Humor Therapy

Holiday Laughter Tips for Relationships

2011-03-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

1. Play laughter tapes or CDs on the stereo so laughter rings through the house.--It's contagious.

2. Decorate the Christmas tree with smiley faces.

3. Make Scrooge cookies and eat one every time you feel grouchy.

4. Go shopping together and make it a merry scavenger hunt. Split the list and the first one to finish gets to do nothing for one whole day leading up to Christmas.

5. Greet each other every evening with a HO, HO, HO and a hug.

6. Turn getting the kid's gifts ready into a party.--Have cheese, wine, and cake while you wrap and put things together.

7. Hang gobs of mistletoe around the house and remember to kiss each other every time you're under it.

8. When watching football, body paint your upper torsos with Christmas symbols like Santa, holly, or wreaths.

9. Give the gift of help with a great big laugh and a positive attitude.

10. Make a Santa's Bag with all the Christmas chores gift-wrapped inside. Each partner draws a gift a day and does the chore with uproarious laughter.

11. List the dysfunctional characteristics of each partners family of origin (also known as a FOO) and think of ways to enjoy all those points of irritation.

12. Make up characteristics of a schizophrenic couple which must split it's personality between two families (FOOs). "Two for FOOand FOO for two...."

13. Prepare eggnog laced with tranquilizers for you and your children. If you don't laugh, you won't miss it.

14. Make up a Christmas carol that playfully speaks to the headaches of the holidays, ie., "Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to do a thousand things a day."

15. Every time you say holidays or Christmas to each other--laugh.

16. Make little clay figures of the relatives and vent your frustrations together on the clay.

17. Every morning laugh together for five minutes. Fake it till you make it.

18. When being affectionate or passionate with each other pretend to be Santa and Mrs. Claus and laugh a lot.

19. Tell each other the good, warm, funny things about Christmases past.

20. Tell each other embarrassing stories about Christmas or the holidays.

21. Sing Christmas carols loudly and with exaggerations and embellishments like falsetto voices.

22. Go to the mall together and count smiling faces.

23. Start a holidays support group for recovering Scrooges.

24. Practice being a little child with each other so when you visit your FOO, you'll remember how to act.

25. Give each other gifts which are things you want and aren't practical. Show great appreciation.

26. Stick cheery Christmas love notes in surprising places for each other to find.

27. Wear funny, crazy Christmas hats like antlers or holly wreaths.

28. Revel together in the materialism of Christmas and make a list of the good things about being broke.

29. Tell each other every day, "Its the holidays and I still love you, doodah, doodah."

30. Go to the mall and tell Santa what you each want for Christmas. Don't forget to sit in his lap. Be silly. Enjoy it.

31. On New Year's Eve, watch the ball drop in Time Square while looking upside down. That way the ball goes up, not down and will portend a "up" year.

Tips for More laughter in Your Life

2011-03-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

Practice laughing 5 min/day. Fake it till you make it.

Look for humor around you--on signs, in people's behavior, on TV, in the newspaper, the things others say, the crazy things that happen to you.--Keep a journal.

Share your embarrassing moments with other people.

Learn to play with things that are serious like work, social issues, money, etc. For example, use word play, silly songs, or develop a comical view of the issue to help you laugh and cope.

Laugh with other people when they laugh.

Wear a smile. It puts you closer to laughing.

Seek out entertainment which makes you laugh.

Amuse yourself with your own sense of humor.

Buy and listen daily to a tape of laughter, a laugh box, or a laughing toy.

Buy mindless toys that make you laugh.

Wear hats that make you laugh.

Cultivate your innate playfulness.

Be creative with fun.

Make sure you have fun.

Give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to.

Do at least one silly, non-conforming thing a day.

