Myths About Depression

Depression Myths
By Jordan Lite

Wondering how to tell the difference between depression and the blues? Worried that drugs taken to treat the condition will turn you into another person entirely?

There are many myths about depression, which will affect an estimated 32 to 35 million Americans at some point in their lives, according to a 2003 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read on for eight common misconceptions and what's really true about this disabling condition.

Myth: Depression affects only women.
Fact: Depression can affect anyone.
Depression is nearly twice as common in women as in men, but men still get depressed -- especially as they get older -- and may feel a loss from career changes or the death of a spouse, says Dr. David Sommers, a scientific review officer at the National Institute of Mental Health.

"It is true that depression is more common in women than in men and that women are more likely to seek help than men, but men have trouble with their vulnerability and are more likely to use counterproductive coping strategies," such as alcohol, than to ask for help, Duckworth says.

Depression in guys can also look different than it does in women: Men are more likely to feel tired and irritable and lose interest in work or hobbies, while women tend to feel guilty, sad or worthless, according to the NIMH.

Myth: Depression is an adult problem.
Fact: Children can get depressed, too.
"Depression can happen across the lifespan," Duckworth says.

Some 8 percent of kids ages 12 to 17 suffer a depressive episode, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. But depression can look different in children and teens than it does in adults.

"Teens and children are more likely to show people rather than tell them they're depressed," Duckworth says. "Most adults can identify that they feel down, sad, and not every kid is able to articulate that."

A depressed kid may frequent the school nurse, complaining of bellyaches and headaches, he says, while depressed teens may be irritable and angry.

Myth: Depression isn't a medical problem; you could get over it if you wanted to.
Fact: Depression is a medical problem that can require help to overcome.
"This is a treatable condition and not a right-wrong fault issue. But that is a common misconception," Duckworth says. "Being sad, grieving a loss -- these are not clinical syndromes, but when you have a collection of symptoms that continue for weeks and are associated with sleep problems, negative thoughts, thoughts of suicide -- that's different from being down in the dumps."

The key distinction is how long and how severly you feel this way and whether your ability to function at home and work are affected.

Myth: Depression is a normal part of being a teenager.
Fact: Adolescent moodiness is not the same thing as teen depression.
"I don't consider depression a natural outcome of being a teenager," Duckworth says. "However, being a teenager can be a risky business."

Be on the lookout for how long a teen's symptoms last and how severe they are. Irritability, anger, falling grades, trouble at school, time alone and drug and alcohol use can be signs of more than just the blues.

"Many teens have conflict with their parents and struggle with their identity, but normal adolescents don't talk about killing themselves or losing interest in their friends," Duckworth says.

Myth: Depression is all in your genes.
Fact: Depression runs in families, but genes are not determining factors.
Family history does influence the likelihood of developing depression. Children whose parents experienced depression are three times as likely to suffer depression, anxiety and addiction as those whose parents have never been depressed, according to a 2006 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry. And research on identical twins (who share the same DNA) raised in separate families has shown that if one develops depression, the other is likely to, which points to a significant hereditary role, Sommers says.

"I wouldn't be fatalistic, but if you have an increased risk, be mindful of that," Duckworth says.

If depression runs in your family, find out what treatment benefited your loved ones. It may help you, too, he says.

Myth: Antidepressants will change my personality.
Fact: Antidepressants won't change one's personality.
Modern antidepressants are used to increase the circulation of serotonin and norephinephrine in the brain. The drugs can make you feel better, but they don't alter the traits that make you you, Sommers says.

"There's some concern about emotional numbing -- that by diminishing the bad feelings, [the drugs will] diminish the good ones; there's no real good evidence of it," he says.

Adds Duckworth: "Medicines don't help with persistent negative thoughts, but they may help with sleep, appetite, energy -- the biological pieces to the puzzle."

Myth: Antidepressants help everyone.
Fact: At best, 60 percent of people get better with antidepressants.
Psychiatric meds might improve certain symptoms of depression, but they're not going to affect life circumstances or counterproductive thinking. The STAR*D trial, a large federally funded study, found that just 40 percent of people improve with the first antidepressant they try, a number that goes up to 60 percent once you count the people who try more than one. More recently, a January report in JAMA found that people with mild depression weren't helped any more with an antidepressant than they were with a placebo, so if your depression isn't severe, you may want to consider exercise and psychotherapy first.

