Positives

• Laughter triggers release of serotonin and dopamine (the same neurotransmitters targeted by antidepressants) and interrupts ruminative cycles common in chronic illness depression RTOR.
  
  

Negatives

• Effects on fatigue and cardiopulmonary outcomes have not consistently reached statistical significance in reviews, suggesting laughter therapy is more reliable for the mood and stress components than for the energy and breathlessness components of Long COVID ScienceDirect.
  
  

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Laughter yoga classes and laughter-therapy groups are inexpensive but require finding a local facilitator; YouTube-based home practice is widely available but adherence drops without group accountability Mayo Clinic.
  
  
• Forced laughter can briefly increase heart rate and blood pressure, so patients with severe POTS or post-COVID cardiac concerns should start with shorter sessions and monitor their response PubMed.