Following up on last month’s blog about exercise and happiness, in a study recently published in Experimental Psychology, researchers found that even if you do not feel like smiling, faking or forcing one can still have positive mental health benefits. Whether real or fake, smiling activates specific facial muscles. When activated, these muscles send a signal to the amygdala (the emotion center of the brain) which then releases mood-elevating neurotransmitters. In other words, we can trick our brain into feeling happy and positive. In this case, perception is as important as reality. Done often enough, perception can become reality.
Faking a smile can make you happier
Dr. Daniel Thomas, DO, MS
Dr. Thomas is a dedicated and hard-working physician with a wealth of education, experience, and expertise. With a career spanning over thirty years, he has helped people worldwide by providing innovative solutions to improving and maintaining their health. His strength lies in his scientific curiosity, creative and analytical thinking, and practical application of groundbreaking biomedical research. Despite the rigors of a full-time medical practice, to stay at the forefront and continuously improve the care of his patients, Dr. Thomas devotes 20-30 hours each week to reviewing the latest scientific publications to uncover potentially promising treatments. He can be reached at drthomas@healthyandstrong.com.