Don Recommends Smiling, Laughing As Antidepressant Therapy

A professor of exercise, science, and sports psychology at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Ibrahim Abubakar, has prescribed smiling and laughing as an effective antidepressant therapy.

He urged individuals to cultivate the habit of smiling and laughing and to practice this every day of their lives.

He said such individuals should also make at least three people smile every day of their existence, no matter the situation they find themselves in.

According to him, the smiling habit should be exhibited in addition to daily regular exercises of 10 minutes to one hour by every individual.

Abubakar, a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education of the university, stated this in the 15th inaugural lecture of the university, which he delivered.

In his paper, “Man’s Limitations of Himself Against the Potential and Gifts from His Creator: A Psychological Perspective,” Ibrahim said there was strong evidence that regular exercise can reduce the risk of major illness by up to 50 percent, the risk of death by up to 30 percent, and the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by 35 percent.

“Individuals are expected to cultivate the habit of smiling because it’s one of the ultimate antidepressants that decreases and eradicates limitations to human existence. Each day of our existence, we should be able to make at least three people smile, regardless of any circumstance. In laughing and smiling lies happiness,” he said.

“Regular Exercise: Exercise has become medicine. Every individual in society needs to be healthy. Therefore, regular and systematic workouts to forestall limitations is desirable and excellently doable because a healthy body produces healthy citizens in society.

“There is strong evidence that regular exercise can reduce the risk of major illness by up to 50 percent, lower the risk of early death by up to 30 percent, and lower the risk of coronary heart diseases and stroke by 35 percent. Therefore, I recommend that to prevent dullness and illness, including other forms of limitation, an individual needs at least 10 minutes and one hour of daily exercise and activities like walking, riding horses, cycling, and aerobics.

“Smiling and Laughing: Another form of life-changing activities towards better living and avoidance of limitations is that an individual is expected to cultivate the habit of smiling because it’s one of the ultimate depressants that decreases and eradicates limitations to human existence. Each day of our existence, we should be able to make at least three people smile, regardless of any circumstance. In laughing and smiling lies happiness,” Abubakar said.

He also recommended that everyone feed well to prevent dullness, especially not skipping breakfast.