Chronic Illness And Laughter

Posts Tagged ‘stress’

Have you ever thought about the healing power of compassion?

It cannot be overestimated when it comes to long term illness and disease. Especially where, as often can be the case, inner self-judgement or outwardly directed  blame compounds the illness and often results in a resistance, conscious or not, to healing and being well.Self compassion is one of the main keys to healing

Having coached such people for the past five years, I’ve learned that many of them often feel inadequate, guilty, and beat themselves up because they can’t do all the things for the important people in their lives that they formerly could.

Or they have a long-standing issue from the past where they blame themselves or others and it hasn’t yet been resolved

A Case Study

For example, not too long ago, a woman with fibromyalgia, a painful and often debilitating condition, contacted me. Amy (not her real name) wanted to know how she could do the housework and the many other tasks she felt she needed to do to be a good wife.

It’s admirable that Amy wanted to do her housekeeping and other tasks better. However, from the way she stated her question, it was clear that because she couldn’t do them as well as she could before she became ill, Amy didn’t think she was a good wife.

Every time I hear a story like hers – and I’ve heard many of them, I’m reminded again how sad it is that people with long term illnesses feel inadequate as spouses, parents, partners, or friends because they can’t do all the things they could when they were well.

Or because they have past issues about feeling judged, criticised or rejected by others or by themeslves.

The Challenge of Living With Long-Term Illness

The challenge of living and dealing with its symptoms are hard enough. You certainly don’t need the additional burden of feeling inadequate because of your illness- imposed limitations. To help you get rid of that burden, I’m going to share with you two very effective methods for overcoming any feelings of inadequacy you may experience because of it.

The first method is this:

• Heed this slightly modified version of the well know Native American saying, "Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins."

That saying tells us to take into account all of a person’s present circumstances and challenges, as well as their past experiences and traumas, before passing judgment on them. My modified version of that saying is:

• "Don’t judge yourself until you’ve walked a mile in YOUR OWN MOCCASINS."

What I mean is to fully let in and acknowledge all the ways your life has become more difficult, compared to how it was before the onset of your particular condition.

Now I’m not saying you should hold your own pity party, or otherwise feel sorry for yourself. But I’ve observed that most people minimize the pain they live with and trivialize the difficult, illness-related challenges they face every day.

If you do that, I strongly encourage you to admit to yourself how tough it can be to live with it.

Be Compassionate With Yourself

Here’s why: If you minimize and trivialize your pain and challenges, then, when you feel exhausted or depressed, you are likely to view the exhaustion or depression as a sign of your inadequacy.

In contrast, when you admit to yourself how hard your challenges are to deal with, you will realize that anyone in your situation would probably feel as exhausted and depressed as you do, if not more so.

You are beginning to acknowledge and listen to yourself with love and respect

Once you do that, you will most likely stop being so critical and judgmental, and begin being much kinder and gentler to yourself. Also, when you fully acknowledge how hard your symptoms are to manage, you are likely to feel a justified sense of accomplishment for how well you manage them and get through each day!

So as I said above, don’t judge yourself until you’ve walked that mile in your own moccasins.

Before telling you the second method you can use to stop getting down on yourself and to stop feeling inadequate, I have a question:

Q:What would you do if you found a bird that was injured and couldn’t fly?

If you’re like me and all the others to whom I’ve posed this question, you would either unhesitatingly take care of the bird yourself or find someone who could. And if you decided to try to find someone else but weren’t able to do so, you would certainly take care of the bird rather than abandon it.

I believe the reason you would act in this way is because, as a human being, you have an innately compassionate nature – a real desire to lessen the suffering of others, whether they be animals or people. This point is very important, because when you have a serious condition, then in a way you’re like that injured bird that can no longer fly the way it once could.

This is your body. Your inner spirit on the other hand is not chronically ill. It is a resource you can tap into to sutain and nourish yourself with. This is the springwell of compassion, of love and laughter, of soft kind caring, the gentle heart that goes out to the bird, that feels uplifted by a beautiful flower. The more you tap into this healing source the more likely you are to become well

Just for 30 seconds, turn your attention to this ‘Healing Moments’ video and see what a difference it can make to this moment

 
The more ‘healing moments’ you experience the more you will be nurtured from the inside and the less room there will be for self criticism and blame. Your power is the power of choice, of choosing what to focus on

Here’s another question for you:

Q: Would you ever say to that bird "Get up, dammit, and fly, like all the other birds are doing"?

Yes, the question is ridiculous. Of course you wouldn’t tell the bird that. The way I see it, being critical and judgmental of yourself because of your particular related limitations, is a lot like criticizing that injured bird for not being able to fly. Wouldn’t you agree?

The Healing Power of Compassion

Given that you would give the bird the care it needed to heal as much as it possibly could, my second method for stopping getting down on yourself is to give yourself the same compassion and care that you would, without a moment’s hesitation, give to an injured bird.

By using these two methods, a high percentage of my clients have stopped beating themselves up for their limitations. They’ve started taking much better care of themselves and they’ve then gone on to make many other positive changes in their lives.

The Power of Positive Change

A good example is a client I’ll call Linda, who has Crohn’s disease. Previously, when Linda’s life became stressful she would very often experience a major flare up.

Stress compromises the body’s immune system causing it to have to fight harder to become well

The antidote to stress is relaxation. When you stop judging yourself you relax and when you relax, self judgement loses its hold

There are lots of ways to relax and most of them are enjoyable and fun!

Have a look through the checklist below for some ideas:

Managing Stress, Preventing Illness

• Actively participate in your own healing and health management

• Learn To Meditate and do it at odd moments in the day

• Talk to yourself positively and watch uplifting movies
  

• Eat well  balanced and nutritious diets 

• Learn to say NO with confidence, to things you cannot do.

• Laugh more often – it’s a medicine

• Learn to  exercise regularly  and get plenty of rest

As we worked together, she markedly improved her ability to care for herself as she would "an injured bird,’ and worked through her remaining self-judgment by "walking a mile in her own moccasins."

Linda’s mother recently died at the same time her best friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Linda shuttled between helping and supporting her friend, taking care of her mother’s affairs and putting on her memorial service. Doing those things involved a lot of flying, a lot of driving, a lot of work, and a lot of stress. Because of our sessions and the work Linda did between them, she was able to do all the things those two events called for without having a flare. Bravo, Linda!

I wish you the best as you start using these methods in your own life.

Author: Thomas W. Robinson

Chronic Illness Coach Tom Robinson works with those who are overstressed or overwhelmed by their condition and life challenges. Tom helps them meet those challenges, and then he helps them find–and keep–true happiness and joy.

His free report: How to Have a Better Life Than You Ever Thought Possible – Even When Nothing Else You’ve Tried Has Worked, is available at his website: ChronicIllnessCoach.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_W._Robinson

Here are some articles I have collected about compassion that may be worth investigating  …

Compassion

The next step, when one has stomped and subdued and ‘cast away’ one’s ‘enemies’ and ‘old programming’ and ‘inner demons,’ seems to be the further cultivation of Compassion as a Sadhana or spiritual practice

Compassion Practices

In Tibetan Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is anyone who is motivated by compassion and seeks enlightenment not only for him/herself but also for everyone

Changing Our Habit of Judgment to the Practice of Compassion 

How does judging our bodies mask our need for compassion?

Cultivating Compassion: Meditation

There are at least two components to one’s spiritual practice, Wisdom and Compassion, and associating with people, especially in difficult situations, helps us grow Compassion. 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: challenge, compassion, compassionate, coping, healing, health, illness, living, long term, method, moments, power, stress, video, with

One of the silent illnesses that you don’t see on the outside but which is all the same, chronic and  life threatening, is high blood pressure

As the name implies, the chronic illness, hypertension is simply having a blood pressure higher than usual. When it is lower than usual, we call it hypotension. But this is not as common.

Stress related hyper-tension

In this fast paced, career-demanding world, who is not under stress? I bet everyone is! But have you ever considered that this can lead to hypertension? I have news for you – both good and bad. But I will start with the bad news.

The bad news

In our modern society, because of our lifestyles, demanding work schedules and the economic pressure, we all stand the risk of having a high blood pressure.

