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Humor and Health
Sue C. DeLaune, MN, RN
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Objectives
Describe therapeutic outcomes of humor.
Formulate one strategy for practicing joie de vivre.
Assumption ---- or Fact?
Happy people are ---
healthier than unhappy people
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“We are just here for a spell, so get a few laughs.” -- Will Rogers
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Humor: Not a new concept
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. [Eccles 3:4]
Humor Culturally defined Individual preference
AT&T Rule Appropriate Timely Tasteful
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Why Do We Laugh?
Unexpected & incongruent
Surprise & absurdity
Gotchas of life
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When Do We Laugh?
Infants – 10 weeks --- reflexive By age 4 years --- about every 4-5 minutes
(during play) People in good spirits --- 100 laughs a day
(W Fry)
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How Does Humor Serve Us?
Releases tension Increases insight An avenue for expressing feelings Builds trust….ice breaker
Energizes physically & relaxes emotionally
Physiological Functions of Humor
[Door Prize]*
Hearty, sustained laughter has similar effect on body as physical exerciseWm. Fry: evidence shows mirth & laughter affect most of the major organs in the bodyproduction of catecholamines: adrenaline & dopamine
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Physiological Effects (continued) Musculoskeletal effects (A & P of laughter) Cardiovascular effects:
(1) increases heart rate
(2) lowers BP Respiratory system
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Other Physiological Benefits:
Stimulates CNS- mental alertness
Releases endorphins “ you bask in mellow euphoria as adrenaline refreshes your nervous system like a tropical fruit drink” (R Brody)
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Social Benefits of Humor
Shortest distance between 2 people” --- positive effect on relationships --- forms a common bond
Productivity: (1) lifts morale (2) improves cohesiveness, team spirit
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Cognitive Benefits of Humor
Chemically activates right hemisphere of brain --- (1) governs emotions (2) spurs creativity (3) enhances problem-solving
Enhances learning: How do you use humor in the classroom?
Are you an LB or an RB?
Emotional Benefits
“Laughter is the best medicine”
Distraction from worry
Maintains balance by changing perspective
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“If you can find humor in anything, you can survive it.”
---- Bill Cosby
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Humor & Stress Management Laughter is like
popping the cork on a bottle of champagne
Humor & Stress Management Helps relieve fears What does society laugh at?
Sex, death, taxes DRGs
Gallows humor
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“Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter.”
--- Nietzsche
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Humor-Inducing Strategies
Laugh at self (greeting cards) Personal mottos Exaggeration Play Practice joie de vivre
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“A person will be called to account on judgment day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed but did not.” ---Talmud
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Look for the Absurdities in Life! Antithesis of worry
Twain (1) fast getaway (2) 102 catastrophes
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Absurdity Formula (Luke Barber, PhD)G = L
L = B
R = B
ergo R = G
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Absurdity Review
Look for humor in serious places: churches …
funeral parlors … newspaper headlines
Marketing slogans Healthcare
facilities … Charting bloopers
Newspaper Headlines
Red tape holds up new bridge
New study for obesity looks for larger group
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Absurd Classified Ad
Lost - dog, faded brown, 3 legs, 1 ear missing, blind in left eye, broken tail, recently neutered. Answers to name of “Lucky.”
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Humor at Work
“Geriantics” happy hour in nursing home Leisure skills training Humeorobics (My Bonnie workout) Life review Humor carts Bulletin boards
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Using Humor with Patients & Co-workers
Playfulness does not interfere w/ productivity Willingness to take risks History of humor exchanges Content is comprehensible Trust your intuition AT&T rule
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Barry Sultanoff, M.D.
“Laughing together can be a time of intimacy & communion, a time when we come forward, fully present, & touch each other’s humanness & vulnerability.
Humor is a way to express our humility.
By joining in humor & acknowledging our oneness, we can have a profound experience of unity & cooperation.
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When we laugh with another, we enfold that person in our loving, reach out with caring,
understanding, and support.
That, in itself, may be one of the most profound expressions of healing energy of which we are capable.”
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“He who laughs, lasts.” --- Anonymous
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Life’s Prizes
Most of us miss out on life’s big prizes... The Pulitzer... The Nobel... Oscars... Tonys... Emmys.
But we’re all eligible for life’s small pleasures.
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A pat on the back... A kiss behind the ear... A four pound bass... A full moon... An empty parking space... A crackling fire... A great meal... A glorious sunset... Hot soup... A cold drink...
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Don’t fret about copping life’s grand awards --- ENJOY ITS TINY DELIGHTS. [Anon]
NFL Motto
Warning: Humor may be hazardous to your illness.”
Resources
Adams, P. & Mylander, M. 1998. Gesundheit! Bringing good health to you..Inner Traditions.
Cousins, N. 1979. Anatomy of an illness. W.W. Norton.
DeLaune, S.C. 1993. Learned optimism. Aspen’s Advisor for Nurse Executive; 8(11):8.
Dupre, A. 1998. Humor & the healing arts. Lawrence Erlbam Associates
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Glouberman, D. 2003.The joy of burnout: how the end of the world can be a new beginning. Inner Ocean.
Goodman, J. (1995). Laffirmations. Health Communications
Gremigni, P. (2012). Humor & health promotion. Nova Science.
Gordon, S. & Brecher, H. 1990. Life is uncertain…eat dessert first! Delacorte.
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Hegeseth,C. 1988. A laughing place. Berwick. Helmstetter, S. What to say when you talk to
yourself. Bantam Books. Hallowell, E.M. 1997. Worry: controlling it and
using it wisely. Pantheon. Lefcourt, H. M. 2013. Humor: the psychology of
living buoyantly. Springer-Verlag.
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Martin, R. 2001. Humor, laughter, physical health: methodological issues & research findings. Psychol Bulletin, 127: 504-519. Pasquali, E. 1990. Learning to laugh: humor as therapy. J Psych Nurs, 23: 31-35.
Pearsall, P. 1988. Super Joy. Bantam Books. Peterson, C. & Bossio, L. 1991.Health &
optimism. The Free Press.
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Pierlot, D. & Warelow, P. 1999. What’s funny about nursing? Contemp Nurse, I: 121-127.
Seaward, B. L. (2012). Stressed is dessert spelled backward. White Light.
Seligman, M. 2006. Learned optimism. Knopf.
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