"There's some evidence that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is better than either one alone," Sommers says. And, he adds, the effects of psychotherapy seem to be more durable than drugs.

Myth: Women with postpartum depression are bad mothers who kill their children.
Fact: Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw, and psychosis is rare.
An estimated 9 to 16 percent of American women suffer from postpartum depression, or depression following childbirth, according to NAMI. Signs include feelings of guilt, anxiety and fear that make it difficult to function. It's rare -- between one to four in every 1,000 births -- that a mom suffers postpartum psychosis, the condition Andrea Yates' lawyers argued caused her to drown her five children. In those cases, women may have delusions, confusion, rapid mood swings and thoughts of hurting themselves or their child, according to NAMI.

"It's a reversible condition," Duckworth says.

But how quickly a woman is treated and the effects on her baby depend on her support net. Babies of postpartum moms can be at extra risk of language and behavior problems, as well as experience difficulty bonding with their mothers, the association says.

Humor In The Workplace

By Daniel Robin

Two executives walk into a bar. One says to the other "I've been thinking. If you took over as CEO, I could retire early." The other executive responds, "Sure, dear, but not until after we put the kids to bed."

(What? Oh, I get it ... that's like a joke, but not as funny. What matters is that now we've opened up the door for something funnier to come along. As the saying goes, "you can't fall off the floor.")
Humor's Risks and Rewards.

When humor can be used to bridge gaps, relieve tension, or add enjoyment to work relationships, everyone benefits. When it is used to mask true feelings — often the case with sarcasm — or, when cultural and style differences lead to misinterpretation, there's likely a cost.
Is humor part of your natural style? If so, let's check out how to manage the risks of having fun. If not, that's okay ... I hear they pay pretty well at the DMV (oops, there goes my license).
Being PC in a World That Isn't

Being politically correct in a world of political hypocracy and madness can be quite a trick. In the past, if someone or something was different from us, we'd tend to make fun — a natural (though perhaps immature) response. How do you currently deal with people or events you don't understand?

Nowadays, diversity and gender sensitivity training asks that we respect and value the differences. Still, because old attitudes often die slowly, expect a gap between this espoused theory and daily practice. Can humor fill this gap? It can if you're willing to risk and learn.
I Don't Get It ... Is that a Joke?

For starters, if someone seems humor impaired (oh, excuse me, that's "levity challenged"), assume it's you that needs to lighten up, not them. In effect, they're not lacking a sense of humor ... it's just that you haven't yet found a way to get past the guard dog to tickle that soft underbelly. Keep trying (or pick on someone else's underbelly), paying close attention to the responses you get. Remember: a blank stare or no response is a response.

If the other person is noticeably upset, walk softly (and carry a big schtick? No. Be careful.). Initially match their mood or energy level. If you can't tell where they're coming from, ask. Putting yourself at choice in your use of humor is key to minimizing the risks. If you offend, learn from it. Apologize. This type of open exchange can, ironically, encourage healthier and more honest interactions.

Taking the Heat Off

When someone has a big problem with something you did (or didn't do), humor offers an effective alternative to either brushing them off, being defensive, or caving in. For example, if you just kept someone waiting, what if you say "I was abducted by aliens." That's probably better than saying "You messed up, you trusted me," or "Boy, some people never learn...." When in doubt, make fun of yourself.

The important thing is to show that you have a sense of humor and are willing to use it. Yes, if you go overboard with humor you might get yourself labeled a goof or "loose cannon." (So what do they know?! You can always just blow up their office.) There are times, however, when kidding around can be a tremendous asset, a compassionate and effective diplomatic tool. At other times, instead of being "nice," it might be more helpful to just be "real."

Humor is a tool, not a weapon. You’ll know you’re on the right track when the times are fun and the flies laugh more than they hurt. Or something like that....

Laughter Is Healthy

University of Maryland reported that in a study of 20 healthy people, provoking laughter did as much good for their arteries as aerobic activity. He doesn't recommend that you laugh and not exercise. But he does advise that you try to laugh on a regular basis. The endothelium, he explains, regulates blood flow and adjusts the propensity of blood to coagulate and clot. In addition, it secretes assorted chemicals in response to wounds, infection or irritation. It also plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease.

