Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Chloe Carmichael, PhD and by How.com.vn staff writer, Eric McClure. Chloe Carmichael, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who runs a private practice in New York City. With over a decade of psychological consulting experience, Dr. Chloe specializes in relationship issues, stress management, self esteem, and career coaching. She has also instructed undergraduate courses at Long Island University and has served as adjunct faculty at the City University of New York. Dr. Chloe completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York and her clinical training at Lenox Hill Hospital and Kings County Hospital. She is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is the author of “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety” and “Dr. Chloe's 10 Commandments of Dating.”
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 448,113 times.
Laughing whenever someone stops speaking is usually a sign of anxiety, but there are several other reasons that you may be laughing too often. You may laugh if you’re nervous, trying to break the tension, daydreaming, or struggling to focus. To stop laughing every time that someone speaks, start by figuring out the cause of the laughter by tracking how you feel when you do it. Then, use pinches, focused breathing, and physical distractions to stop anxious laughter. If you’re struggling to engage in conversations, practice mindful listening techniques by mirroring the speaker’s behavior and asking follow-up questions.
Steps
Figure out if you’re anxious, nervous or scared when you laugh. Sometimes you just laugh because things are funny. For example, this picture is really funny. It looks crazy and it's so funny you have to laugh at it. People laugh after other people speak for a variety of reasons, and figuring out why you’re laughing will make it easier to stop. Every time that you notice you’re laughing a lot, ask yourself, “How do I feel right now?” If you’re nervous or afraid, the laughter is probably a subconscious defense mechanism against feelings of anxiety or nervousness.[1]- The best way to avoid laughing when you’re anxious is to develop coping strategies to make social interactions more comfortable for you. There are plenty of preventive measures and physical tricks that you can use to calm your body.
Determine if you’re laughing because you aren’t actively listening. Many people laugh when they daydream, don’t know what to say, or find something inappropriate funny. When you find yourself laughing frequently in a conversation, take a moment to self-reflect. If you’re comfortable, relaxed, and don’t have any issue with the conversation itself, the odds are that you’re laughing to fill gaps in the conversation or because you aren’t actually engaged in the conversation.[2]- If you’re laughing because you picture something funny when people talk, don’t know what to say, or find yourself daydreaming, work on your listening skills and focus on the conversation to avoid laughing.
Advertisement
Practice controlling your laughter in one-on-one conversations. It’s a lot harder to be comfortable, focus on listening, and control your impulses in large crowds or social settings. To get a better sense of why you’re laughing so frequently, stick with intimate and private conversations whenever you can. As you identify your triggers and determine what the issue is, you can work your way up to controlling your laughter at larger social gatherings.[3]- It can be hard to focus on listening when there are a ton of distractions. Sticking with one-on-one conversations will help limit the amount of background noise so you can focus on the interaction.
Tip: This is particularly important if your laughter is the result of anxiety or fear. Large crowds and public speaking tend to exacerbate negative feelings when it comes to nerves.
Consult a doctor if you’re laughing uncontrollably for no reason. If you really can’t stop yourself from laughing and can’t figure out why you’re doing it, consult a doctor. You may have something called an involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED), which can be treated with medication and therapy. Symptoms of IEED include excessive crying, irritability, mood swings, and a lack of restraint.[4]- Seeing a psychiatrist and engaging in talk therapy can help you cope with the symptoms of IEED.
- In extreme cases, doctors may prescribe antidepressants to calm your emotional responses and manage the symptoms of the disorder.
Slow your breathing down as soon as you start laughing. If you feel an inappropriate laugh coming on, focus on your breathing. Close your lips and slowly inhale for 2-3 seconds through your nose. Then, exhale slowly through your lips as you purse them together. Continue this process until you’re inhaling for 5 seconds and exhaling for 5 seconds. Controlling your breathing will make it difficult to laugh while giving your body something else to focus on.[5]- If you don’t want people to notice that you’re doing this, bend down and act like you’re tying your shoe or turn away and act like you’re responding to a text message.
Tip: This is the most efficient way to prevent anxious laughing. As you slow your breathing, your heart rate will naturally decrease and you’ll find it easier to calm down. Actively pursing your lips will also make it hard for you to make the facial expression required to laugh.
