress away from work by going to a comedy club, listening to a comedian who makes you laugh, or making people laugh yourself.

You don’t need to make yourself laugh all the time to experience the positive emotions humor can bring. Small changes add up fast; even anything as simple as playing with your pet can release endorphins.

Laughter may not solve all of your nursing problems, but it can make them seem less urgent and bring more joy.

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Karie Pinnix

Karie Pinnix is a public relations strategist and freelance journalist with experience writing content for print and broadcast platforms and creating branding development with start-up companies. She’s written about topics like college nightlife, community organizations in Mississippi, and the nurse shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. When she’s not working, you can find her exploring nature, catching up on reading, or traveling to the nearest beach.