"The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries," said Dr. Miller. "So given the results of our study, it is conceivable that laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium. And reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease."
At the very least, he adds, "laughter offsets the impact of mental stress, which is harmful to the endothelium."

The researcher can't say for sure exactly how laughter delivers its heart benefit. It could come from the vigorous movement of the diaphragm muscles as you chuckle or guffaw. Alternatively, or additionally, laughter might trigger the release in the brain of such hormones as endorphins that have an effect on arteries.

Stress On The Job

Stress on the job is not healthy. Check out the results of this 2000 annual Attitudes In The american Workplace VI

80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress and 42% say their coworkers need such help;

14% of respondents had felt like striking a coworker in the past year, but didn't;

25% have felt like screaming or shouting because of job stress, 10% are concerned about an individual at work they fear could become violent;

9% are aware of an assault or violent act in their workplace and 18% had experienced some sort of threat or verbal intimidation in the past year.

Stress can be dangerous. You need to get a grip on it before it gets to you.

B.C.'s book Stress Management 101 teaches you how to get over stress in your life with humor and meditation. To order your copy send $15 to: WorldWideBC, 115 Sunset Point, Semora, NC 27343

B.C. is a stress management expert and humor therapist and is available for keynotes and seminars Nationwide.

Stress & Anxiety

Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another.

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. The source of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can add to the distress you feel.

Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate you and help you be more productive. However, too much stress, or a strong response to stress, is harmful. It can set you up for general poor health as well as specific physical or psychological illnesses like infection, heart disease, or depression. Persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating and abuse of alcohol or drugs.

Emotional states like grief or depression and health conditions like an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, or heart attack can also cause stress.

Anxiety is often accompanied by physical symptoms, including:
· Twitching or trembling
· Muscle tension, headaches
· Sweating
· Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing
· Abdominal pain (may be the only symptom of stress, especially in a child)

Sometimes other symptoms accompany anxiety:
· Dizziness
· Rapid or irregular heart rate
· Rapid breathing
· Diarrhea or frequent need to urinate
· Fatigue
· Irritability, including loss of your temper
· Sleeping difficulties and nightmares
· Decreased concentration
· Sexual problems

Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve excessive anxiety. They include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia.

Certain drugs, both recreational and medicinal, can lead to symptoms of anxiety due to either side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Such drugs include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cold remedies, decongestants, bronchodilators for asthma, tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, ADHD medications, and thyroid medications.

A poor diet -- for example, low levels of vitamin B12 -- can also contribute to stress or anxiety. Performance anxiety is related to specific situations, like taking a test or making a presentation in public. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a traumatic event like war, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster. People with generalized anxiety disorder experience almost constant worry or anxiety about many things on more than half of all days for 6 months. Panic disorder or panic attacks involve sudden and unexplained fear, rapid breathing, and increased heartbeat.

In very rare cases, a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma) may be the cause of anxiety. The symptoms are caused by an overproduction of hormones responsible for the feelings of anxiety.

The most effective solution is to find and address the source of your stress or anxiety. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. A first step is to take an inventory of what you think might be making you "stress out":
· What do you worry about most?
· Is something constantly on your mind?
· Does anything in particular make you sad or depressed?
· Keep a diary of the experiences and thoughts that seem to be related to your anxiety. Are your thoughts adding to your anxiety in these situations?

Then, find someone you trust (friend, family member, neighbor, clergy) who will listen to you. Often, just talking to a friend or loved one is all that is needed to relieve anxiety. Most communities also have support groups and hotlines that can help. Social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals may be needed for therapy and medication.

Also, find healthy ways to cope with stress. For example:
· Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Don't overeat.
· Get enough sleep.
· Exercise regularly.
· Limit caffeine and alcohol.
· Don't use nicotine, cocaine, or other recreational drugs.
· Learn and practice relaxation techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Try biofeedback, using a certified professional to get you started.
· Take breaks from work. Make sure to balance fun activities with your responsibilities. Spend time with people you enjoy.