Pinch yourself to redirect your impulse to break out in laughter. On an inconspicuous section of your arm or leg, pinch your skin right before you feel like you’re going to laugh. Pinch hard enough to feel it, but not so hard that you cause yourself extreme pain. This physical sensation will redirect your impulse to laugh, and you’ll find it easier to stay quiet.- Pinching yourself is a great way to avoid laughing at inappropriate or serious comments that don’t merit laughter.
- Instead of pinching yourself, you can bite your lip or curl your toes before leaning forward on them.
Tuck your thumb in your fist and squeeze to distract yourself. If you think you may laugh in the upcoming conversation, take your thumb and tuck it into your palm. Then, wrap your other 4 fingers around your thumb to make a fist. Squeeze firmly to distract your body and stop a laugh from happening.- You can do this on either of your hands—it won’t make much of a difference. You can also do this on both hands if you prefer.
- This is a trick used to stop the gagging impulse if you feel like you might throw up. Activating your arm muscles tenses your chest at the same time, making it harder for your body to contract as you laugh or gag. This makes it a great way to prevent anxious laughter.
Look away and focus on something else to avoid eye contact. If you find yourself laughing frequently during an interaction, take a few seconds to stare off into the distance behind the speaker. Find a tree, bird, or building to inspect and look at it for 10-15 seconds. Focus on the object that you’re looking at instead of the speaker until you feel yourself relaxing and zoning out. Then, reenter the conversation after you’ve reset your focus and mood. [6]- This is a great choice if you’re in a social setting where other people are talking in front of you. It won’t do much help if you’re engaged in a private conversation though, since you’ll be expected to respond at some point and have to maintain focus.
Fidget with an object to redirect your anxiety elsewhere. When you’re in an uncomfortable social setting, play with a pen, coin, or scrap of paper to naturally calm yourself. Twirl the item around in your fingers and rub it repeatedly to keep your senses activated. This will give your body a simple action to focus on while you passively listen to someone else, making it harder to break out in laughter every time that someone stops speaking.- This is not necessarily the best choice if you’re in a professional setting where you aren’t supposed to be fidgeting.
- You can also tap your fingers on something if you don’t have a random item in your pocket.
Think of something boring to distract yourself from laughing. Another way to cut back on laughing after every comment is to distract your mind with something boring. You can do this by counting sheep, thinking about household chores, or reciting a random song in your head. Any topic will work so long as it doesn’t trigger laughter.- This is a great choice if you’re in a situation where you are only supposed to be listening, like if you’re watching a movie or attending a lecture.
Use verbal hums or say “ok” to show people you’re listening. Some people passively laugh or chuckle as a form of nonverbal communication to indicate that they’re engaged in the conversation. If you think this is you, start incorporating a different sound or simple, “Ok” after people speak to replace the laughter. A basic, “Mmm” is an easy alternative that won’t require any actual speaking while still showing people that you’re engaged.[7]- Many of the people who do this laugh to show that they’re engaged because they’re subconsciously nervous about being excluded from a conversation. This tends to be a combination of anxiety and poor listening. Incorporate tricks from both methods if you have an issue with both types of laughter.
- If you want a nonverbal option, consciously nod a little after someone finishes talking.
Pretend that you’re trying to memorize what people say as they talk. Another way to stay engaged and avoid giggling while people speak is to try memorizing what people say. As someone starts to talk, repeat each word that they say in your head. Picture each individual word and pretend that you’re trying to memorize it to make a game out of it. The more focused you are on the words, the more likely you are to be engaged without the subconscious need for laughter.[8]- This is a great trick if you find yourself daydreaming while people talk. This can also help you avoid laughing at inappropriate or innocuous comments.
Mirror the tone and facial expressions of the person you’re talking to. Another way to stay engaged and avoid laughing is to mirror the speaker’s behavior. Subtly try to copy the speaker’s tone when replying and focus on their facial expressions to make them easy to duplicate. If they smile, smile back. If they scowl, do the same. Mirroring the speaker’s behavior will also make it easier to gauge when it’s appropriate to laugh.[9]Warning: For some people, trying to duplicate the speaker’s tone and expression will actually make things worse if they’re naturally prone to giggling at silly stuff. If you find this extremely hard to do or don’t think it actually helps you cut back on laughing, stop trying to mirror the other person’s behavior.
