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by Fred Langer, RN
 
 
I. Humor & coping - the psychological benefits of humor
A. releasing pent up frustration/anger
B. cathartic mechanism-preserves emotional energy otherwise lost through negative emotions
C. dispelling anger and aggression in others
D. deny/avoid feelings too frightening to face
1. keep from being overtaken by situation
2. help preserve energy needed to cope with crisis
E. normalizing effect: "breaking the ice"
F. facilitating relaxation/establishing trust
G. initiating communication
H. a tool to achieve consensus
I. enhancing cohesion among divergent group members
J. reducing nervous tension
K. beneficial relaxation properties
L. negative applications (no benefit): sarcasm, mockery, ethnic, sexual
 
II. Physiology of laughter and its physical benefits
A. "Mirthful" laughter (according to research by William Fry and others) -
1. decreases stress hormones
a. dopac
b. cortisol
c. epinephrine
d. growth hormone
2. 100 good "belly laughs" is equal to 10 minutes on a rowing machine
a. pulse increases, then lower after finished
b. BP increases, then lower after finished
c. respirations increase
3. digestion is stimulated
4. CNS is stimulated
5. endorphines are produced
6. immune mechanism is stimulated
7. inflammatory response decreases
B. Therapeutic benefits of humor
1. greater degree of coping with terminal illness
a. more bonding with family, healthcare staff
b. symptoms decreased or better tolerated
2. after surgery, laughter
a. creates similar results as turning, coughing, and deep-breathing
b. has been shown to shorten healing time
NOTE: Norman Cousins (former editor of Saturday Review) claims to have been cured of ankylosing spondylitis through high doses of Vitamin C and constant laughter. (Or could it be that intentionally placing oneself in a positive frame of mind could lead to positive health outcomes?)
 
III. Your Attitude is Showing - the importance of a Positive Mental Attitude
A. Smile
1. your smile is your greatest asset
a. it only takes 16 muscles to smile, but 64 to frown
b. you cannot think negative thoughts while you are smiling
2. it makes people wonder what you are up to
B. Look for the good in other people
C. Avoid arguments
1. no one ever wins: "a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still"
2. see the other person's point of view
D. It's not what happens to us in life, it's how we respond to it.
E. Focus on solutions, not problems.
F. There are those who think they can succeed and those who think they can't; both are right.
G. "A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." Abraham Lincoln
H. Who we are in five years is determined by the books we read and the people we associate with. Some suggested books:
1. The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr. David Schwartz
2. The Magic of Thinking Success by Dr. David Schwartz
3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
4. An Enemy Called Average by John Mason
5. The Choice by Og Mandino
6. Life is Tremendous by Charlie "Tremendous" Jones
7. Humor is Tremendous by Charlie "Tremendous" Jones
8. Skill With People by Les Giblin
9. See You At the Top by Zig Ziglar
10. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
 
SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS:
 
1. Mirthful laughter
a. increases (then decreases) pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
b. decreases (then increases) pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
c. decreases digestion
d. causes cancer in laboratory rats
 
2. Humor therapy has been shown to
a. intensify symptoms and prolong the healing process
b. produce higher levels of stress hormones in the blood
c. promote coping with terminal illness & bonding with family & caregivers
d. have the greatest results with reruns of "Leave It to Beaver"
3. Humor is helpful in
a. belittling someone else to make oneself look good
b. initiating communication, dispelling anger, reducing nervous tension
c. making a point through sarcasm
d. getting rid of warts and other bothersome skin lesions
 
4. Who you are in five years is determined by
a. the movies you see and the food you eat
b. the places you go and the dreams you have at night
c. the books you read and the people you associate with
d. your memory and the honesty of your accountant
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Answers to Self-Assessment Questions)
1. a 2. c 3. b 4. c
 
 
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