· Find self-help books at your local library or bookstore.

Your doctor can help you determine if your anxiety would be best evaluated and treated by a mental health care professional.

Call 911 if:
· You have crushing chest pain, especially with shortness of breath, dizziness, or sweating. A heart attack can cause feelings of anxiety.
· You have thoughts of suicide.
· You have dizziness, rapid breathing, or racing heartbeat for the first time or it is worse than usual.

Call your health care provider if:
· You are unable to work or function properly at home because of anxiety.
· You do not know the source or cause of your anxiety.
· You have a sudden feeling of panic.
· You have an uncontrollable fear -- for example, of getting infected and sick if you are out, or a fear of heights.
· You repeat an action over and over again, like constantly washing your hands.
· You have an intolerance to heat, weight loss despite a good appetite, lump or swelling in the front of your neck, or protruding eyes. Your thyroid may be overactive.
· Your anxiety is elicited by the memory of a traumatic event.
· You have tried self care for several weeks without success or you feel that your anxiety will not resolve without professional help.

Ask your pharmacist or health care provider if any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you are taking can cause anxiety as a side effect. Do not stop taking any prescribed medicines without your provider's instructions.

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, paying close attention to your pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
To help better understand your anxiety, stress, or tension, your doctor may ask the following:
· When did your feelings of stress, tension, or anxiety begin? Do you attribute the feelings to anything in particular like an event in your life or a circumstance that scares you?
· Do you have physical symptoms along with your feelings of anxiety? What are they?
· Does anything make your anxiety better?
· Does anything make your anxiety worse?
· What medications are you taking?

Diagnostic tests may include blood tests (CBC, thyroid function tests) as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG).

If the anxiety is not accompanied by any worrisome physical signs and symptoms, a referral to a mental health care professional may be recommended for appropriate treatment.

Psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to significantly decrease anxiety. In some cases, medications such as benzodiazepines or antidepressants may be appropriate.

Stress: Unhealthy response to the pressures of life

Today's news includes round-the-clock coverage of natural and man-made disasters. Earthquakes and floods. Wars and terrorist attacks. Just 10 minutes of watching the news can make your stress level soar which is what the news is designed to do. That's why all the commercials on the news are for drugs that will help you get over the symptons that are caused by stress.

Compounding matters, you've got a big presentation in an hour, and you've hardly had a chance to prepare. Urgent e-mails keep popping onto your display screen, each one sending a stab of anxiety through your chest. your phone is ringing off the hook. As you frantically scribble notes for the presentation, your heart races, your palms sweat and your head pounds. you are stressed out and you don't have to be. Being stressed over the matter only makes the matter worse. Get control.

Physical reactions you experience when you're stressed are no accident. The human body developed these defense mechanisms to deal with the threat of predators and aggressors. But modern life is full of new threats. Your body's well-adapted defenses against physical dangers may not be as effective at dealing with the stress you feel while managing a huge workload, making ends meet, or taking care of an ill parent or child.

Instead of protecting you, your body's response to stress, if constantly activated, may make you more vulnerable to life-threatening health problems.

What is the stress response?
Stress response, often referred to as the "fight-or-flight" reaction, is your body's rapid and automatic switch into "high gear." It's easy to imagine how this reaction helps you deal with a physical threat. You need the energy, speed, concentration and agility either to protect yourself or to run as fast as possible.

When you encounter such a threat, the hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your brain, sets off an alarm system in your body. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, situated atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones - the most abundant being adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances the brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.
Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

The complex alarm system also communicates with regions of the brain that control mood, motivation and fear.

Stress response working overtime
The stress-response system is self-regulating. It decreases hormone levels and enables your body to return to normal once a crisis has passed. As levels of the hormones in your bloodstream decline, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal, and other systems resume their regular activities.

But physical threats aren't the only events that trigger the stress response. Psychological "threats" - such as the stress associated with work, interpersonal relationships, major life changes, illness or the death of a loved one - can set off the same alarm system. The less control you have over these potentially stress-inducing events and the more uncertainty they create, the more likely you are to feel stressed. Even the typical day-to-day demands of living can contribute to your body's stress response.