If you think you are not a target for hypertension, you are deceiving yourself. In fact, as long as there is an amount of pressure or stress on you, there is every chance that you can develop this life-threatening illness. If you have been ‘overwhelmed’, ‘anxious’, ‘irritable’, ‘depressed’, ‘burned out’, ‘on the verge of losing it’ before, then you know what stress is about. It is this condition of stress which can lead to increased hypertension risk. Even more unfortunate for those who have high blood pressure, the stress levels make their situation worse.

But do you know how these stress levels come about? You know them:

• Traffic jams, workload, financial pressures, strained relations
• Rejection, negative or pessimistic thinking, etc.

These are the usual causes of stress. Who doesn’t go through these these days?

The good news

Now the good news is that there are ways to manage these stress levels. Doing this will help us reduce our risk of hypertension. If your blood pressure is high, then you need to critically follow these suggestions too

Managing Stres, Preventing Illness

• Actively participate in your own healing and health management

• Learn To Meditate and do it at odd moments in the day

• Talk to a friend or close relative regularly – when you have a problem and when you don’t.

• Talk to yourself positively – constantly

• Set and develop realistic goals and expectations for yourself – so that you don’t feel you are under achieving.

• Organize and plan your days – so that you don’t get disorganized and overwhelmed

• Take regular breaks from busy schedules – it helps to release stress

• Eat well  balanced and nutritious diets

• Learn to say NO (politely but firmly) to things you cannot do.

• Get a regular hobby – play is as important as work!

• Laugh more often – it’s a medicine

• Learn to  exercise regularly and get plenty of rest

If you are looking for natural hypertension remedies – for yourself or to help someone else – you will need to consider the suggestions above seriously. They will help you. Drugs will not do and no amount of therapy programs will be of any use if you forgo the suggestions above.

The main problem has always been the discipline to follow through. If you think this is hard and a waste of time, consider the other side – stressing yourself out and ultimately having to deal with hypertension.

If you are also hypertensive, then you need to practice these suggestions too. You may not see results immediately – as it is with any natural remedy – but you will find out that in the long term, you will live longer and will be able to add 10 or 15 more years to your life.

Here are a few more posts about this very common stress related condition…

Revolutionary surgery may cure high blood pressure levels

LONDON – British medical scientists have demonstrated a revolutionary new operation that can effectively cure persistent high bp and takes under an hour to carry out.  

How to Manage and Control High Blood Pressure Naturally?

These days, it is a very common heart problem that has affected both old as well as young people. Unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activities and poor lifestyle are the leading factors responsible for this

How the Mediterranean Diet Beats High Blood Pressure

How the Mediterranean Diet Beats High B P. The Mediterranean diet is not some new fad diet … dreamed up by a weight-loss “guru” or as a new health measure. It is thousands of years old. People living along the Mediterranean 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: blood, diet, exercise, for, health, high, hypertension, hypertensive, hypotension, laugh, laughter, levels, manage, management, medicine, natural, pressure, remedies, stress, under

High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the West today and it is mostly down to a high paced stressful lifestyle

As the name implies, hypertension is simply having a blood pressure higher than the usual. When it is lower than the usual, we call it hypotension. But this is not as common as hypertension.

Lower hypertension through simple laughter exercises! Learn how

In this fast paced, career-demanding world, who is not under stress? I bet everyone is! But have you ever considered that this can lead to hypertension? I have news for you – both good and bad. But I will start with the bad news.

The bad news

In our modern society, because of our lifestyles, demanding work schedules and the economic pressure, we all stand the risk of having a high blood pressure or hypertension.

If you think you are not a target for hypertention, you are deceiving yourself. In fact, as long as there is an amount of pressure or stress on you, there is every chance that you can have hypertension.

If you have been ‘overwhelmed’, ‘anxious’, ‘irritable’, ‘depressed’, ‘burned out’, ‘on the verge of losing it’ before, then you know what stress is about. It is this condition of stress which can lead to hypertension. Even more unfortunate for those who have high blood pressure, the stress levels make their situation worse.

How these stress levels come about

Traffic jams, workload, financial pressures, strained relations, rejection, negative or pessimistic thinking, etc. These are the usual causes of stress. Who doesn’t go through these these days?

The good news

Now the good news is that there are ways to  manage stress levels. Doing this will help us reduce our risk to hypertension.

If your blood pressure is high, then you need to critically follow these suggestions too

• Learn how to meditate and practice regularly. Deep relaxatiuon is an excellent remedy for hypertension

• Talk to a friend or close relative regularly – when you have a problem and when you don’t.

• Talk to yourself positively – constantly and train yourself out of negative thinking

• Set and develop realistic goals and expectations for yourself – so that you don’t feel you are under achieving.

• Organize and plan your days – so that you don’t get disorganized and overwhelmed

• Take regular breaks from busy schedules – it helps to release stress

• Eat well balanced and nutritious diets

• Learn to say NO (politely but firmly) to things you cannot do.

• Get a regular hobby – play is as important as work!

• Laugh more often – it’s a medicine

• Learn to exercise regularly and get plenty of rest

• Learn how to do EFT and tap every day for good health

If you are looking for natural hypertension remedies – for yourself or to help someone – you will need to consider the suggestions above seriously. They will help you. Drugs will not do and no amount of therapy programs will be of any use if you forgo the suggestions above.

Lower hypertension through simple laughter exercises! Learn how

The main problem has always been the discipline to follow through. If you think this is hard and a waste of time, consider the other side – stressing yourself up and ultimately having to deal with hypertension.

If you are also hypertensive, then you need to practice these suggestions too.

See the list of natural remedies on this page: Chronic Illness Management

Your may or may not see results immediately – as it is with any natural remedy – but you will find out that in the long term, you will live longer and will be able to add 10 or 15 more years to your life and it will likely be that much more enjoyable

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: blood pressure, causes, chronic, eft, exercise, high, how to, hypertension, illness, information, learn, levels, manage, meditate, nutritious diet, stress, treatment

Psychologists studying the science of happiness believe that laughter promotes both physical and psychological health

>>   Boost your health with simple laughter exercises. Click here to learn how

A managed care consultant dies and goes to Heaven. Frankly, he can’t believe his good fortune in being there, given the life he has led. But St. Peter checks the records and says, ‘There’s no mistake, you’re supposed to be here. See, it says right here that you are scheduled for Heaven…and you’re authorized for three days.’

There may be a lot to laugh about in the health care system these days, but as a patient, humor is probably the last thing on your mind. Getting a frightening diagnosis is stressful-emotionally as well as physiologically. However, humor could be just the thing you need to get you through this period. Of course, there’s nothing funny about the fact that one has cancer.

But learning to find the light side of things that happen as a result of your cancer gives you a powerful tool to help you cope on a day-to-day basis. When you can  poke fun at your stressors , you remove some of their emotional power over you. Humor helps you sustain an upbeat, optimistic frame of mind, even on the bad days. This more positive emotional state helps give you the resilience you need to cope with the next problem thrown your way. Your sense of humor also helps bring back some joy into your life.

There’s no rigorous evidence that humor and laughter add years to your life, but they certainly add life to your years. Cancer patients will often say: ‘If it hadn’t been for my sense of humor, I would never have gotten through the treatments, let alone the disease.’ They note that finding a light side of things was essential to maintaining hope and determination to fight the disease.

>>   Boost your health with simple laughter exercises. Click here to learn how

Humor provides a sense of control over the stress that goes along with battling cancer by giving you more control over your daily mood. A good belly laugh also boosts both your energy level and immune system on the days when you don’t want to even get out of bed. This is especially important, since most patients experience fatigue as a result of their cancer treatment. Finally, humor and laughter provide a means of ‘letting go’ of the anger and anxiety.

>>   Sign up for Free ‘Benefits of laughter’  E-Course   >>   — >>

Dr. Bernie Siegel has been reminding us for years that emotional factors can play an important role in battling disease. By sustaining a more positive mood, and reducing the amount of time spent in a state of anger, anxiety, or depression, you are playing an active role in mobilizing your body’s own health and healing resources. Your emotional state begins working for your health, rather than against it. Laughter is one of the most powerful and rapid means you have of replacing a negative with a positive mood.

