Surely, somewhere along the line, you’ve heard the expression “laughter is the best medicine.” Well, it was apparently said by a very wise person, because over the past several decades, much of the research being done on humor and health has validated that it’s true. It seems silly, I know, but it’s really very serious stuff.
How can something so frivolous be so scientific and serious at the same time? It has to do with the physical and psychological effects laughter has on the body and mind. We know that people who suffer from depression perceive more pain than people who do not. There is evidence that many diseases could be slowed, or stopped altogether, if people made a point of incorporating laughter and a positive outlook into their daily lives in addition to the other healthy things they do.
The person who got this whole laughter ball of wax rolling is a guy named Norman Cousins. His book, Anatomy of an Illness, published in 1979, recounted how he was determined to NOT just lie down and suffer when he was diagnosed with a serious illness which caused him great pain. Instead, checking himself out of the hospital, he surrounded himself with humor day in and day out. He watched funny movies, interacted with funny friends and watched funny television shows. Amazingly (or perhaps not so amazingly), he was able to overcome his illness and go on with his life. He discovered that having a good belly laugh actually diminished his pain. This inspired others to investigate further the effect of laughter on the body and mind.
Many studies have been done on humor and its effect on health. Researchers have found that laughter can lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure contributes to heart, kidney and eye disease and strokes. Laughter also relaxes your muscles. Relaxed muscles give you a feeling of peace. Muscles that are tightened for long periods of time become painful. For people who live with pain, laughter makes you feel less of it for a while. Having a good sense of humor, in general, lowers the amount of stress hormone you produce, thereby boosting your immune system so that you don’t get as sick as you might otherwise or get sick as often. Studies have also shown that laughter helps to completely empty out your lungs so that oxygen rich air can replace the used air; this is especially good for people with breathing disorders such as emphysema or asthma.
People who perceive themselves to have a good sense of humor tend to perceive themselves to be in good health as well. Learning to laugh at yourself is important; it helps to dissipate anger which can eat you alive if not dealt with properly. Laughter and humor are contagious. Have you ever had the experience of watching someone else laugh and not be able to keep yourself from laughing? If you have to catch something from someone else, laughter is the thing to get!
When is the use of humor especially helpful for truckers? Humor is beneficial any time it is used wisely and with the intent of creating happiness, not being hurtful with sarcasm or ridicule. It is particularly useful for situations that cause frustration. Many people become angry and frustrated when caught in traffic or waiting to pick up a load. This is a perfect time to turn on a Dave Barry tape or read a funny book; it will distract you from your frustration and help you to calm down.
It’s important to find the humor in even the most awful of situations in order to remain positive. Feeling positive in general is one of the things that keeps us healthiest. Some people think that you shouldn’t laugh at unfortunate conditions. But, you have to ask the question, “What benefit do I get by remaining angry and sour?” Negativity promotes health-sapping high blood pressure, fast heart rate and, of course, encourages things like road rage. Following are a few tips to help you include laughter in your life on a regular basis.
1) Develop your own sense of what’s funny - draw from your daily experiences. You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian, you just need to be able to look at an event and think about what was humorous in it. It’s healthy to be able to laugh at yourself if you did something embarrassing. When you are in an awkward situation with other people, be the first to say it out loud. The other person is probably thinking it anyway; you can relieve a lot of tension by acknowledging the discomfort you are feeling and saying something humorous about it. Try telling funny stories - sometimes the most frustrating situation ends up being the most hilarious story after the fact. Think about that the next time you are getting ready to blow your top over something ridiculous. Laughing about it can help to get rid of the anger and frustration.
2) Surround yourself with humor. First, decide what is funny to you. I might think Dave Barry is the funniest guy on earth but you might not. Buy funny bumper stickers at truck stops. Use books on tape (just be careful not to get so distracted laughing that you drive off the road). Make a point of renting funny videos or DVD’s or watching funny shows on television (remember, it worked for Norman Cousins). Put little reminders on your mirror or in your wallet that say things like, “Have you laughed today?”
3) Make sure your humor is positive. Sure, sometimes it seems funny to make fun of a person or group, but in the long run, it really doesn’t have the healthful effect we are hoping for. Keeping your humor positive instead of hurtful is important to maintaining good health.
Voltaire said, “The art of medicine consists in keeping the patient amused while nature cures the disease.” You can be your own best healer by keeping laughter and positive thought in mind just as you keep safety and other preventive measures in your awareness.
~ Norma Stephens Hannigan is a Family Nurse Practitioner with many years of experience treating truckers. She writes from her home in Laredo, Texas.
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