Also, many of our modern stressful circumstances, unlike most physical threats, tend to be prolonged. Consequently, you may be running on the fight-or-flight reaction longer than it's intended to operate. What's good for your body in a short-term crisis can be very harmful over long periods.

The long-term activation of the stress-response system - and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones - can disrupt almost all your body's processes, increasing your risk of obesity, insomnia, digestive problems, heart disease, depression, memory impairment, physical illnesses and other complications.

Digestive system
It's common to have a stomachache or diarrhea when you're stressed. This happens because stress hormones slow the release of stomach acid and the emptying of the stomach. The same hormones also stimulate the colon, which speeds the passage of its contents. Chronic hormone-induced changes can increase your appetite and put you at risk of weight gain. That's why we have more fat people in America than any other country. We're stressed out more than any other country. Our government is a large source of this stress.

Immune system
Your immune system is a complex balancing act between components that operate as an all-purpose emergency crew and more specialized components that deal with specific disease agents. The immune system, like the hormone system, evolved so that it could quickly deal with physical threats. Indeed, cortisol is one factor that prompts the system to reprioritize its tasks.
These shifting priorities are essential for priming the immune system to respond quickly to injuries, like creating inflammation around a bite or puncture wound, but these changes are not beneficial in the long run. When you experience chronic stress, some features of your immune system may remain suppressed, making you susceptible to infections. Other features of the immune system may be permitted to run unchecked, increasing your risk of autoimmune diseases, in which your immune system attacks your body's own healthy cells.

Stress may also worsen the symptoms of an autoimmune disease. For example, stress can trigger lupus flare-ups.

Nervous system
Certain byproducts of cortisol act as sedatives, which can contribute to an overall feeling of depression. If your fight-or-flight response never shuts off, the stress hormones may contribute to persistent and severe depression, as well as feelings of anxiety, helplessness and impending doom.

Such stress-induced depression often results in sleep disturbances, loss of sex drive and loss of appetite. It also may make you more vulnerable to developing certain personality or behavioral disorders.

Studies also suggest that chronic activation of stress hormones may alter the operation and structure of brain cells that are critical for memory formation and function.
Cardiovascular system

Chronic activation of stress hormones can raise your heart rate and increase your blood pressure and blood lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels. These are risk factors for both heart disease and stroke.

Cortisol levels also appear to play a role in the accumulation of abdominal fat, which gives some people an "apple" shape. People with apple body shapes have a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes than do people with "pear" body shapes, in which weight is more concentrated in the hips.

Other systems
Stress worsens many skin conditions - such as psoriasis, eczema, hives and acne - and can trigger asthma attacks.

Individual reactions to stress
Your reaction to a potentially stressful event is different from anyone else's. Some people are naturally laid-back about almost everything, while others react strongly at the slightest hint of stress - but most fall somewhere between those extremes.

Genetic variations may partly explain the differences. The genes that control the stress response keep most people on a fairly even keel, only occasionally priming the body for fight or flight. Overactive or underactive stress responses may stem from slight differences in these genes.
Life experiences may increase your sensitivity to stress as well. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to early environmental factors. People who were exposed to extremely stressful events as children, such as neglect or abuse, tend to be particularly vulnerable to stress as adults.

Managing stress
Stressful events are a fact of life, but you can take steps to manage the impact these events have on you. You can learn to identify what stresses you out, how to take control of some stress-inducing circumstances, and how to take care of yourself physically and emotionally when you face events you can't control.

These strategies can include exercise, relaxation techniques, healthy nutritional choices, social support networks, professional psychotherapy and, of course, a good laugh. The payoff of managing stress is peace of mind and - perhaps - a longer, healthier life.

BC is a stress management expert and Humor Therapist. he speaks to corporations, Chambers of Commerce, Small Businesses and conferences Nationwide. His website is http://www.worldwidebc.com/

Is Humor Therapy Safe

Humor therapy is completely safe. Your doctor is likely to approve of any efforts you make to use humor therapy, even if he or she is not aware of any medical benefits that may result. Since it is also inexpensive, risk-free, and readily available, there is little reason not to try practicing humor therapy.
Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.

Is humor good for my health?

