|
|
|
April 2007 – Humor and Gentleness
Humor and Gentleness: Tools for HealingThere’s nothing funny about cancer. But a little humor can help someone who is coping with a cancer diagnosis.
“Humor is the quality of being able to see or show the amusing side of any given predicament,” said Mary Jo Sims, APRN-BC, CS, clinical nurse specialist in the Cancer Center at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. Sims is uniquely qualified to address the psychological and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families. With expertise in psychology and oncology, she has helped people cope with cancer for more than 15 years.
“I can’t change the fact that someone has cancer,” Sims said, “but I can help change the way he or she deals with it,” Sims said. “Humor can help people with other illnesses as well.”
Laughter has a positive effect on the body. It stimulates the heart, lowers blood pressure, releases endomorphins (hormones in the brain that reduce the sensation of pain and make you feel good), relieves tension, exercises the lungs and muscles, lowers blood pressure and increases oxygen to the brain. Humor also creates a bond between people.
“Humor must be used carefully with anyone who is ill,” Sims said. “The person must be receptive to humor, it must be consistent with his or her personality, and it must be constructive in the person’s care.”
There are subtle ways to determine if someone will find humor helpful. Sims observes a patient’s own use of humor, ability to laugh at him or herself and response to others’ humor. She also asks the patient about the role of humor in his or her life.
If the patient is receptive to humor, Sims finds ways to include it in treatment and encourages patients to find humor in other parts of their lives. When appropriate, Sims also introduces humor into interactions with patients’ family members.
“Most people wait until they’re happy to laugh,” she said. “But you can laugh to make yourself happy. Laughing is one of the best antidepressants available.”
GentlenessGentleness is also important for healing. “Gentleness is the physical and emotional display of comfort, encouragement and advocacy,” Sims said. “It’s the capacity to show empathy.”
Gentleness is conveyed through a person’s voice, behavior and body language. This includes things such as a smile, a touch, making eye contact, creating a relaxed atmosphere and conveying a sense of warmth. “It’s giving a patient the sense that he or she is the only one on your mind,” Sims said.
Add Humor to Your Life Because of humor’s healing properties, Sims offers the following tips for all of us to add humor to life:
- Look for the funny side of everything.
- Keep a humor first-aid kit, stocked with things that make you laugh — jokes, cartoons, greeting cards, comedy tapes/CDs.
- Humor up your surroundings with funny posters, bumper stickers, whimsical toys, etc.
- Make time for fun. Schedule a humor break every day.
- Be playful. Spend time with children and mimic their behavior.
- Encourage humor in others.
- Give silly presents to others.
- Take your work seriously and yourself lightly.
Additional ResourcesSmall Stones, a health resource center of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, offers many resources related to humor and healing:
The Beginner’s Guide to Humor and Healing (CD) by Bernie Siegel, MD
Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient by Norman Cousins
To add humor to every day life, try:
Life is Short — Wear Your Party Pants by Loretta LaRoche
Dance Naked in Your Living Room by Rebecca Ruggles Radcliffe
Small Stones offers many other books looking at various aspects of lift in a humorous light.
Author: Marla Fraunfelder Date: April 1, 2007 | Medical Reviewer: | Mary Jo Sims, APRN-BC, CS |
Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler
|