Have you been laughing in sleep? Is it healthy for you?

Laughing in sleep may not be dangerous, but it can be interesting to understand its mechanisms.

Sleep is not optional but essential for us to function well. Sleep is so basic that we often take it for granted, but sleep is intricately linked to our mental and emotional health. We find it very amusing to see infants or children laughing in sleep, but we may find it strange to see it in adults.

The most common understanding is that laughing is linked to dreaming. As you may be aware, we go through various sleep stages. We don't always dream or remember what the dream content was.

However, during these stages, we may smile, laugh or sometimes even act out. While this is a common and typical experience, in some cases, it may create difficulties for you.

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Is laughing in sleep typical?

Laughing in sleep can be linked to your dreams and much more. (Image via Vecteezy/Mladen Mitrinovic)

Is laughing in sleep neurological disorder? Typically not. It's possible that you are dreaming of your family at an event, laughing with your partner or just chilling and laughing with your friends.

Dreaming is a normal process and there are many theories around why and how we dream. One of the roles of sleep and dreaming is that they have restorative functions.

Sometimes, what's not addressed in conscious awareness, it can pop up in our dreams. According to psychologists and theorists, dreams are the gateway to the unconscious. The unconscious is a storehouse of hidden dreams, desires and fears.

However, anything excessive is not good for your emotional health. How frequently have you been laughing in your sleep? Is this interfering with your behavior when you wake up?

When experiencing behaviors that you or your family members find a bit unusual, you can seek professional assistance. It may be indicative of a potential sleeping disorder, like REM sleep behavior disorder, which can pose a risk to your emotional and physical safety.

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Are there any positive effects to laughing in your sleep?

You may be surprised to hear about these benefits. (Image via Vecteezy/Maria Markevich)

Interestingly, laughing in sleep may have few potential benefits for your health. Typically, if you are laughing, it means that the content of the dream is positive.

Even if you have experienced a rough day at work, going to sleep with happy dreams can mentally rejuvinate you and make you feel lighter. While the research is unclear, perhaps the brain has its own way of coping with stress and other situations.

You may have noticed that if you see a horror movie or something similar, you may experience dreams with negative content. It seems that the brain is constantly recycling content.

So, happy experiences may generate happy dream content. While the positive effects are less explored, they make sense in enhancing our mental resilience. As you go through the stages of sleep, let the happy memories seep in.

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Laughing in sleep itself is not problematic and can potentially also have positive effects.

It's important to keep an eye open for when your sleep patterns become atypical, as they may pose a risk. However, you can occasionally enjoy a laugh or learn about it from others.

Sleep-related behaviors like laughing in sleep evoke curiosity. More research may be needed to draw further conclusions.

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Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.

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