How to Stop Nervous Laughter

Social anxiety can sometimes cause inappropriate laughter despite the fact that inside you may really feel like this famous painting by Evard Munch.

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Learn how to stop laughing nervously during conversations using simple techniques.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Motivation
Commitment
Determination

Step1

Determine the root cause of the laughter. Most likely the nervous laughter is being cause by the discomfort associated with some social anxiety you may or may not be consciously aware of. You will need to dig deep to evaluate why you are feeling this way if you want to stop it. Create a list if you suspect there is more than one reason for your nervousness.

Step2

Eliminate additional sources of anxiety. If being in a room full of crowded people adds to you social discomfort you may want to consider avoiding these types of situations until you can get a better handle on your anxiety. Try to logically talk yourself out of any source of anxiety that is obviously causing unwarranted nervousness, i.e. your shoes don't match your bag or your shirt is missing a button.

Step3

Learn breathing techniques. Excuse yourself to a restroom if necessary and practice deep meditative breathing to calm your inner self. Clear your mind with each breath you take and reemerge from the restroom with a renewed sense of self.

Step4

Seek professional guidance. You may want to consider talking to someone who can help you identify the root causes of your nervousness as well as teach you techniques for dealing with it. Some common professionals include psychologists, psychotherapists, life coaches, or social workers. Yoga or meditation may also help and is a welcome addition to any life that contains anxiety. If the problem persist or gets worse consider seeing a psychiatrist who can determine if medcation is the right choice for you.

Tips & Warnings

There is always a root cause of nervous laughter.
If you are unable to find the cause therapy will help.
Meditation can be done anywhere you may encounter the problem.
Do not attempt to self-medicate your anxiety! It will only make things worse in the end.

Photo/Video Credit

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Comments

MidniteWriter said

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on 1/9/2008 I like the eliminate stressful situations idea. This will help lessen the likelihood of nervous laughter. Maybe gaining more confidence will help individuals realize they can tackle social situations. There are meds for social anxiety as well, though that is a last resort. I like your warning. Good job!