Ask clarifying questions to meaningfully engage in the conversation. You can’t laugh after every comment if you have something to say. As someone is speaking, think of a follow-up question or engaging comment that you want to share. Formulate your comment or question in your head, and wait for the other person to stop speaking before sharing it. This will ensure that you remain engaged and don’t have time to laugh after someone stops speaking.[10]- For example, if someone is talking about their sick dog and they say, “The vet thinks that Fluffy will be okay, but I’m not sure,” ask, “What aren’t you sure about?” or say, “Well, I hope Fluffy is okay. He’s a good dog.” This way, you’re participating instead of observing the conversation.
Take a break and leave for a few minutes if you need to relax. If you really feel the laughter building up and you’re struggling to focus, walk away. Say that you need to check your phone or write something down and leave the room for 3-5 minutes. Let any laughter out and control your breathing to reset your body before rejoining the conversation.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat causes nervous laughter?
Chloe Carmichael, PhDChloe Carmichael, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who runs a private practice in New York City. With over a decade of psychological consulting experience, Dr. Chloe specializes in relationship issues, stress management, self esteem, and career coaching. She has also instructed undergraduate courses at Long Island University and has served as adjunct faculty at the City University of New York. Dr. Chloe completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York and her clinical training at Lenox Hill Hospital and Kings County Hospital. She is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is the author of “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety” and “Dr. Chloe's 10 Commandments of Dating.”
Licensed Clinical PsychologistThat depends on your unique situation. Try to explore those moments of nervous laughter and ask yourself what's happening. Really challenge yourself to find out if there's some discomfort or resistance. Is there sadness or anger, or maybe some other emotion that also feels like it would be inappropriate to express or difficult to grapple with? Don't be hard on yourself, though, because there's obviously already something going on there that's stressful and difficult. Try to look at the laughter in a non-judgmental way, as a sign that you need some attention and support. - QuestionWhy do I laugh at death?
How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt’s actually very common and natural to laugh at things that are uncomfortable, stressful, or scary. Laughter helps relieve stress, so it can be a normal form of emotional release even if the emotions you’re feeling aren’t positive. - QuestionWhat is it called when someone laughs after everything they say?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerSometimes it’s called a nervous laugh. Or, if the person is laughing at themself, you could call it a self-deprecating laugh.
Reader Videos
Tips
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. People tend to laugh more frequently when they’re tired and you’ll struggle to control yourself if you’re exhausted.Thanks
- It will be really hard to cull your laughing overnight. Stay consistent and don’t get discouraged to break the habit over time.Thanks
- Don’t try to stop laughing if everyone else is laughing. Instead, use this as an opportunity to get your laughing out of the way!Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- People enjoy real genuine laughs. If something is funny, don't be afraid to laugh at it, even if you laugh a lot.
- Try thinking about something sad to keep from laughing.
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about human behavior, check out our in-depth interview with Chloe Carmichael, PhD.
References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/202108/why-we-laugh-when-were-nervous
- ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fict.2015.00004/full
- ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2017/12/advice-for-people-who-feel-anxious-in-crowded-spaces.html
- ↑ https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/involuntary-emotional-expression-disorder-often-misdiagnosed-and-untreated
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/202108/why-we-laugh-when-were-nervous
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/using-the-five-senses-for-anxiety-relief#using-your-senses
- ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/how-to-talk-about-health-problems/active-listening
- ↑ https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/how-to-talk-about-health-problems/active-listening
- ↑ http://etiquette-ny.com/the-art-of-listening-why-being-a-good-listener-will-improve-your-life-and-how-to-become-one/#
About This Article
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
Whether you find yourself laughing when you’re feeling anxious, trying to break the tension, daydreaming, or struggling to focus, there are a few simple ways to break this habit. If you feel an inappropriate laugh coming on, close your lips and slowly inhale for 2 to 3 seconds through your nose. Then, exhale slowly through your lips as you purse them together. Continue this process until you feel yourself calm down and the impulse to laugh disappears. Another way to stop laughing is to pinch yourself on your arm or leg, bite your lip, or curl your toes before leaning forward on them. This will help you focus on something other than laughing. If you simply can’t compose yourself, walk away for a few minutes, let your laughter out, then reset before rejoining the conversation. To learn how to fidget with something to avoid laughing, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
"I am nervous around people, avoiding people because I am a co-dependent adult child of narrcissistic abuse. This article makes me realize my constant laughter is the outward manifestation. I stopped doing it & now I'm fine-unbelievable!"..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
