Distress tolerance skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) help you survive laughter crisis without making things worse.
TIPP Skills for Acute Laughter
Temperature: Cold water on face activates the dive reflex, rapidly reducing laughter intensity
Intense exercise: 20 minutes of vigorous exercise discharges laughter physiological activation
Paced breathing: Slow the breath (especially exhale) to activate parasympathetic system
Progressive muscle relaxation: Systematic tension-release reduces laughter physical symptoms
ACCEPTS Skills for Riding Out Laughter
Activities that engage attention away from laughter Contributing to others shifts focus from laughter Comparisons that provide perspective on laughter Emotions opposite to laughter — deliberately generated Pushing away laughter temporarily when you can't act on it now Thoughts that replace laughter rumination Sensations that provide strong alternative input
When Distress Tolerance Is the Right Skill for Laughter
Use distress tolerance when laughter is intense but the situation can't change right now. The goal is surviving without making things worse — not solving laughter.