Ian Gawler, author of Peace of Mind and an Australian doctor who has survived bone cancer for several decades, used the power of laughter to heal himself. There are many similar examples related in Cancer Free For Life where the author describes the amazing  power of positive thinking and positive living for rapid healing of cancer . Watching funny movies and cartoons seem to have a healing and effective impact on cancer patients. They lift the mood and help strengthen the immune system, which through the laughter receives a message of joy and hope. Most stress can be alleviated with laughter, and this again helps the immune system concentrates its resources toward healing and scavenging cancer cells as opposed to reducing the impact of stress on the body.

Dr Magne has been researching the origins and causes of disease and cancer for the past 25 years. Visit www.cancer-free-for-life.com to receive a FREE report on The 10 Ways to Cure Cancer Immediately. This article is available for reprint for your website and newsletter, provided that you maintain its copyright integrity and include the signature.

By: Dr Laurence Magne Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Doctors thees days recommend laughter as a complementary practice alongside traditional treatments for such illnesses since they are regarded as being highly supportive of recovery

What are your thoughts on laughter and health?

Share your ideas in the comments box below

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: and, benefits, chronic, effects, health, illness, laughter, laughter psychology, of, research, stress

As social human beings we naturally crave balance, connection and happiness.

But often lock ourselves away on the computer for hours at a time and end up isolated and stressed.

Stress leads to ill health. So do something about it now for your own happiness and well being. Here is an article I discovered recently from Grand Bahamas Freeport News …

Balance should be a natural state for us, but is it? Do you sometimes feel that you want to stop the world, even just for a moment, to catch up?

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and unable to complete all the items on your ‘to do list’? Do you sometimes feel that time is speeding up, giving you less time to do what you were able to do years ago?

If you say ‘yes’ to most or all of my questions, welcome, and you are not alone. If you believe it or not, time is actually speeding up, and yes, we do have more to do, or so we believe.

There was a time when we basically just had your profession, or work, and family. Time was naturally balanced between work time and free time to pursue private interests.

Without computers, air travel, instant messaging etc. our lives would be more focused within our families and communities; it would be less exciting, maybe, but naturally more balanced. We would live off the land, be in harmony with the seasons by eating what was natural to our bodies.

Yes, I know we don’t really want to live there anymore. The past feels so far away, so antiquated, and many of you are too young to have experienced this tranquil life anyway. But there is a primal instinct for balance in every living entity.

Subscribe to ‘Benefits of Laughter’ E-Course here   ==>

Our human instincts become more and more covered up in our modern world of ‘instant reward’ with the push of a button, and the overwhelming world of plastics and toxins.

Then there is the information overload. It is a love/hate relationship with the media, the TV and the computer. Can you imagine your life without these inventions?

No, of course not, me neither, but how many times have you spent late night hours on your computer until your eyes burn and your back aches?

It is so easy to ‘get lost’ on the ‘world wide web’.

It is definitely exciting as long as it does not rule your life. Yes, there is an addiction to TV and the computer in many of us.

Of course it is an amazing tool; I am using it right now to write this article for you and will send it shortly to the newspaper with the click of a button.

The question is whether we stay on the computer for hours on end or not. We have to ask ourselves this question: how much time do I spend on unnecessary ’surfing the net’, and how much time do I spend with my family, friends and in community activities? When was the last time you sat down with a good book?

You have to become aware of how much time you spend on unsocial activities, isolated from others, or only connected through a device like the phone or computer?

Although we are blessed being connected to the world through these devices and they have their purpose in our lives, they can also prevent us from satisfying our most primal desire to be in physical contact with each other. A lot of our modern mental, emotional and physical problems have an unrecognized root in this unnatural isolation; it can be the source of pain on all these levels.

It creates tension and stress, impatience and anger, amongst other disturbances. What can we do about this?

To balance your life will be a lifelong exercise, but well worth it. Why? Because only a balanced life will create the joy, peace and happiness you crave for, and are actually the most natural states of life.

Soothing the soul

What are the things that soothe your spirit, stimulate your imagination, and energize your body? Only you can find out by taking stock of how you live your life each day.

Very often, unwanted habits creep into your life, first uncomfortable, but through repetition you become accustomed to them until they create problems on a physical, mental or emotional level.

Now you feel you need help, but nobody can help you unless you recognize the root of your stress and are willing to break, or replace your bad habits with good ones.

Your body always knows when it is in misalignment, which means out of balance.

After you have become aware of the reasons why you feel so stressed (this may need the assistance of a health care professional), and you are willing to create more balance in your life, you only need to recreate your timetable.

That means, breaking old habits that prevent your natural state of happiness.

Here are a few tips on what you may want to do

• Throw out as many junk-food items as you find in your kitchen, because unless you start honouring your physical body and what you feed it, your body will be in stress and toxic overload.

• Supplement your food with appropriate vitamins, minerals and special combinations to support the weakest part in your body system, because your unique genes may need some extra support.

• Schedule time for outside activities; the gym is only a substitute for outside, and not the only one; your home can be your gym, even without equipment. Besides, our warm weather permits almost year round outside activities and sports training.

• Laugh and sing more often, laughter works wonders for your body chemistry, stimulating happy moods.

Sing in the bathroom (there is something about the acoustics there, because even my voice sounds pretty good in the shower), or sing on your beach walks, even if you just hum a song.

Sing all day long, it will keep your mood balanced. My grandfather used to hum all day long, not really a song, but just from his heart and spirit.

I have never heard him raise his voice in anger; he lived a very balanced life up into his 90’s. Play an instrument, play with your pet, play with your children and play with your partner! Play and childlike (not childish) behaviour is the best stress relief and a great communicator.

We never lose our inner child, it may just be a bit dusty or covered up; bring it out again. Life is serious, but it is also fun and beautiful.

We can only enjoy it to the fullest when we are in balance with ourselves, and the natural world around us.

An easy to learn method to ease stress and pain almost instantly is called Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT.

In the meantime, take stock of your life and take note of where you need to let go of stressors.

Author Angelika Christie ND is the managing director of Rad-iant Health Centre. You can reach her at 242-352-1010 or radianthealth1@mac.com or www.radianthealthcenterbahamas.com

Article Source http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/editorial/323141188519314.php

For the Time Being – Happy Days

It is thoroughly normal to be so tentative about the time of our lives, or so asleep within it, that we miss it entirely. 

Being happy is a state of mind

I am sure we all do it but being consistent and meaning it is the most important thing about gratitude. I have learned to love everything in my life and not take it for granted. 

Happy as You Want to Be

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: a balanced life, being happy, for, human connections, illlness, laugh, laughter, simple ideas, sing, steps to, stress

What does worrying do? If you could be relaxing by the sea with a cool wind blowing in your hair right now would you be  able to enjoy it? Or would you be worrying about what’s going on back home?

Most of us can probably think of someone we know who seems to worry about every litttle thing

Having a chronic illness can seem to present us with a long list of justified reasons to worry. We worry if we should take it easy and rest for tomorrow’s tasks or if we should do all we can now, in case we end up feeling worse the next day. We limit ourelves as we ask ‘can I do it all?’ and even worry that we might not even be able to do some of it. We worry when our body goes downhill and we also worry when we are in remission. Maybe it won’t last. We worry about countless other things like raising our children, financial burdens, if we could be an adequate partner, mother, sister etc, about how to keep a positive attitude or whether we are in denial and we probably all have those intimate moments when we worry and wonder whether God is listening to our prayers.

He does hear our prayers and knows our worries, but our worries are in vain because everything is already in His hands. He’s already taken care of everything.

So you don’t ever need to worry about tomorrow or about anything that is happening in and around you. We have nothing to worry about! God knows our needs better than we know our own needs. And He knows not only what we need today, but also what we will need in the future; He’s already taken care of it. He promises to not only take care of our needs, but that he will fill our need in a glorious way. Besides, worry doesn’t do any good! What solutions can it offer? It is our attitude about the perceived lack of control that makes our experience seem much worse than it is. Worrying does not add an hour to our life. If anything it probably takes a few hours off of our life through the sheer stress of worrying. It has the opposite effect of laughter, depleting the immune system instead of boosting it so maybe a laugh or two at your situation could be a real turnaround.

