Helper's High

thust377

3 bone chilling ghost and a night of sleepless terror turned Ebenezer Scrooge on to a man that knew the feeling of the ‘helper’s high’. In the movie “A Christmas Carol” we saw a grumpy, rude man’s world get turned upside down and turned into a sweet, caring and extremely happy man. Fiction right? Maybe not, there is more and more evidence that proves helping others by volunteering or the giving of money can give you a great feeling known as the ‘helper’s high”. I’m sure many of you have heard or even experience the runner’s high, research compares the feeling of the helper’s high to the same feeling as the runner’s high. Small acts of kindness and giving releases endorphins in the giver’s body, this leads them to a feeling of elation followed by a feeling of calm.

At Duke University Medical Center, past heart patients were asked to volunteer their time and visit current heart patients, to listen to them and lend support. The results from this was amazing, the volunteers had better health after their heart attacks then the people that didn’t volunteer their time. “20/20” also did a study of their own not too long ago. They asked a group of people that didn’t normally volunteer, to find something to give their time to. They first had to answer the question of “how often do you feel calm and peaceful” After a week they had to answer the same question, and the results went from some of the time, to most of the time. In one week the participants felt a transformation of being happier and more fulfilled.

This helper’s high is more than just a feeling; it actually shows up on MRI brain scans of the people helping. People who give money show brain activity that’s associated with feel-good chemicals, this same brain activity that happens when they give, is the same activity that happens when you receive money. As a matter of fact, the brain activity you get when giving is more powerful then when you receive. Many people who are asked after their time of giving, “who got more out of the volunteering, you or the people you helped?” they all respond with a simple answer, “me, definitely” Maybe we can call it selfish to help others, because giving makes us feel so good, but selfish acts of selfless giving, is exactly what we need more of.

Happiness and giving may even operate in a positive feedback loop. With happier people giving, making them happier, causing them to give even more. Giving back to others unselfishly is a way of giving to yourself. Putting the needs of others ahead of your own can help people find a sense of direction and bring purpose to life. “There is no better exercise for your heart then to reach down and helping to lift someone up.” –Bernard Meltzer. When people have a lot of happiness they do a lot better in their health as well. So try it – Go out and donate your time or money, you will help others, but you will also benefit yourself too.

Angela4Health

This is so true, and thank you for posting. There are so many things we can all do on a daily basis to help others.