Don Prescribes Smiling, Laughing As Anti- Depressant 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 anti-depressant therapy.

Urging individuals to frequently cultivate and put into practice the habit of smiling and laughing, the don said such individuals should also make at least three people smile as well in each day of their existence, no matter the situation they find themselves .

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

Abubakar, a lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education of KWASU, stated this while delivering the 15th inaugural lecture of the university, said: “There was strong evidence that regular exercises can reduce the risk of major illness by up to 50% and lower risk of death by up to 30% and lower risk of coronary heart diseases and stroke by 35%.

“Individual is expected to cultivate the habit of smiling because it’s one of the ultimate anti- depressants that decrease and eradicate delimitations to human existence. Each day of our existence, we should be able to make at least three (3) people to smile as well, regardless of any circumstance. In laughing and smiling lies happiness”

“Regular Exercise: Exercise has become medicine, every individual in the society needs to be healthy, and therefore, the need for regular and systematic workout to forestall limitation is desirous and excellently doable because it is a healthy body that produces healthy citizen in the society.

“There is strong evidence that regular exercise can reduce the risk of major illness by up to 50%, lower risk of early death by up to 30%, and lower risk of coronary heart diseases and stroke by 35%. I, therefore, recommend that to prevent dullness and illness including other forms of limitations, an individual needs at least between 10 minutes and 1hour daily exercise and activities like walking, riding horses, cycling as well as 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 anti- depressants that decreases and eradicate elimitations to human existence. Each day of our existence, we should be able to make at least three (3) people to smile as well, regardless of any circumstance. In laughing and smiling lies happiness.”

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