Occasional worrying is a part of our human nature. The important thing is to not let it consume us. Allow yourself to relax,  breathe deeply and meditate or visualise yourself being surrounded by soothing compassion. Soothe means to calm or comfort with soft words. Imagine God’s soft voice in answer to your prayers about your worries and allow God the opportunity to soothe you.

Worry can control you, even consume you; when you are overwhelmed with anxiety your focus has moved away from trust in God and apprciation of life. Do not be anxious about anything, but give thanks and trust that there is a greater wisdom here.  Often if you look you can find the gift in any adversity that makes it all worthwhile. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.

Whatever troubles we are experiencing, whatever illness we are going through they are always temporary and smaller than the bigger universal and eternal picture and we are also given  the means to cope and the opportunity to learn and find peace.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: don't worry be happy, easing worry and depression, excessive, stress, why have chronic worry, worry

The world in which we live provides for many stresses. We have the pressures of work, personal obligations and the day-to-day grind with which to contend. These pressures can take a toll on our mental and physical health. Unfortunately, responding improperly to these pressures such as by using drugs or alcohol, can result in long-term negative effects.

Wouldn’t it be so much better to find a way to  clear your mind  that can actually be good for you?

By taking advantage of the many benefits of meditation, you can put yourself on the road to a healthier mind and body.

Improved sleep, lowered blood pressure and decrease anxiety are just a few of the many benefits of meditation. Improved sleep serves to improve your work productivity. And high blood pressure can lead to a myriad of health problems, such as heart attack and stroke. You can remedy these potientially serious conditions by spending a small amount of time each day meditating.

Meditation is not exclusively a New Age or Zen process. It is a much broader process. You can maintain your current spiritual or religious beliefs and still achieve the full benefits of meditation. It is a simple process. Simply locate a private spot where you can spend 20 minutes each day without being disturbed. Make yourself as comfortable and still as possible, take some long, deep breaths and exhale slowly, allowing your mind and body to completely relax. If you do this on a regular basis, before long you will feel like a new person.

An even better way to experience the full benefits of meditation is to take part in a guided meditation. Guided visualizations assist you in placing yourself in relaxing scenes. These recordings are readily available for download to your mp3 player. By following instructions, you are relieved from having to think about the process and you can relax even further. Don’t let the pressures of daily living overcome you. Achieve calmness and inner peace through daily meditation.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: guided, jobs, Meditation, most, relax, relaxation, situations, stress, stressful

Apart from the obvious impact of most chronic illnesses in terms of mobility, pain management and the challenges of daily living, there is also what might be described as a hidden aspect.

This hidden aspect is how we feel, react and respond, or cope or don’t cope with the condition we find ourselves in.

Living with chronic illness impacts one’s physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Chronic illness often causes one to feel helpless and hopeless, discouraged and isolated. It can devastate one’s career and financial security, friendships and love relationships, creativity, concentration, motivation, and one’s very peace of mind.

It is important now and useful long-term, to remain as active, social, and productive as possible. That means focus on what you can do and let go of what you can no longer do. Create priorities for your body, mind, heart, and soul.

Ancient philosophers and healers recognized that the body and the mind were one. Modern research confirms this body/mind connection. In the last 15 years, Western medicine has coined a term for what the ancients knew: psychoneuroimmunology.

Harvard Medical School now publishes a professional journal called Mind/Body Medicine. Studies show that improved physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being stimulate an innate healing response in the body. It is possible to create a healthier lifestyle that will promote wellness. The key is to balance the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life.

Improving and maintaining physical well-being includes proper nutrition, rest, and exercise. It means carefully selecting the activities in which you participate and the people with whom you spend time to ensure that you are making good choices about expending energy and making the most of each day.

Paying attention to the psychological and emotional aspects of your life includes becoming a good observer of your thoughts, feelings, and how/what you feel in your body. This is a time to allow yourself to experience, examine, and express your thoughts and feelings in an honest and forthright way.

Accurately expressing yourself is one of the most important aspects of living with chronic illness. No one will know how you feel and what you can reasonably be expected to do or not do unless you tell people directly. Value yourself and take ownership of your feelings, and thoughts, your resources and choices.

Honor and express your deepest truth and make what you say and how you say it match what you feel. Say your real ‘yes’ and your real ‘no’ and say what you feel without blaming or needing to please others.

Don’t avoid saying what is in your heart or on your mind to say. Don’t hide your worries and concerns because you don’t want others to know you are not in control.

Accessing your spiritual nature can be as easy as watching the sunset or taking a walk through a beautiful garden. You might also consider meditation, yoga, chanting, or praying. Whether you call it God, the Universe, higher power, or ‘the force’ a la Steven Spielberg, it is quite comforting and healing to experience the inner peace that is uniquely you.

Sitting in the quiet and allowing your attention to flow inward is very foreign to men and women in the Western world. It is, however, a fundamental practice if one is to develop and maintain health and well-being, inside and outside.

The gift in adversity

Human beings are resilient and adaptable. When faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks, we rise to the occasion. Chronic illness often motivates us to re-evaluate and reconsider every aspect of life; to review and change habits, goals, choices, and decisions.

This review includes everything from food choices, career/work, social relationships and recreational activities, to including naps and going to sleep earlier. Now is the time to create a more flexible schedule and intentionally pace yourself.

Determination and persistence will enable you to stay motivated through the tough times, and stay involved in activities that are meaningful and joyful. Maintaining your sense of humor is essential.

Invite people into your life who are kind, respectful, and compassionate. Stay away from well-meaning, well-intentioned people who have an agenda for you and can’t see you or hear you accurately.

This is the opportunity to create the changes in your life that will bring meaning to every day and cause you to choose and maintain a lifestyle that promotes and sustains your well-being: physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.

While chronic illness may close some doors, it will no doubt open others. Take good care! You’re worth it.

Remember, only YOU can make it happen!

If you like this article, please read more about
Dr. Jackie’s relationship dating advice and help for issues and problems.

***

The inner critic

Coping with chronic illness can often include coping with all of the mixed feelings that arise around it and at the beginning  many of them can be negative . I see it as an invitation to ‘clear out’the old negative ways of thinking to make room for positive feelings and experiences to rise and take their place. Here is a short video about the inner critic which all of us have and many of us find ourselves victim to. The key is to take control of its wild ramblings and not to take them so seriously.

I look forward to receiving any comments you may have about this video or article or indeed about anything else related to chronic illness that you would like to discuss or comment on

***

A note about the author of the above article: Dr. Jackie Black

Dr. Jackie is an internationally recognized relationship expert, educator and coach. Advice and coaching about personal relationships is Dr. Jackie’s passion. Her goal is to inspire and support single men, single women and couples through the challenges and pitfalls of dating, loving and building lasting, committed relationships in today’s fast-paced world. Dr. Jackie’s Relationship Coaching Programs and Groups, her Blog, downloadable PodCasts and her Internet streaming radio show are jam-packed with valuable dating tips and strategies.

Check out Dr. Jackie’s Podcasts here: http://www.relationshiptalkpodcast.com

Check out Dr. Jackie’s Blog here: http://www.askdrjackie.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jackie_Black

Local students do their part in fighting cancer

We’re trying to give support to those families who have lost members to cancer, to show support for those who are fighting it right now and to make it so future generations won’t have to worry about cancer

Living the Good Life: Have You Been Touched by Cancer?

Have You Been Touched by Cancer? Our family has had its run of cancer…as have many other families. Supporting our local Relay for Life is important. Our town used to have a HUGE event in which we participated in each year.

NIH awards benefit FIU College of Nursing

Examining the impact of breast cancer on couple interaction and relationships ; Identifying caregiver issues and the role of family dynamics in providing care to the chronically ill elderly ; Resolving grief issues post cancer surgery and in caregivers coping with Alzheimer’s Disease 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: cancer, Chronic Illness, coping, depression, loneliness, mechanisms, positive, skills, strategies, stress, techniques, with

Can laughter be used as a stress reliever and coping strategy in difficult situations? It would appear so.