Small Tips for Fun in Relationships

2011-03-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

Smile at each other when you first wake up.
Exaggerate your affection for each other—Make everything bigger than it is. Add a dash of silliness for fun. For example, holler " I love you." Tell each other of your undying love—compare it to the universe. Describe each other’s eyes in terms of romance—Blue as the deep, blue sea, green as a Rajah’s emeralds.
Laugh together at the funny things you see and experience on a daily basis.
Go on a spur-of-the-moment picnic.
Dance together in the living room, in the parking lot, on the street, in the mall.
Read to each other before you go to sleep at night.
Cuddle up together on the couch when you watch TV.
Find some time during the day to enjoy a long passionate, romantic kiss.
Walk together holding hands—swing those hands.
Share at least one bit of humor each day.
Tell each other the good things about each other.
Make a special time each day to laugh and talk—just the two of you.
Practice hanging out together over a cup of coffee, a coke, or a glass of wine.
Develop lots of different, playful ways to say I love you. You can use different accents or languages, create a banner for your living room, develop a card, write it on the mirror in lipstick.

Use your imagination to develop playful greetings for each other like a dramatic hug, enthusiastic joy at seeing each other, overdone messages about missing each other.

Laughter Tips for the Workplace

2011-03-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Look for the funny things that always exist like typos, the funny actions of your co-workers, your own funny behavior.

Give your projects comical names like Quasimoto or Thumper.

Have mindless toys on your desk and take short breaks to play with them.

Wear a funny hat to express or change your attitude.

Use cartoons to help with communication.

Play with the idea of stress--learn to celebrate it.

Laugh with your co-workers for a few minutes for no real reason at all.

Under your clothes, wear a T-Shirt with a saying that lightens you up.

Find playful ways to lighten up conflict with co-workers, ie., Certain toys that diffuse conflict; develop lightly humorous things to think or say; use comical visualizations that help you keep perspective.

Exaggerate and play with the issues that annoy you most.

Incorporate elements of a game into your work. For example, give yourself a prize for completing a project; divide the project into a football field and see each stage of completion as a first down; give yourself a cheer; develop a ritualized, playful way of turning on your computer.

Laugh for 5 min. in your car on the way to work.

Wear light-hearted, temporary tattoos that help you cope.

Wear a light-hearted tie, scarf, or some other kind of clothing that will help you feel good and playful. Wear funny underwear if it is a serious day or meeting and outer attire must match accordingly.

Laughter Tips for Relationships

2011-03-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Laugh together for 5-10 min. each morning.

Do one loving and light-hearted thing for each other each day.

Point out the day's absurdities to each other.

Seek out the humor in serious situations and share it with each other.

Put more fun into sex.

Consciously smile at each other more.

Stay playful in your interaction by keeping your voices and body language playful.

Renew your "real vows" once a week. (See The Belly Laughter Workbook.)

Take turns being responsible for the humorous thought for the day.

Giggle together right before going to sleep.

Play "Teasing Telephone Tag" by leaving outrageous messages.

Have a laughter match to see who can laugh loudest and longest.

Surround yourself with flowers. "The earth laughs in flowers." Emerson.

Practice laughing without control. Spit out food, wet your pants, wet each other's pants.

Echo each other's laugh. Laugh each time your partner laughs.

Count the number of times you laugh each day. Compete and share them.

Tell each other how much you enjoy the other's laughter and sense of humor.

Develop a fictional phone menu for different laughs. Press 1 for giggles, press 2 for chuckles, press three for guffaws, etc.

List the positive things in your day each day and read them to each other.

Play together one hour a week. Examples: Sing, dance, race each other, give exaggerated hugs, count smiling faces when driving together.

Humor Therapy

2011-03-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Humor is a wonderful stress-reducer and antidote to upsets, both at home and at work; we often laugh hardest when we have been feeling most tense. Laughter relieves muscular tension, improves breathing, regulates the heart beat and pumps endorphins-the body's natural painkillers-into the bloodstream.

Of course, many diabetics do not find anything to be funny about being a diabetic. But it helps quite a lot if you can look at the bright side and find humor and fun and laughter wherever you can, even in the diabetic state and its therapies.
A humorist once said: 'Just because I laugh at life doesn't mean I don't take it seriously. "

Just because we laugh at diabetes from time to time doesn't mean we don't take it seriously, and it certainly doesn't mean we don't want you to take it seriously. We just want you to keep your sense of humor alive because it's virtually impossible to have a humorous attitude toward something and at the same time to feel angry and resentful toward it.