You've probably heard countless warnings about the dangers of negative emotions. Stress, anger, and depression can sap your immune system, encourage heart trouble, and slow your recovery from almost any illness. But how often do you hear the positive side of the story? Research consistently shows that positive emotions, including love, humor, and hope, may help your body fend off disease. As Bernie Siegel, M.D., wrote in his book Peace, Love and Healing,

"Feelings are chemical; they can kill or cure."

Norman Cousins, an editor of the Saturday Review, didn't feel particularly mirthful when he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a crippling form of arthritis. But as he described in his 1979 book The Anatomy of an Illness, humor was definitely part of his recovery plan. Soon after the diagnosis, Cousins vowed to tackle his disease with confidence and laughter. He set up a movie projector in his hospital room and frequently watched Marx Brothers movies and classic episodes of "Candid Camera."

(On the downside, his constant laughter bothered some of the neighboring patients.) In between reels, he stayed upbeat and relaxed. Over a period of months, he regained motion in his joints and felt the pain disappear. He eventually made a nearly full recovery from his "incurable" disease. Cousins went on to help establish a department at the University of California at Los Angeles medical school that investigates the connection between illness and the mind.

What Is Humor Therapy Used For?

Anyone can use humor therapy, either preventively or as part of treatment for any disease. People commonly use it in the treatment of long-term (chronic) diseases, especially those that are made worse by stress (such as heart disease and asthma). Chronic diseases can often have a negative effect on mood and attitude, which can make the disease worse. Humor therapy helps decrease the negative effects of feeling unhealthy, out of control, afraid, or helpless, which are common problems for those with cancer or chronic diseases.

Humor therapy is also valuable as a preventive measure for the caregivers of people with chronic diseases. Caregivers are at high risk of becoming sick themselves, and humor therapy can help release the stress that comes from being a caregiver. Caregivers and those they care for can practice humor therapy together, and they both are likely to have better health as a result.

BC is a professional speaker on humor and being a father. He is the author of the book Humor Therapy 101 and How To Be A Daddy Not A Father. His website is www.worldwidebc.com

Humor Therapy. What Is It?

HUMOR THERAPY: WHAT IS IT?[From the American Cancer Society]

Comical or amusing entertainment. A quality that appeals to the sense of the ridiculous. That's what the dictionary calls humor. But in considering humor as a useful complementary therapy, scientists look at the possible release of endorphins that occurs when we laugh.

They see humor as a distraction from stress and pain.Humor as therapy is its deliberate use to provide symptom relief. This happens because humor reduces the natural stresses of illness and distracts the patient from pain. It is useful for treating people with physical and emotional problems.

The value of humor has been confirmed to the point that many hospitals and ambulatory care centers now have incorporated special rooms where materials - and sometimes people - are there to help make people laugh. Materials include movies, audio and videotapes, books, games, and puzzles for patients of every age. Movies and TV shows by popular comedians from Laurel and Hardy to Bob Hope and Bob Newhart, humorous songs, the joke of the day on the Internet, the one paragraph jokes and funny stories from the Readers' Digest, all have value in helping patients who would otherwise have little to laugh about.

A hospital in North Carolina created a "laughmobile" that visits bedridden patients. Many hospitals throughout the nation now use volunteer groups who visit patients with carts full of humor devices, including slapstick items such as water pistols and rubber chickens. They visit patients who are fighting cancer and other serious illnesses, providing an oasis of laughter during an otherwise difficult time.With all of the various objects and techniques, the goal is similar and simple: make patients laugh and help them put aside their fears, their concerns about health, and their discomforts.