Learn how to reduce stress through laughter

During World War Two, the soldiers between their battles would laugh and have fun whenever and wherever possible, so that they would put the negative and unpleasant memories out of their minds.

Why? Because it is a known fact that you can’t be stressed, depressed, or plagued with anxiety when you are having fun. They needed this diversion to forget, if even just for a limited time, so that they could carry on the extremely difficult tasks and responsibilities that they were charged with.

It was the same on the home front. There were more songs, plays, movies created than at any other time in history. There were all kinds of social activities to cheer up and keep people positively charged. And it worked on both the battle front, as well as at home. This ultimately with winning strategies and skilled efforts combined to bring victory.

The resiliency of people is truly remarkable and when times are tough, as is the case to day, people can, and must cope with an optimistic view of the future.

This is more easily accomplished when  humor, laughter and playfulness are employed.

Humor and laughter help the person see a lighter and brighter side and help us focus on more creative and effective solutions.

People should also bear in mind that nothing is accomplished by adopting and maintaining a pessimistic perspective, as this only translates in negative thinking, attitude and action. Negative thinking can actually increase pain!

Life is short, live it to the fullest, love with all your heart, and laugh at every opportunity.

Learn how to transform pain into joy

Author: Gerry Hopman

For more information on how powerful humor, laughter are, visit Gerry’s web site at: http://www.humor-laughter.com

Gerry Hopman is Humorist, Humor Motivational Speaker and Author. He believes that humor is essential to balance in life and career.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Hopman

Are Humor and Laughter Coping Strategies During Difficult Times?

Can humor and laughter help us in these difficult economic times. History tells us that this is indeed the case. 

The Importance Of Laughter

The importance of laughter in your life to keep you calm and happy makes perfect sense but is there really any evidence that this is true? Yes. And don’t take my word for it. This comes straight from the Mayo Clinic

Building Business Success: A Healthy Dose of Laughter

It can be used for coping, for saving face, for gaining status, for testing limits, for social control, and for bonding. Medical studies also show that laughter boosts levels of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: affect, attitude, chronic, coping, does, health, how, humor, illness, laugh, laughter, negative, positive, strategy, stress, stressed, therapy, thinking, your

Do you have to think twice even before you laugh? Well, it’s time you take a look at  the importance of laughter therapy and many ways a good session of laughter can benefit you completely.

Laughter – is surely the best medicine! We probably realize the importance of laughter only when we grow out of our childhood days. Do we really need a reason to laugh? I don’t really think so! However, with work stress on the rise, laughter therapy sessions are gaining attention worldwide. The benefits of laughter are many! However, one may not really get into the nitty-gritty of issues at a young age. The importance of laughter therapy is realized only when one loses the reason to laugh about the simplest of issues. Well, laughter surely is good for all and those who are unaware of the benefits need to read about the importance of laughter therapy.

Importance of Laughter Therapy:
Have you observed the beauty of a child especially when it bursts into uncontrollable peals of laughter? Well, that’s the beauty of laughter! Laughter therapy provides you a great way to get rid of stress. This is  the best stress relief activity , which dissolves all feelings of irritation and anger.

Laughing also helps to motivate a person. This in turn, releases all the positive energy.

A good session of loads of laughter would help one to release all the pent-up feelings that are really not healthy otherwise. Laughter helps to reduce feelings of grief and depression and create a sense of well-being.

Daily sessions of laughter help to strengthen the immune system.

No matter how negative or dejected you feel, laughter is one such therapy that can uplift your emotional state to a very positive level.

Here is a social site I can recommend to get your daily uplift of laughter and join together with other like-minded people.

A good sense of humor can help in enhancing your personality whether in professional or personal life. Laughter therapy can turn you into a better team member and you can turn out to be an effective person at communication.

The importance of laughter is something that can be felt and known from within. Don’t wait anymore, call up your buddies and ensure you have a good laugh over all the silly things you can recall!

By Kashmira Lad

The Importance Of Laughter

The medical world has widely acknowledged the benefits of laughter to the human body. Many doctors around the world encourage their patients to induce laughter, be it through listening to jokes, watching comedies

Why We Should Laugh and Smile

All of us know that laughter is good for us. We’ve heard it being repeated over and over again about how laughter promotes good health, emotional well being etc. But do we actually know how it specifically benefits us?  

Is the Recession …

So, what is one to do to minimize or avoid this health “recession?” There are several very important components to overcoming stress. Laugh. You’ve heard the saying that laughter is the best medicine. It actually helps your body by … Numerous studies support the health benefits of regular exercise. Improved cardiopulmonary function, reduced blood pressure, muscle tension release and mental relaxation are all known benefits. 

Laugh Your Way to Good Health – Benefits of Laughter.

Recent studies show a lot of benefits of laughter. Good laugh has a very positive effect on the emotional and physical effect of a person. In fact it is being. 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: benefits, effects, energy, funny, laugh, laughter, make, me, physical, positive, psychological, stress, therapy, things

You should incorporate some humor in your life. What would it be like to go around in a serious state of mind all the time? You’ve got to laugh sometime.

Laughter is good medicine for you and you should prescribe it to yourself as much as possible. This is definitely stress buster material.

Check out some ways that you can laugh and release stress at the same time :

You must realize that having laughter in your life can increase your energy and take away any negative vibes that you may be feeling. When you laugh, you release the pent-up anger and frustration that has been bottled up inside you from being stressed. You can find some good comedy shows on television that are really funny.

Think of some situations where the outcome ended up being pretty humorous. You can think on those and get a kick out of them. Let go of the complaining and murmuring.

- Go take in a comedy club. Check out the up and coming comedians at local venues in your area.

- Smile more often. If you’re not used to doing this, then start now. Did you know that smiling can be contagious?

Learn to spread your laughter and joy to others who need it. Not only will it help them, it will also help you.

Meditation is also a good choice for beating stress. You could spend 30 minutes to 1 hour per day doing meditation.

Here are some further bits of information and interesting links that you may wish to follow:

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and Mindfulness Applied to Chronic Illness. Kevin, 39, is a meditating friend of mine who has been handicapped with Reiter’s Syndrome and Multiple Schlerosis for many years. 

Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Through in-person interviews and dramatized video vignettes that document the stories of people who recovered from chronic illness – including a five-year-old boy born with cerebral palsy, an osteopathic doctor with a brain tumor, … More important, several forms of CAM that incorporate information-medicine principles – such as meditation, deep breathing, massage therapy, and yoga – showed the highest increase in use among Americans in the last five years. 

Meditate Your Pain Away – Benefits of Meditation

The difference between previous studies and the new one lies in that the former have shown that teaching chronic pain patients to meditate is beneficial. But, very few studies of these have looked at pain processing in healthy people.

Living With Mental Illness – Anxiety Problems – How To Treat Anxiety

Different meditation techniques such as Thai Chi and Yoga are proven to have significant effect on treatment of anxiety problems. Regular meditation brings relief from the anxiety and stress related to them. 

Tools For Dealing With A Chronic Illness Or Life In General

A chronic illness provides you with an opportunity for reflection and self realization. Feeding your soul is just as important as feeding your body. It is vitally important that you find ways to nourish and replenish your soul. 

Living With Mental Illness – Effective Use of Relaxation Methods

Meditate daily. Practicing meditation daily can help keep one calm. It is the oldest way of keeping the mind still and peaceful. It has the power to induce inner peace and control anxiety at odd times. Try Acupuncture.

Article By: Scott Wells Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Scott Wells suggests www.drugabusefocus.com/117/ for those battling a drug or alcohol addiction or for those who love someone who is. Compassion is virtuous. Share or read alcohol or drug abuse stories today.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: anxiety, benefits, best, chronic, exercises, health, helps, illness, laughing, laughter, medicine, Meditation, physical, psychological, relaxation, relief, stress

You have one of the most powerful healing resources at your fingertips and it won’t cost you a penny. Yet it is priceless! What is it, you might say? It is the amazingly precious healing gift of laughter

Building a positive focus in your life which includes a regular dose of laughter can play a key role in supporting the body’s ability to cure illnesses through its own healing system.