June Biermann: The Diabetic's Total Health Book

One of the reasons laughter is such an effective diabetes therapy is that it's a great stress reducer. When you laugh, you briefly lose muscle tone. All the tense muscles of the body are relaxed and you have "a discharge of nervous excitement.

Laughter, according to Norman Cousins, is a kind of "internal jogging" that can be even more health restoring than the external kind. Norman had "laughed himself out of" a collagen disease that a whole battery of experts couldn't cure. His recovery from this disease by watching humorous cartoons is well-documented.
So can you. Humor lets you see the good things in your life that will have a profound influence on your diabetes.

Eliminate The Negativism and the Negative People

Avoid the negative people like a plague. Find the right people, the positive people, the ones who fill you with joy and laughter rather than gloom and doom.
June Biermann, author of 'The Diabetic's Total Health Book,' calls the negative people 'the prana suckers.' "Prana is the Sanskrit word for life force, and after you've been with these people for a while you feel as if they've sucked the life force right out of you the way a vampire sucks blood. You feel totally drained," June says.

Prana suckers are great in finding bad or gloom in anywhere they look. "For diabetics there are plenty of potential ( yet avoidable) disasters that a person can dwell on if so inclined. And just as it's important not to dwell on them yourself, it's important not to hang around with people who want to dwell on them for you," according to June Bierman.

One way to keep a happy outlook on life is to take some time out for the little pleasures that can bring smiles and outright laughter to you. Some people will only take a day off when they are really sick. Take an occasional day off when you feel terrific. Do something you enjoy doing and never have time for. It could even be doing nothing, if that is what you wish to do.

Don't deny yourself your dreams because you're afraid your diabetes might cause some awkward problems. Sometimes you have to take minor risks to discover your full potential in life.

Alternative Medicine

2011-03-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

Alternative Medicine: Definitions

What Is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine is any form of practice that is outside the realm of conventional modern medicine. It covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Most of these treatments and health care practices are not taught widely in medical schools. Examples are naturopathy, chiropractic, ayurveda, homeopathy and acupuncture. (A complete listing of alternative medical practices are given later.)

What is Complementary Medicine?

If alternative medicine or therapy is used alone or instead of conventional medicine, it is called "alternative" medicine. If the treatment or therapy is done along with or in addition to conventional medicine, it is referred to as "Complementary Medicine" as the two practices complements each other. For example, many Chinese hospitals use acupuncture to reduce the pain during the surgery instead of anesthetics. This is complementary medicine. Later, we refer to the use of sesame oil as a complementary treatment for cancer. Dean Ornish uses life style changes to combat heart disease. These are all examples of complementary medicine.

What is Holistic Medicine?

Many of the alternative practices pay attention to the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, in addition to the physical body. Therapies like hypnosis and visualization claims to be able to change physical conditions through purely mental interventions. They believe that our bodies are remarkably resilient machines, capable, with some occasional prodding or intervention, of healing themselves. The name "holistic medicine" came from this unification of the mind and the body. Holistic practitioners treat the "whole person" as opposed to the individual organs of the body where symptoms occur. The importance of self care and preventing illness are stressed by holistic practitioners.

What is Natural Medicine?

Any therapy that relies on the body's own healing powers may be considered natural medicine. These include herbal remedies, diet and water therapies.

Stress Management

2009-10-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, has produced carefully controlled studies showing that the experience of laughter lowers serum cortisol levels, increases the amount of activated T lymphocytes, increases the number and activity of natural killer cells, and increases the number of T cells that have helper/ suppresser receptors. In short, laughter stimulates the immune system, off-setting the immunosuppressive effects of stress.

We know that, during stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids (quickly converted to cortisol in the blood stream) and that elevated levels of these have an immunosuppressive effect. Berk's research demonstrates that laughter can lower cortisol levels and thereby protect our immune system.

