An old, rather homely spinster was looking for a husband. Spotting a nice looking man in a restaurant, she boldly approached him, saying, "Well-l, hello there. I haven't met you before. Who are you?" he answered, "My name is John Block, and I just got out of prison for murdering my wife with a hatchet." To that, she happily squealed, "Ohhhhh, so you're single!"
Hssm hssm, hah hah HAH HAH HAH, humm! Today, scientists, medical researchers, and psychologists are rediscovering laughter--one of the most inexpensive, easy, and enjoyable methods of healing the mind, body, and spirit.
An Italian (your race of preference can be substituted here) walks into a bar, extending his hands, filled with cow dung. "Look what I almost stepped in!" he exclaims to his friends.
Quips, quirks, and quaffs cause the smiles, giggles, and belly laughter that bombard our bodies with ripples of movement affecting just about every internal bodily system--cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine, immune, and even the central nervous system. Laughter is exercise, and the harder and longer the laugh, the better the workout. Respiration increases and heart rate can double, which stimulates circulation. Hormones that trigger the release of endorphins--the body's natural pain killers--increase. And stress-related hormones take a drop, which is one reason having a good laugh feels so delightful. After the sidesplitting ceases, a period of spontaneous restfulness immediately follows as the body completely relaxes.
A British gentleman entering a bus notices a chap sitting on a newspaper. "Excuse me, sir," he says, "Are you reading that?"
You don't have to let out a big gaphoon. Just a little chuckle or a giggle or a smile shows that a mirthful feeling is stimulating your insides. Even sourpusses can benefit--and not just physically, but psychologically as well. Vera M. Robinson, RN, EdD, affectionately dubbed the Fairy Godmother of Humor in Nursing, has been studying the effects of humor on hospital personnel and patients for more than two decades. She has found humor to decrease anxiety, anger, and frustration.
"It can be healthy to deny reality at times of tragedy, like when the jokes came out about the Challenger exploding," she says. "If we distance ourselves from our feelings, then we can master them." She jokes with her patients about the backless hospital gowns being the latest fashion, and when an embarrassing enema is necessary, she prefaces the procedure with "Here comes your enemy."
For some, however, humor can be a touchy subject. "A large number of people are afraid of humor and laughter," says psychiatrist William Fry, pioneer of humor therapy. "Humor is powerful; it can be dangerous, even psychologically troublesome and tormenting," he says.
It is important to distinguish between helpful and hurtful humor. Helpful humor is to laugh with someone, while hurtful humor is to laugh at someone. If you laugh at someone, a person is apt to respond in one of three ways:
1) He'll shoot your sarcasm and insensitivity right back at you; 2) he'll shy away and won't
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