| Check out these quotes
from a Registered Nurse, Patty Wooten, RN BSN CCRN, who
reviews scientific studies linking laughter and good
health:
Coping with Stress: "Humor
and laughter can be effective self-care tools to cope
with stress. They can improve the function of the body,
the mind, and the spirit. An ability to laugh at our
situation or problem gives us a feeling of superiority
and power. Humor and laughter can foster a positive and
hopeful attitude. We are less likely to succumb to
feelings of depression and helplessness if we are able to
laugh at what is troubling us. Humor gives us a sense of
perspective on our problems. Laughter provides an
opportunity for the release of uncomfortable emotions
which, if held inside, may create biochemical changes
that are harmful to the body."
How to Do
It: "People can increase their
beneficial laughter by adding exposure to humorous
material. Caregivers can consciously change their
behaviors to provide more laughter and cheer in their
work settings."
Scientific Proof:
"Humor perception involves the whole brain and
serves to integrate and balance activity in both
hemispheres. Derks, at the College of William and Mary in
Williamsburg, has shown that there is a
unique pattern of brain wave activity during the
perception of humor.(49) EEG's were recorded on subjects
while they were presented with humorous material. During
the setup to the joke, the cortex's left hemisphere began
its analytical function of processing words. Shortly
afterward, most of the brain activity moved to the
frontal lobe which is the center of emotionality. Moments
later the right hemisphere's synthesis capabilities
joined with the left's processing to find the pattern --
to 'get the joke'. A few milliseconds later, before the
subject had enough time to laugh, the increased brain
wave activity spread to the sensory processing areas of
the brain, the occipital lobe. The increased fluctuations
in delta waves reached a crescendo of activity and
crested as the brain 'got' the joke and the external
expression of laughter began. Derks' findings shows that
humor pulls the various parts of the brain together
rather than activating a component in only one
area." Read Patty Wooten's full article "Humor: an
Antidote for Stress".
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Steven M. Sultanoff,
Ph.D. says, "Humor is one of the healthiest and most
powerful methods to help provide perspective on life's
difficult experiences, and it is frequently shared during
periods of crisis." Read his article "Using Humor in Crisis Situations".
The human race has one
really effective weapon, and that is laughter. - Mark
Twain, U.S. Author (1835-1910)
Learn to use humor as a
way to strengthen the immune system and how to make
changes in coping styles. - Humor for
Healing
Laughter lightens the
soul. Laughter helps break down barriers between people.
Laughter releases an endorphin that helps dull physical
pain in the body. Laughter reduces feelings of stress. - Humor and
Therapeutic Recreation
There are many good books and articles
detailing the positive effects of humor on your health.
Here are some resources:
Prevention Network Book
List,
Prevention Network
Articles List,
Therapeutic
Humor literature,
American
Association for Therapeutic Humor,
International
Center for Humor and Health,
IRSC
Therapeutic Humor, and
Therapeutic Recreation
From the Movie "Patch Adams"
"In the American Journal of Medicine, it is found that
laughter increases secretions of catacolamines and endorphins,
which, in turn, increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes the
arteries, speeds up the heart, decreases blood pressure, which has
a positive affect on all of the cardiovascular and respiratory
ailments, as well as overall increasing the immune system
response." --Patch Adams
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