The emotions and moods we experience directly effect our immune system. A sense of humor allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of joy and delight. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immunosuppressive effects of stress.

In his book, ' Stress without Distress,' Selye suggested that a person's interpretation of stress is not dependent solely on an external event, but also depends upon the perception of the event and the meaning he or she gives it. So, how you look at a situation determines if you will respond to it as threatening or challenging.

Humor gives us a different perspective on our problems. If we can make light out of the situation, it is no longer threatening to us. We already discounted its effect. With such an attitude of detachment, we feel a sense of self-protection and control in our environment. Bill Cosby is fond of saying, "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it."

It's sometimes difficult to force a laugh in tense situations. But that's precisely when you need it most. One trick for finding humor in the worst of situations is to blow things absolutely, ridiculously out of proportion. When your scenario reaches the point of absurdity, you begin to smile. The situation is put in perspective. Now you can calm down.

I have recently attended a talk and a workshop conducted by Dr. Paul McGhee, who specializes in humor as a stress remedy. A belly laugh is really good for you. It relieves muscular tension, improves breathing, and regulates the heart beat. Watch comedy shows and laugh. Or attend comedy shows. Read comics or humor books. Share funny episodes with your spouse so that both can relieve stress as well improve communication between the two of you.

Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia

2009-10-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

How well do they work?

To get relief from fibromyalgia pain, more and more people are trying alternative treatments. It's often instinctive -- putting an icepack on a painful spot or reaching for the heating pad when muscles hurt. Or it feels good – like a massage. Even acupuncture is becoming a mainstream pain treatment, with endorsements from the NIH and the World Health Organization.

Now, researchers are honing in on how these various home remedies and alternative treatments work.

"In all these therapies, we're stimulating pressure points... we think there may be a similar underlying mechanism in how they work," says Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Pressure applied to the right spot triggers all sorts of changes in the body -- in a good way, she explains. The pressure points have nerve connections to major nerves in the body that affects physiological processes.”

This reduces flow of stress hormones and pain-inducing chemicals -- and ramps up production of mood-related brain chemicals such as serotonin, she says. The result: The body slows down, you feel calmer, sleep is more restful -- and you are able to tolerate the pain of fibromyalgia better.

Massage and Fibromyalgia Treatment

For the past three decades, Field has conducted more than 80 studies looking at massage's effects on various conditions. Her research team looks deeply at the underlying physiological processes involved in sleep -- especially as it relates to fibromyalgiapain.

Researchers tracked patients' sleep patterns, also measuring "substance P," a brain chemical that is central to fibromyalgia pain. People with fibromyalgia pain have higher levels of substance P in the spinal fluid. They also have lower than normal levels of mood-boosting serotonin.

When they get a massage, all that changes. Field's studies have shown less substance P in patients' saliva -- and they report less pain. They also have fewer painful tender points.

The studies typically involve 20-minute massages -- which is only practical if a significant other is trained to do it, she says. One bonus for the family masseuse: People who give massages have lower stress hormone levels, too.

To get the most benefit, it's important to apply moderate pressure. "It doesn't matter whether you're rubbing, kneading, or stroking -- it's the pressure that makes the difference," Field says. "You have to move the skin, actually see finger indentations in the skin. It doesn't hurt, but it's more than light stroking. We've found that light stroking doesn't help."

Massage also helps relieve depression, Field adds. "Depression is related to low serotonin, low dopamine, and increased cortisol. We can jazz that up with massage. There are a lot of positive benefits from massage."

Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia Treatment

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese treatment, also helps ease fibromyalgia symptoms. Acupuncture works on brain chemicals to decrease anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, and pain.

10 Tips for Better Sleep

2009-10-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

Do you toss and turn at night because of fibromyalgia pain or discomfort?

"People with fibromyalgia tend to have very disturbed sleep," says Doris Cope, MD, director of Pain Management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Even if they sleep 10 hours a night, they still feel fatigued, don't feel rested."