Learn how to have a regular dose of laughter medicine daily for your pain

A man rushed into a veterinarian’s office carrying his limp, lifeless dog. The vet examined the animal and told the man the dog was dead. The man asked if there was any way the doctor could revive the dog. The doctor left the room and returned with a cat, who sniffed the dog from head to tail then looked up at the vet and meowed.

“Sorry,” said the doctor. “There’s nothing I can do.”
“Thanks for trying,” said the man with a sigh. “How much do I owe you?”
“Three hundred and fifty dollars,” replied the doctor.
“Three hundred and fifty dollars! Just to tell me my dog is dead?”
“Well,” said the doctor, “it was $50 for the office visit. The other $300 is for the CAT scan.”

Whether the above joke made you laugh or groan, it lightened your mood. And if you had been in pain, many scientists agree, it would have eased the hurt at least temporarily.

A fresh take on an old idea

The notion that  laughter is good for the body has been around for thousands of years, certainly as far back as the Old Testament. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Seventeenth century English physician Dr. Thomas Sydenham remarked, “The arrival of a good clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than of twenty asses laden with drugs.” Or as Groucho Marx put it, “A clown is like aspirin, only he works twice as fast.”

How do you get a sweet 80-year-old lady to say the F word? Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell *BINGO*!

The value of laughter in helping to relieve pain began to attract significant attention in the 1980s when Dr. Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness described how watching Marx Brother movies and reading humorous books and articles helped him recover from a life-threatening tissue disease. Cousins made it a point to enjoy a hearty belly laugh several times a day. He claimed that a few minutes of laughter gave him an hour or more of pain-free sleep. As a result, many pain centers around the country began to use humor therapy to reduce the level of pain medication needed by patients. There was even a movie made about real-life doctor Patch Adams, a physician who was totally committed to making his patients laugh as an essential part of his treatment.

How does laughter reduce pain?

Clinical staff consistently note that the primary benefit of humor therapy is that it serves as a diversionary tactic, that is, it takes a patient’s mind off the pain. A study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing reported that patients who were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn’t get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.

Why don’t bunnies make noise when they have sex? Because they have cotton balls.

Another study, this one published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, found that young girls with burns who were shown cartoons during very painful hydrotherapy said they felt less pain than similar patients who were not exposed to cartoons during the same procedure. A second theory of how laughter helps relieve pain is that it triggers the release of endorphins, the chemicals in the brain that can make us feel good.

Natural healing

Around the same time that the Cousins book appeared, the departing editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, noted that 85 percent of all human illnesses are curable by the body’s own healing system. Building a positive focus in your lifewhich includes a regular dose of laughter can play a key role in supporting the body’s ability to do just that. Laughing, in fact, has been shown to increase the body’s natural killer cells and T-cells, which are types of cells that attack foreign material in our bodies.

Laughter also keeps away negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, which tend to weaken the immune system.

Why are they called “hemorrhoids”. They should be called “asteroids”?

Research on stress-related hormones and humor has shown that laughter reduces at least four of the hormones associated with the stress response, including epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone. Some studies have indicated that laughter improves lung capacity and with improved lung capacity come improved oxygen levels in the blood, thereby alleviating ischemic pain or pain do to lack of oxygen-rich blood.

Internal jogging

According to Dr. William Fry from Stanford University, one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine.  Laughter is a kind of “internal jogging” that exercises our heart and reduces blood pressure in the same way as does standard aerobic exercise. This kind of laughter exercise is well suited to sedentary people and those who are confined to a bed or wheelchair.

What did One saggy boob say to the other saggy boob? If we drop any lower people are gonna think we are nuts!

If you keep the Huh Huh Huh – going for long periods of time and increase the number of times you do it while at the same time shrugging your upper body you will keep the oxygen flowing to the cells that need it and you will be giving what you body need to begin to reduce your pain and speed healing.

And here’s a final fascinating fact: Researchers at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center in Minnesota say that tears of laughter remove toxic substances that normally build up during periods of emotional stress…

So, whether you prefer Dirty jokes, Redneck jokes or Funny Photos the Internet has provide us with an unlimited number of resources not to mention the ton of emails that you get from your friends that they think are funny and they just have to send to you for some reason thinking that you have the time to read it and that you have nothing else to do. Maybe just read one a week and see how you feel.

If you do read a joke or see a funny photo and it does put a smile on your face learn to keep that smile going longer and feel how good you feel when you keep your head up and a smile on your face. Life will always be full of challenges but we should always be driven to seek those thing that give us Joy and Peace, so if a joke can give you 30 seconds of joy, read a joke and keep smiling.

If you enjoyed this article, and would like more information in alternative back pain treatments sign up for our Back Pain Advisory and you will join the nearly 1 million people that have received this life changing information. Please visit our new web site at http://www.losethebackpain.com/ for more free informative articles, videos and open forums.

By Steve Hefferon

Catastrophizing About Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

When someone with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome catastrophizes, they’re essentially giving up all attempts at trying to manage their illness. It’s no surprise that catastrophizers don’t do as well 

If I Live to Be 100 or Coping with Chronic Illness

New to this edition are chapters on stress and coping, chronic sorrow, courage in chronic illness, and empowering people with AIDS. 

Coping With Chronic Illness

Coping with chronic illness life can seem difficult and frustrating. Not only are you dealing with your ailments, but often you are dealing with doubt from your loved ones.  

Jeanne’s Endo Blog

As I have blogged about extensively, music is a huge tool for me in coping with chronic illness and pain. So your blogging about relaxation music was interesting to me. 

Ill In A Day’s Work

Women are especially susceptible to certain kinds of chronic illness. For instance, they are four times more likely than men to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: benefits, body, chronic, coping, good, health, helps, illness, improve, jokes, laughing, laughter, relieve, stress

How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your Health

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones. -Proverbs 17:22

Feeling stressed out, angry or sad? Dread going to work?

Try this: Open your mouth as wide as you can, bug out your eyes, stick out
your tongue, bring your hands up like the claws of a lion, then erupt in a
mighty roar of hearty laughter.

Or this: Sitting down, pretend you’re on a roller coaster approaching the
top of the hill. Slowly raise your arms higher and higher, bend back, lift your
feet off the ground, and in a rising tone of voice, exclaim: “Oooooohh.” Then, as the imaginary coaster races downhill, bring your arms crashing down with a big belly laugh that crescendos as you bend over at the waist.

Even if your laughter seems forced, don’t be surprised if you feel much better. Just as lifting weights and doing aerobic exercises can strengthen the body and invigorate the spirit, scientists today believe that the act of  laughter can be a physically and emotionally therapeutic force.

The lion and roller coaster laughs, together with about a dozen others, are now featured exercises in 1000 “laughter clubs” worldwide. A growing trend first reported on by ABC’s Peter Jennings in a l9981 World News Tonight report, laughter clubs (about 100 in the U.S.) are the absolute latest in stress-reduction therapy, easing tensions of modern life and enhancing one’s health. And laughter workouts are being effectively used in corporate settings, hospitals, nursing homes, and even grade schools.

Frame Your Mind To Mirth

Ever since the mid-l960’s, when the well-known Saturday Review writer Norman Cousins was diagnosed with a terminal disease and said he laughed himself to health by watching “Candid Camera” and funny Marx Brothers movies (and by ingesting megadoses of vitamin C), scientists have been tantalized by the possibilities of this mind-body connection.

Four centuries before this, Shakespeare was writing about the healing power of levity in The Taming of the Shrew: “And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.”

Today, Dr. William Fry, a psychiatrist, laughter researcher, and professor emeritus at Stanford University Medical School, agrees with Shakespeare: “When you’re laughing you discharge tension associated with the three primary negative emotions–anxiety, fear, and anger,” says the physician, who has devoted 30 years to laughter research. “Any of these emotions in excess can lead to diseases that shorten life.

If you can laugh at what you fear, the fear just vanishes .

