Adding laughter to life helps cut stress, improve health

Staying fit, by Anya Petersen-Frey

Laughter is like "internal jogging," according to William Fry Jr., M.D., who has researched the physiology of laughter for 45 years. Humor can help us to survive and thrive through difficult situations.

Stress and burn-out have become household words in the 21st century. The holiday season often increases the demands on busy lives and creates tension, taking away from the joy of this time. Stress has been shown to create unhealthy physiological changes -- both 'good' stress, such as an impending wedding, and 'bad' stress, such as loss of a job. The association between stress and high blood pressure, muscle tension, immunosuppression and other negative changes has been identified for years. It is estimated that stress costs the economy $200 billion annually in lost work days and illness. There is now proof that laughter creates the opposite effects. It is an antidote to stress.

Biochemically, humor has been shown to increase immunity against illness as well as tolerance for pain. Cognitively, it helps to break rigid thinking patterns and allows us to perceive the world more 'realistically' and without so many distortions. As Shakespeare once said, "Nothing is good or bad. It is thinking that makes it so." Emotionally, humor teaches us that we have the ability to manage our emotional states. It is difficult to feel anger, depression, guilt or resentment and experience humor at the same time. Have you ever heard the expression, "Don't make me laugh, I want to be angry."?

Humor can be an empowerment tool. It offers a different perspective on our problems and creates an attitude of detachment; it gives us a sense of self-protection and control over our environment. Bill Cosby is quoted as saying, "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it."

With that said, a word of caution. Some people are not ready for humor. When using humor in crisis situations it is important to remember that people react differently and humor can sometimes be hurtful. Laugh at yourself and share your humor, but do so with compassion and tact.

For those ready for a dose of fun here are some ways to add levity into the day:

Put humor into the physical environment -- it may begin to filter into people's awareness. This can be done with posters or a few light-hearted sayings posted in the office. Bumper stickers are a great source of fun. Here are a few samples viewed on our highways. "Nothing's impossible for those who don't have to do it." "Always remember you're unique, just like everybody else." "Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

Use humor as a tool, not a weapon. Laughing at others destroys confidence and singles out individuals. Laughing with others builds camaraderie and pokes fun at common dilemmas. Share amusing stories you have heard. A child's perspective can often bring a chuckle. Humormatters.com, a Web site that highlights the positive effects of humor, provides a collection of comments from the younger set. From a 13-year-old, "Give me the strength to change the things I can, the grace to accept the things I cannot, and a great big bag of money." Or this from a 15-year-old, "I believe you should live each day as if it were your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry, because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life."

Play with your mental blocks. Read signs and take meanings literally. Seek out the absurdities in daily life. The classified ads and newspaper headlines can often be a good place to start. Take a look at the following classified ads from around the country: "snow blower for sale, only used on snowy days." "Exercise Equipment: queen size mattress and box spring, $175."

Tell stories about your own off-beat experiences to bring a smile to people's faces. By tickling our funny bone we lessen emotional and physical stressors and increase health and well-being. So rather than succumb to the negative stress of the holiday season, or any other time, read a joke, smile at others, and have a good laugh.

Anya Petersen-Frey is a local fitness instructor.