Research shows that with fibromyalgia, there is an automatic arousal in the brain during sleep. Frequent disruptions prevent the important restorative processes from occurring. Growth hormone is mostly produced during sleep. Without restorative sleep and the surge of growth hormone, muscles don’t heal and neurotransmitters (like the mood chemical serotonin) are not replenished. The lack of a good night’s sleep makes people with fibromyalgia wake up feeling tired and fatigued.

The result: The body can't recuperate from the day's stresses -- all of which overwhelms the system, creating a great sensitivity to pain. Widespread pain, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and memory difficulties are all symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Insomnia takes many forms -- trouble falling asleep, waking up often during the night, having trouble going back to sleep, and waking up too early in the morning. Smoothing out those sleep problems -- and helping people get the deep sleep their bodies need -- helps fibromyalgia pain improve significantly, research shows.

Medications can help enhance sleep and relieve pain. But doctors also advocate lifestyle changes to help sleep come naturally.

Tips to Get Better Sleep With Fibromyalgia

Creating a comfort zone at home is key to better sleep, whether you have fibromyalgia or not. It's all about easing into bedtime feeling relaxed -- and staying relaxed so you sleep through the night.

These 10 tips can help people sleep better:

Enjoy a soothing (warm) bath in the evening.
Brush your body with a loofah or long-handled brush in the bath.
Ease painful tender points with a self-massage device (like a tennis ball).
Do yoga and stretching exercises to relax.
Listen to calming music.
Meditate to tame intrusive thoughts and tension.
Sleep in a darkened room. Try an eye mask if necessary.
Keep the room as quiet as possible (or use a white-noise machine).
Make sure the room temperature is comfortable.
Avoid foods that contain caffeine, including teas, colas, and chocolate.

Therapies to Treat Insomnia When You Have Fibromyalgia

If you're still having sleep problems, several therapies can help, including biofeedback, relaxation training, stress reduction, and cognitive therapy. A psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders can discuss these therapies with you.

The therapies help people handle stress better, which helps control fibromyalgia episodes, Cope says. "Fibromyalgia comes and goes," she tells WebMD. "When you're stressed out, that's when it's worse." That's when you're most likely to have insomnia, too.

Medications can also help ease fibromyalgia pain at night, or directly treat insomnia. Medications to ease fibromyalgia at night include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, prescription pain relievers, and sleep aids.

No one therapy will control fibromyalgia pain 100%, Cope adds.

"Medications help some. Exercise helps some. Stress reduction helps some. Cognitive behavior therapy helps some... If you can get restful sleep, you're going to function better when you're awake."

Premature Ejaculation - Topic Overview

2009-10-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

What is premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation is uncontrolled ejaculation either before or shortly after sexual penetration, with minimal sexual stimulation and before the person wishes. It may result in an unsatisfactory sexual experience for both partners. This can increase the anxiety that may contribute to the problem. Premature ejaculation is one of the most common forms of male sexual dysfunction and has probably affected every man at some point in his life.

What causes premature ejaculation?

Most cases of premature ejaculation do not have a clear cause. With sexual experience and age, men often learn to delay orgasm. Premature ejaculation may occur with a new partner, only in certain sexual situations, or if it has been a long time since the last ejaculation. Psychological factors such as anxiety, guilt, or depression can cause premature ejaculation. In some cases, premature ejaculation may be related to an underlying medical cause such as hormonal problems, injury, or a side effect of certain medicines.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of premature ejaculation is an uncontrolled ejaculation either before or shortly after intercourse begins. Ejaculation occurs before the person wishes it, with minimal sexual stimulation.

How is premature ejaculation diagnosed?

Your doctor will discuss your medical and sexual history with you and conduct a thorough physical examination. Your doctor may want to talk to your partner also. Because premature ejaculation can have many causes, your doctor may order laboratory tests to rule out any other medical problem.

How is it treated?

In many cases, premature ejaculation resolves on its own over time without the need for medical treatment. Practicing relaxation techniques or using distraction methods may help you delay ejaculation. For some men, stopping or cutting down on the use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs may improve their ability to control ejaculation.