“Mirthful laughter,” he continues, “is a total body activity that conditions the heart muscle, exercises the diaphragm, abdominal and thoracic muscles and augments our respiratory exchange, with more oxygen coming in and more carbon dioxide going out, improving lung capacity.” Moreover, the stimulation of laughter, he explains, improves circulation because it elevates the heart rate and blood pressure. “A day’s worth of hearty laughter,” Dr. Fry figures, “is about equal to ten minutes on the rowing machine.”

“Without question,  laughter has a healing and preventive effect on our health , much like moderate exercise, meditation, prayer, or yoga,” adds Dr. Lee Berk, associate professor of pathology and human anatomy at the School of Medicine of Loma Linda University, in southern California. “In fact, the parallels between laughter and exercise are uncanny,” says Berk, a laughter pioneer who reels off a list of health benefits that make laughter a virtual panacea:

“Laughter,” he reckons, “can relax the muscles, increase alertness and memory, reduce physical pain, lessen emotional stress, boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, improve circulation, increase vigor, defuse anger, and may even produce endorphins that provide a natural high.”

Such dazzling gains have not gone unnoticed by many U.S. hospitals, which offer humor rooms, humor wagons (filled with videos, oversized props like Groucho glasses and stick-on noses, and magic tricks), in-house humor TV channels, and clowns. Practitioners believe that any of these methods– through the laughter they produce– can improve respiratory ailments like asthma and chronic bronchitis (forcing air out of the lungs), and the outlook of patients.

Not to mention cardiac rehabilitation, where laughter may be key, notes Berk: “In a study of cardiac patients asked to watch humorous videos for 30 minutes daily for an entire year, there was an 8.3% recurrence of heart attacks as compared to 41.7% in the group treated by conventional methods. If I had come up with a medication that accomplished that–I’d be on my way to Sweden to get a Nobel Prize! Laughter is freely available which means we have the ability to heal ourselves and reduce stress. Isn’t that amazing?”

Taking Laughter To Work and School

Small wonder that some companies are now extending themselves beyond dress-down days, sports tournaments, and ice-cream parties to offering employees organized laughterfests, aided by more than 20 U.S. humor-consulting firms. One key player in the U.S. laughter business is psychologist Steve Wilson, a self-proclaimed “joyologist” who left behind his private practice in Gahanna, Ohio to co-found both the North American Laughter Club and World Laughter Tour Inc.,which certifies “laughter leaders.”

“When you double over and go limp with laughter and end up telling your friends– ‘Thanks I needed that!’–you really did need it,” exclaims Wilson. “A laughter burst in a corporate setting,” he observes, “gives employees a chance to discharge tension, it energizes them (better than a coffee break), and boosts their creativity. And creativity is essential for planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Employees who are creative and energized are going to be more productive.”

Just ask Bobbe White, a business development officer at the State Street Bank and Trust Co. in Quincy, Illinois, who paces employees through giggles once a week: “When I first did this at a staff meeting, they thought I was nuts!” laughs White, who received laughter leader accreditation at Columbus State Community College, in Ohio, where she was trained by the World Laughter Tour Inc. “Employees,” she admits, “were apprehensive and reluctant. But a year later, they’re more relaxed, they laugh more easily, they deal with customer conflict with less strain–and our laughter club has created a feeling of overall camaraderie.”

Bank vice president Glennon Rost, 42, agrees: “At first, I couldn’t believe they were asking me to do this,” he chuckles, “but in no time I was laughing all over the place. Life’s too short to spend any of it mad at the world. And you can’t be mad or worry about a bad loan while you’re laughing. It’s also easier to approach a colleague later in the day if you’ve seen them break loose in laughter.” The irony is that humans laugh less and less as they mature, attempting to squelch their childlike giggles, an instinct contrary to their emotional and physical health.

“The average American pre-school child laughs about 400 times a day,3 marvels Steve Wilson, “while the average American adult is maybe laughing as little as 15 times! That’s because we’re bogged down by stress.” To prevent this happening to a new generation, some grade schools are addressing the problem head-on, using laughter clubs to reduce peer and parental pressures. “These kids,” says Wilson, “are getting a lifetime inoculation to protect them from losing their ability to laugh so they don’t lose 385 laughs by the time they’re grown up.

My philosophy of life is: don’t postpone joy . Mark Twain said ‘life is uncertain, so eat your dessert first.’”

Laugh For No Reason

The laughter club movement began in Bombay in l995, when an inventive Indian physician, Dr. Madan Kataria, a longtime student of humor and yoga, observed that patients who laughed frequently tended to recover more quickly from illness and stayed healthier longer. He discovered that a session of forced laughter in the morning could create a sense of well-being and leave behind an emotional glow. “The idea came to my mind in a flash,” says Kataria, in an interview from Bombay. “I had read so much research about the health benefits of laughter, yet nobody was laughing enough in our stressful, modern life.

“So one day,” he recalls, “I went to a public park at 7 a.m., stood on a corner, and started laughing at jokes with five people. But then I thought, why not laugh for no reason–because laugher is infectious.” So it was. Kataria founded a company, Laughter Clubs International, which has sprouted more than 400 affiliates in India with 50,000 members, most of whom meet in the early morning at public parks or apartment complexes before going to work.

Dr. Kataria, who has written a landmark book about his techniques, Laugh For No Reason [Madhuri International, l999], believes a laughter “prescription” is the best prevention: “More than 70% of illnesses–like high blood pressure, heart disease,
anxiety, depression, frequent coughs and colds, peptic ulcers, insomnia, allergies, asthma, menstrual difficulties, tension headaches, stomach upsets and even cancer–have some relation to stress,” he says. “A good laugh,” he concludes, “brings you instant relaxation and has been proven to reduce the blood levels of stress hormones like adrenalin, dopamine, and cortisol.”

Fake It Till You Make It

Whether in Bombay or Chicago, the format of laughter clubs is the same, consisting of a 20-minute blend of mirthful laughter, deep breathing and stretching exercises. No jokes or comedy are required! Certified laughter leader Margot Escott of Naples Florida, a psychotherapist and national speaker on humor and healing, prepares participants in the following way: “I always begin by saying: ‘Forced or simulated laughter might seem phony or fake to you, but the body doesn’t know the difference. You get the same benefits from laughter–whether it’s ‘real’ or not!’”

“Self-induced laughter,” adds Dr. Kataria, “is contagious–and very soon the voluntary laughter does get converted into genuine peals of giggles.”Steve Wilson, who was trained by Dr. Kataria, notes: “You don’t even have to be in the mood to laugh. Motion creates emotion,” he believes, “so fake it till you make it.”

At the start of every laughter session, members launch into a three-minute warm-up, repeating, “Ho-Ho,Ha-Ha-Ha”–a rhythmic chant spoken in unison with brisk clapping. “Doing this,” says Wilson, “stimulates acupressure points in the palms of the hands and oxygenates the blood.” Next is deep breathing, a core element borrowed from yoga that releases tension and relaxes participants. Then the real fun begins with a group of interactive laughs. The first is called the Greeting laugh: Look into the eyes of the person next to you. Exchange a hand-shake or high-five while laughing in a warm, inviting tone. Then keep changing partners, shaking hands, and laughing.

Any number of improvised laughs may follow, such as the roller coaster and lion, or the always popular Humming: Laugh with the lips closed, so the sound of the laugh has to come out of your nose. This makes a humming sound which resonates throughout the skull. “Fluttering your arms and hands like wings is optional,” says Wilson, “but it’s a sure fire way to augment laughs!”

Other staples includes:

Cocktail laugh: A parody of superficial party behavior. Pretend you’re holding a martini on one hand, shake hands daintily with the other, and then laugh in a “kiss-kiss,” phony, coy, sarcastic manner. Argument laugh, one of the most cathartic, is especially popular in schools: Two people face one another, both wagging an accusatory index finger at the other in an angry posture while vigorously laughing. This one’s a favorite of ten-year-old Nick White, son of laughter leader Bobbe White: “My older sister [Korey, 12] and I argue a lot and I like doing the pointing!” Nick reports in a gleeful telephone interview. “When we’re doing the argument laugh, we’re not really mad. Laughing makes kids feel better so you don’t worry about anything.”

