humor and wellness

HUMOR AND WELLNESS (your funny bone and you): 

HUMOR AND WELLNESS (your funny bone and you) Wellness = a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being. A life of balance and fullness. Humor is associated with intelligence and creativity and is identified as an important piece of overall wellness. Humor, especially when accompanied by laughter, is said to promote physiological, psychological, and social change.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Proverbs 17:22: 

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Proverbs 17:22 Pain reduction -- Laughter stimulates: catecholamine production, which stimulates: endorphin (natural pain-reducing bio-stuff) production, which: would make it difficult to 'laugh ‘til it hurts' Increase in disease-fighting white blood cells Loma Linda University study (dude)

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A sense of humor/laughter protects against heart disease reduction in stress Laughter pumps the heart, muscles of the abdomen, chest, shoulders, neck… stimulates the brain, ventilates lungs, raises heart rate, respiration, and circulation William F. Fry, M. D., 100 laughs (adult daily average) equal to: 15 min. on stat. bike or 10 min. on rowing machine Four words: Comedy channel, potato chips

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Humor use in health care study of humor for palliative care humor and laugh therapy with cancer patients not curative, helps alleviate pain Dr. Hunter 'Patch' Adams Book: Humor and the Healing Arts: A Multimethod Analysis of Humor Use in Health Care -- Athena du Pré discusses prevalence and appropriateness OFTEN appropriate, but as in all good humor, it’s a question of … … … … … timing.

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand - Mark Twain: 

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand - Mark Twain Freud effects of perceived humor on emotions Positive psychological effects associated with laughter/sense of humor reduction in stress, anxiety increase in self-esteem and positive self concept Kuiper/Martin study --227 university students

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associated with potent coping skills Vietnam POW’s -- motorcycle and chimpanzee Use of humor in therapy/counseling patients with schizophrenia addictions counseling Books: Humour on the Couch -- Alessandra Lemma (Psychotherapist/comedienne); The Handbook of Humor -- humor in varies modalities Isn’t this supposed to be therapy for me? Wait until the nitrous oxide kicks in. Hee hee, I love my work. You didn’t give me any. Oh oh yeah, he he he he. I love my work.

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge: 

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge Social effects mediates social support funny (often) = greater popularity/support ability to laugh at self -- sign of strength/self confidence/more socially attractive enhances social feelings and self confidence directly related to positive psychological effects less anxiety better self concept higher self-esteem

Humor is an awesome responsibility - Frank Palmer: 

Humor is an awesome responsibility - Frank Palmer Using your power for good and not for evil Being sensitive Who is your audience? Who else might be? Being sensible What’s appropriate, what’s not. Is it culturally appropriate? Mysteries of humor in other cultures; regardé: Jerry Lewis in France All important … … … … timing

So, what now?: 

So, what now? Read a funny book…laugh. Watch a funny movie…laugh. Listen to a funny person…laugh. And when all else fails? Fake it. Your body doesn’t know the difference. But, beware… If you do not laugh regularly, you may suffer from HUMORRHOIDS… cures include taking a mild laughsitive everyday. - Lynn Erdmann Bye. THE END