The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
I’m not one to wish ill will on other people, but I feel like everyone ought to experience laughatosis on a frequent basis. According to my seven-year-old daughter, laughatosis is a serious condition with no known cure. Victims experience sudden bursts of uncontrollable laughter, which can last for various lengths of time. Laughatosis can occur during inappropriate times, such as in a classroom or church setting. It can be quite burdensome because you find yourself laughing uncontrollably in such setting, able to stop the minute you leave that setting, only to find the ailment take control again upon returning to the setting. Other times, laughatosis occurs for no reason other than a good mood strikes. In such cases, the slightest trigger can set you off, making you appear insane to others around you who do not find anything slightly amusing. This is actually how I was diagnosed.
Laughatosis is highly contagious. So be careful if you’re around someone with this condition. If you catch it, you may experience exhaustion, side stitches, loss of breath, and watering eyes. Those less fortunate may experience other bodily effects such as snorting, squeaking/squealing, or hiccupping. While some of these symptoms sound disturbing, laughatosis actually produces positive effects. After an episode, you will realize that your whole body has relaxed. You will find yourself happier. Any stress you were feeling beforehand will subside. Further, the condition produces a facial expression that many find enhances a person’s appearance.
While most of us try to proactively avoid contagious conditions, I hope this is one that affects you frequently. If you experience the condition at an inappropriate time, don’t worry, nobody can stay angry at a person who is infected with laughatosis. It rapidly spreads anyway, so most people around you will get a touch of it too.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