Nick says he also likes the Crazy Dance: You dance any which way, arms and legs in motion, while you’re shaking with laughter. And don’t forget the Penguin: You keep your arms at your sides, your heels together, and just waddle around and laugh, circulating from member to member. Don’t participants feel a bit silly roaring like a lion or flapping hands around like a bird? “The word ‘silly’ comes from an old English word meaning a blessing or a gift,” says Escott, “so to be silly is to give someone a blessing.”

Interspersed between structured giggles are exercises–gentle neck and shoulder stretches and side-and waist bends, all meant to limber up and tone the muscles and promote flexibility and relaxation. Due to the sometimes intense physicality of a laughter workout, Dr. Kataria and his followers warn that pregnant women, those with uterovaginal prolapse (weakening of the ligaments supporting the uterus), heart patients, individuals with high blood pressure, anyone with eye complications (especially glaucoma), a hernia or hemorrhoids, or those recovering from recent abdominal surgery should not participate in a laughter session.

Laughter For Seniors and the Chronically Ill

Perhaps its most seductive effect, laughter (like chocolate) nearly always provides a potent euphoric benefit, reports Dr. Kataria, “because it increases the release of endorphins–the body’s own morphine, natural pain killers,” producing a “runner’s high.” Endorphins, he has proven, can lessen pain perception in those suffering from arthritis, tension headaches, and a myriad of other maladies faced by seniors or the chronically ill.

As Norman Cousins wrote in his bestselling book, Anatomy of an Illness,4 “ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep.” That’s why laughter clubs are becoming increasingly popular in nursing homes, says laughter leader Barb Templeton, activities director at the Heritage Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Naples, Florida, a skilled nursing home with 97 residents.

“Laughter therapy is an elixir that can absolutely mask pain and cut through depression and boredom of being in a nursing home,” remarks Templeton, who says residents who are disabled can fully participate–whether lying down, or using walkers or wheelchairs.

Talk to Yvonne Cook, a resident of the home, age 62: “I had a stroke and can’t move my left side,” she says in a phone interview,“but the exercises help my strong side and I can laugh sitting down. After laughter club, there are lots of smiling faces in wheelchairs!” John DeBruyn, although only age 50, is also a resident at Heritage after suffering multiple strokes. “Laughter club,” he confides, “keeps me out of the dumps. I see what depression does to people…it’s a killer. So I always feel like laughing.”

Thomas White, age 83 and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, attends laughter club every week at the urging of his wife Marguerite, a non-resident at Heritage: “I’ve noticed he’s less tense, more relaxed and happy. We’ve laughed all our lives- through 50 years of marriage–and we’re not stopping now!” Finally, for seniors living independently, like Dottie Wilson, age 89, of Naples, Florida, laughter clubs provide an emotional boost: “The first time I went to a laughter club, at my church, I was on a high until I went to bed! I could hardly sleep I was so stimulated,” she recalls. “I didn’t know any of the 50 people in the group and it was a great icebreaker. Seniors need this. It’s better than a visit to the doctor because it takes the focus away from age and ailments. You get in touch with your lighter side.”

Speaking of icebreakers, nothing works faster than the Ice-Cube Down The Back, says Steve Wilson: “This laugh was invented by women in their 80’s and 90’s–members of a laughter club in an assisted living facility in Canton, Ohio. They tried it out on the day they went on a picnic. You pretend someone just put an ice-cube down your back, wriggle around, and start giggling.”

The Spiritual Component of Laughter

The finale of each laugh workout arrives with three affirmative cheers: The leader delivers the first punch line by saying: ‘We are the happiest people in the world.’ Everyone raises their arms and says, ‘Y-e-ee-s!’ ‘We are the healthiest people in the world.’ ‘Y-e-s!’ ‘We are Laughter Club members! ‘Y-e-e-s!’” Then members stretch their arms out toward the sky, close their eyes and, in India, pray for world peace.“If we laughed more, we’d fight less and there would be more peace in the world,” exclaims Steve Wilson, who explains that laughter clubs always feature an underlying spiritual component:

“If you only derive the physical benefits of laughter, that’s good, but not good enough. We also have to get the spirit of laughter. So when we’re cooling down at the end of a session, the leader always mentions ‘emotional balancing,’” comprised of three practices: On Mondays, group members are encouraged to pay compliments; Wednesdays are reserved for practicing gratitude; Fridays are centered on forgiveness. The end result is no less than a spiritual makeover, promises Wilson: “With all this, in the face of a setback or disappointment, you can make an RMA–
rapid mental adjustment–and decide to be amazed and amused, rather than angry or hurt.

“Your anger,” he warns in parting, “is your worst enemy–for your heart and for your attitude. So laughter workouts turn out to be the ultimate cost- effective therapy.

Laughter is free, it’s easy to pass around, and it prevents hardening of the attitudes!!”

Tips for Putting More Laughter Into Your Life

1)Create your own Mirth-Aid Kit: Find humor videos, toys, and fun props like wind-up toys, Groucho glasses, a clown nose, a mechanical laugh bag, a horn, bubbles–anything that amuses you, and tuck them into your desk, glove compartment, or briefcase. The next time you’re stressed, take them out and amuse yourself and others.

2)Join or start a laughter club (for instructions log onto: www.worldlaughtertour.com)

3)Find a humor ally–a laughing buddy who makes you laugh and vice-versa. Trade funny stories and laughs. Or subscribe to Humor Pal@www.jesthealth.com.

4)Surround yourself with humor: At home, decorate the refrigerator with magnetized cartoons, humorous columns, and fun photos, or create a family humor bulletin board.

5)Tell stories on yourself:Take your bloopers, foibles, and shortcomings…and laugh about them.

6)Spend time with preschool children: Kids are natural laughers who don’t put a negative spin on setbacks. Let it rub off on you.

7)Loosen up unrelenting standards: Anything you can do to reduce perfectionism and create a casual atmosphere will increase potential for laughter in your life. Worry, anxiety and perfectionism kill laughter

8)Share the laughter wealth:When you read a newspaper or magazine, keep a pair of scissors handy, cut out cartoons or articles that strike you as funny, and pop them in the mail to friends and family

9)Exploit the contagious laugh effect: Laughter loves company– As Victor Borge said: “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” So seek out cheerful, good-natured people and avoid crabby, grouchy, negative, or sarcastic people.

10)Bring your sense of humor to work: The funny line and bottom line can go hand-in-hand.

( based upon interviews with humor consultants: Steve Wilson of
WorldLaughterTour; Joel Goodman of The Humor Project Inc.; and Patti Wooten
of Just For The Health of It.)

For more information about laughter clubs: http://www.worldlaughtertour.com

Stress relief…

Stress relief When I am sad and stressed I just pick up my chin and grin and say…the sun will come out (SLAP! Not). Okay, where was I. Ah yes, being sad and stressed.

Dispensing Happiness: Peanutbutter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peanutbutter Chocolate Chunk Cookies as Stress Relief . Sometimes, all you can do is bake. One of the easiest cookie recipes I’ve come across, and so good. Soft, fragrantly peanut butter-y. They’re for a few friends of mine

Stress Relief Games

Peter Gitundu asked: In the game of life, we realize that stress is an enemy that needs to be eliminated and we come up with so many remedies which help relieve. 

Our Happy Happenings Stress Relief

Our Happy Happenings was established to share my day to day life with Family and Friends!  

Stress Relief Music

If you’re jittery, anxious or trying to learn something, try stress relief music. That’s excellent for relaxing and for students learning new material. Stress music is proven to build a better state of mind

Parents: Are You Depressed?

Major depression can be triggered by several life stresses including the death of a loved one, divorce, serious financial difficulty, chronic illness and chemical dependency, particularly on alcohol or cocaine.

Wellness

If you’re older than 65 or pregnant, or if you have a chronic illness or disease, get a flu and pneumonia vaccination. If you get sick: –Get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. 

Stress Relief Simplified!

Breathing exercises are often recommended as a stress relief too for good reason: breathing exercises are convenient, simple and effective.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: benefits, body, good, health, heart, helps, humor, improve, laugh, laughing, laughter, mirth, mirthful, pain, physical, reduce, stress, workplace