BC is a speaker/author on Humor Therapy. His website is www.worldwidebc.com

Fun and the Bottom Line: Using Humor to Retain Employees

Article by David Granirer*
Humor for Retaining EmployeesPicture this: a team of welfare workers on the front-lines of a poor neighborhood, serving difficult, high-needs clients. And if that’s not tough enough, each has a caseload of about 300 and works for an organization undergoing massive funding cuts, downsizing, and policy changes.
But every day after coffee, it's the same. The supervisor and two workers appear in the reception area. "What song do you wanna hear? Do you wanna hear Jazz? Rock? Folk?" Then, "playing" accordion folders and staple removers as finger cymbals, they launch into the world’s worst rendition of "Across The Universe" by John Lennon, to the hysterical laughter of their colleagues.
"It's our way of keeping up morale," says a team member. "We're so overwhelmed, so stressed, so burned out. This is how we keep our sanity."
As more and more organizations reengineer, merge, restructure, downsize, rightsize, and even capsize, employees confront uncertainty on an almost daily basis. The rules keep changing in terms of what they're supposed to do, how they’re supposed to do it, who they do it for, and whether they get to do it at all.
And since most have little or no control over the making of these rules, the result is often a sense of powerlessness that translates into increased stress, decreased wellness, demoralization, absenteeism, and lower productivity, all of which affect rates of retaining employees. And we all know that people are an organization’s number one asset, and losing them costs money.
So the big question for both individuals and organizations is: how do you keep up spirits, continue to work effectively, and maintain health and sanity in a crazy-making situation? The team of welfare workers described chooses to laugh.
They could also choose despair, cynicism, bitterness, or negativity, but instead team members choose laughter. As one worker states, "We could either cry, or we could laugh, but you can only cry for so long. We’d had enough of crying, and it was time to do something else."
So, how do you help employees, who have little or no control over external events, survive a crazy-making situation? Organizations need to encourage employees to take control over the one aspect of the situation they do control - how they choose to respond to it.
And on those days where workers feel overwhelmed, overworked, and have no idea what's going to happen next, the only rational, life-affirming response is to go find some colleagues, and break out the clown noses, kazoos, and Groucho glasses.
Why Laughter?Why is laughter such a positive choice? We all know that it makes us feel good, but in today’s bottom-line oriented workplace, the term "feel good" is too nebulous to have much impact on how people go about structuring their job interactions and professional relationships.
And most organizations are not going to promote humor as part of their culture because some "touchy feely" wellness devotee thinks that having the boss come to work dressed as a chicken will create a happy afterglow.
So any discussion of the benefits of laughter needs to be more tangible and focused on addressing positive morale, a major factor contributing to retaining valued employees. Remember though, humor is a coping mechanism to aid in retaining employees, not a cure-all for other systemic problems affecting organizations.
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*David Granirer, M.A., is North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-up Comic. David gives laughter in the workplace presentations for hundreds of organizations throughout North America. For more information or to receive his free email newsletter "Get More Laughter In Your Life!" call (604) 205-9242 or go to David's web site.

B.C. is a professional speaker/author/musician/magician/storyteller who speaks on Humor Therapy He may be contacted at www.worldwidebc.com

Humor Therapy At Rochester

Humor Therapy
An innovative program utilizing therapeutic humor and laughter as a complementary part of medicine is being utilized to enhance the satisfaction and quality of life for patients, their families, and staff at ViaHealth Rochester General Hospital.
The Therapeutic Humor Program consists of four components:
Clown RoundsHumor ChannelHumor LibraryHumor Education
With the availability of all four components we are able to:
Provide a mirthful environment
Enhance the positive and caring RGH healthcare experience
Reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and relieve fear
Provide a powerful distraction tool
Complement medical care and treatment with a smile
Enhance communication
Act as an ambassador to and for the RGH community
Our Therapeutic Humor Coordinator has spoken both locally and nationally about this innovative ViaHealth program.
The Rochester General Hospital Foundation has provided funding for the program. This program is supported entirely by dedicated volunteers and generous donations from the community. Anyone wishing to donate to the program should contact the:
Rochester General Hospital FoundationParnall Office Building, Suite G-041445 Portland AvenueRochester, NY 14621(585) 922-4800

B.C. is a professional speaker/musician/magician/author/storyteller who speaks on humor worldwidebc. Visit his website at www.worldwidebc.com

Humor Is Strong Stuff it Can Even Help You Lose Weight

Humor is strong medication. People who laugh hard at least fifteen minutes a day live healthier, happier and longer live. They lose weight too. That's right, humor is a great way to lose weight. consider this article by By Victoria Wesseler

Every once in a while I run across a bit of information that sounds just too good to be true. When I heard that a group of researchers from Vanderbilt University’s Department of Medicine announced that laughing caused people to burn extra calories, I just had to investigate it. I wondered if there could be at least a kernel of truth in their study, which hinted that laughter might be a way to lose weight. After all, studies have shown that laughter, which has been said for years to be good medicine, can enhance the immune system, reduce stress, and keep our hearts healthy. That's all great, but what could it do for my waistline? Could I laugh my way back into my skinny jeans? Before I replaced my hour on the treadmill with an hour of watching my favorite sitcoms, I thought I should investigate the study’s findings.Turns out that the study is real and does, in fact, show that genuine laughter causes an increase in energy expenditure.

