Spending good times in the company of our loved ones usually gives us great pleasure and makes us laugh a few times. This produces a series of bodily changes that are not taken into account at the time these sensations arise. How many times have we heard a joke that caused us such excessive joy that we couldn’t control our laughter?
It is clear that laughter is a response that marks a reaction to an event that surprises us. However, there are certain situations that are not fun, but in which some people are not able to contain these types of responses and are subjected to embarrassing moments when they cannot control this involuntary act. In this Psychology-Online article we will explain Why do I get fits of laughter for no reason and what to do.
Why do I get fits of laughter out of nowhere?
Laughter can be caused by voluntary and involuntary aspects that surround the person. As for those conscious stimuli that awaken this action, we can highlight some such as jokes or humiliating situations. In other words, the person knows the reason why they laugh, however, this laughter may be involuntary and may not have a logical explanation.
In this sense, it is important to emphasize that there are always certain causes linked to these laughter attacks. We see them below:
- Organic lesions: certain parts of the central nervous system are associated with the processing of stimuli coming from outside. When there is an overactivation of neurotransmitters as a result of injuries due to diseases and/or accidents, it is possible that they act as triggers for involuntary laughter. Among the best known are gelastic epilepsy, cerebrovascular accidents, among others.
- Unconscious aspects: According to psychoanalytic theory, psychological content arises that correspond to unconscious issues that the person does not know live inside them. In turn, this implies that laughter without an apparent cause may be due to having established a connection with some situation in that person’s daily life. To find the reasons for this type of reaction, it will be necessary to go to a mental health professional.
- Mental disorders: Another possible cause of attacks of laughter for no reason may be the presence of some mental disorder. They include those mental health problems that represent alterations in behaviors, emotions and thoughts. Here we can find, for example, autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia, among others.
What are attacks of laughter like for no reason?
In general terms, attacks of laughter for no reason have a gradual onset that increases in intensity as it develops. In other words, a fit of laughter begins with an unmotivated smile and later transforms into small sounds.
Once the laughing attack increases, can impact the activity that the person is developing to the point of being unable to stop this situation. Although the duration of these episodes can vary depending on the qualities of the person and the context in which they develop, the average time ranges from a few seconds to several consecutive minutes.
What to do when you have a fit of laughter for no reason
Despite the difficulties that this type of problem can cause, there are some methods to counteract the negative effects that occur in different environments. Here’s what to do when you start laughing for no reason:
- Distraction of thoughts: When a person starts laughing without being able to stop, one of the most viable options is to turn to other thoughts that are a source of distraction from the stimulus that generates this response. However, it may need to be repeated several times until it has the desired effect.
- Focus on breathing: The respiratory rhythm is associated with the neuronal connections that are released when an attack of laughter occurs for no reason. For this same reason, lowering the intensity through deep breathing can be a possibility to control this moment. In this article you will find some that you can do in these cases.
- Identification of laughter without reason: If a person knows that he or she has this type of involuntary actions, it will be necessary to record them to know and address them in another way. When a person can visualize the moments in which these episodes occur, it is possible to anticipate them and try to avoid them.
- Evasion of the moment: faced with the imminent appearance of an attack of laughter for no reason, it is important to know that it is an action that can be considered negatively by the social environment. If you cannot control the situation, it is best to avoid it. For this reason, it is preferable to leave the place to avoid an unpleasant moment.
- Start psychological treatment: In the event that attacks of laughter for no reason cause harm that the person cannot control and lead them to have problems in their daily life, it may be a good time to begin psychological treatment. The mental health professional will provide tools to cope with these types of difficulties in a more enjoyable way.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Gálvez Flores, J. (2007). Neuropsychiatric aspects of cerebrovascular diseases. Colombian Journal of Psychiatry, 36 (1), 63-91.
- Sineiro García, C., Paz Míguez, MJ (2007). Emotional lability/negative affectivity and emotional regulation in children of anxious mothers. Psicothema Magazine, 19 (4), 627-633.