The study’s methodology and results were recently printed in the International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 131-137. Note the use of the term genuine. The researchers say that fake laughter, such as the giggle you force out at an old joke told for the tenth time by your distant (but not distant enough) relative at a holiday dinner, doesn’t count. To be beneficial, the laughter has to be a sincere, spontaneous laugh.

If you get a chance to read the entire study, you’d probably find it pretty interesting. But I’ll cut to the chase. The bottom line is that during genuine laughter, as compared to a resting state, we expend between 10–20 percent more energy, and our heart rate is increased by the same amount.

The good news is that 15 minutes of laughter can burn between 10–40 calories. The bad news is that it’s just not enough to replace even the lightest daily form of exercise or intense physical activity. But, not to be discouraged, at the end of the study’s results, the researchers note, “This amount [15 minutes per day] of energy expenditure during 1 year with no changes in other components of energy balance, may translate into an annual weight loss [of approximately 1–4 pounds of body weight], if all other components of energy balance remained unchanged.”

I say that beats gaining 1–4 pounds a year!So, we now have scientific proof that laughter is good for our figures. And, as we all know, there are few things better for eliciting hale and hearty belly laughs than time spent with your best female friends. The friendships that we have with close female friends are literally life sustaining. Numerous studies show that people who lack in friendships and are isolated from others die earlier than those who have close friends in whom they can confide and with whom they can share good times.

Yet despite all their value, we have fewer friends than ever before. In June 2006, USA Today noted that 25 percent of all Americans have no close confidants in their lives. Apparently, in the face of demanding schedules and overloaded daily activities, we often place non-relative relationships at the end of our “to do” list.Making a conscious effort to see our friends regularly is important. Whether it’s a monthly brunch, a weekly game night, or a semi-annual “ladies-only weekend at the cabin,” we have to plan and commit to nurturing and investing our time in these relationships.

Every year, I hold an annual “ladies-only” party where I invite my friends and ask them to invite one or two of their friends as guests. Anywhere from 50 to 60 women show up. For 11 years the party theme was chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. Guests each brought sinful chocolate desserts to share with each other. In 2005 and 2006, the theme was announced as a “Ladies Only Pajamarama and Cocktail Party.” Tiaras and feather boas were noted on the invitation as optional, but highly encouraged.

My friends did not disappointment me with their attire. I had no idea so many of them owned tiaras and boas. Obviously, they were just waiting for the perfect excuse to wear them in public. Even my neighbor’s female Weimaraner dressed in full party regalia—no one could figure out how that dog kept a tiara on her head and a white feather boa around her neck all night.

Take a few minutes today to think about those wonderful women you are privileged to call your friends. Where would you be without them in your life? They soothe your spirit. They feed your soul. They lift you up as only another person in your life can. They help you through significant life passages. They are there to dry your eyes when you are defeated and applaud you when you succeed.

They understand you better than you understand yourself. They want what’s best for you. They create a safe place to discuss your dreams and fears. They are Lucy to our Ethel; Laverne to our Shirley; Monica to our Rachel. And, maybe best of all, just when you think all is lost, they’re the ones that always give you plenty of reasons to break into a healthy, calorie-burning, genuine laugh!

Victoria Wesseler is a lifestyle, gardening and culinary writer. She is a weekly featured columnist for CDKitchen.com and has been published in Cooking Pleasures, Out Here, Indianapolis DINE magazine, and Indianapolis Monthly HOME Magazine. She has written and produced culinary segments for broadcast on WKYT in Lexington, KY.

You see, laughter is good for your soul and your body. Laugh hard at least fifteen minutes a day and enjoy a stress free life.

B.C. is a professional speaker and humorologist who speaks on Humor Therapy. His website is www.worldwidebc.com