Your doctor may recommend that you and your partner practice specific techniques to help delay ejaculation. These techniques may involve identifying and controlling the sensations that lead up to ejaculation and communicating to slow or stop stimulation. Other options include using a condom to reduce sensation to the penis or trying a different position (such as lying on your back) during intercourse. Counseling or behavioral therapy may help reduce anxiety related to premature ejaculation.

Certain antidepressant medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft), are sometimes used to treat premature ejaculation. These medicines are used because a side effect of SSRIs is inhibited orgasm, which helps delay ejaculation. The use of SSRIs for the treatment of premature ejaculation is not related to depression and is considered an "off-label" use.

6 Sex Mistakes Men Make

2009-10-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, think you know everything there is to know about having sex with women? That erotic encyclopedia you carry around in your head may contain a lot of basic errors and omissions about women's sexuality -- errors that can lead to sex mistakes.

That's because -- after learning the facts of life -- most of us are left to figure out sex for ourselves. Guys tend to take a lot of cues from adult movies, and we all know how true-to-life those are. Experience may help, but many women can be shy when talking about what they like.

To help us with some sex tips, WebMD asked two acclaimed sex educators, Tristan Taormino and Lou Paget, to tell us what they think are the most common sex mistakes men make with women.

Taormino is a prolific author, lecturer, and video producer. Her latest project is the Expert Guide educational video series from Vivid Ed.

Paget is author of The Great Lover Playbook and other sex manuals, and she gives seminars nationwide.

Sex Mistake No.1: You Know What She Wants

Men often make assumptions about what a woman wants based upon what they've done with other women. But women aren't all the same.

"You develop a repertoire as you mature sexually, but you should never assume that what worked for the last person is going to work for this person," Taormino says.

That applies not only to sexual predilections, but also to relationships, she says. "There are women who can have no-strings-attached sex, and women who can get attached very easily, and then everyone in between."

Sex Mistake No. 2: You Have All She Needs

Some women can't have an orgasm with less than 3,000 rpm. No human tongue or fingers can generate that kind of vibration. But men typically think something is wrong if a woman needs a vibrator.

"If the only way that a woman can achieve orgasm is with a vibrator, she's not broken," Taormino says.

Think of a vibrator as your assistant, not your substitute. Many couples use vibrators together. "While you're doing one thing, or two things, the vibrator can be doing something else," Taormino says.

Sex Mistake No. 3: Sex Feels the Same for Men and Women

Paget says there tends to be a "huge disconnect" between men and women in the ways that sex feels good.

"When a man has intercourse with a woman, and his penis goes into her body, that sensation is so off the charts for most men, they cannot imagine that it isn't feeling the same way for her," Paget says. "It couldn't be further from the truth."

The inside of the vagina is probably less sensitive than the outer parts for most women. Also, deep thrusting may not feel so nice on the receiving end. If the penis is too long, "it feels like you're getting punched in the stomach," Paget says. "It makes you feel nauseous."

11 "Don't-Tell-the-Wife" Secrets All Men Keep

2009-10-29T03:04:00.000-07:00

I was in the ninth grade when I learned a vital lesson about love. My girlfriend at the time, Amy, was stunningly cute, frighteningly smart and armed with a seemingly endless supply of form-fitting angora sweaters. And me? Let's just say I was an adolescent Chris Robinson to her budding Kate Hudson -- and well aware of my good fortune.

Then one day, as we stood in line for a movie at the mall, Simone Shaw, junior high prom queen, sauntered by. Suddenly Amy turned to me. "Were you looking at her?" she asked. "Do you think she's pretty?"

My mind reeled. Of course I was looking at her! Of course she was pretty! My God, she was Simone Shaw! I paused for a second, then decided to play it straight.

"Well, yeah," I chortled.

Five days later our breakup hit the tabloids (a.k.a. the lunchroom).

There comes a time in every man's life when he discovers the value of hiding the grosser parts of his nature. He starts reciting the sweet nothings you long to hear: "No, honey, I play golf for the exercise." "No, honey, I think you're a great driver." "No, honey, I wasn't looking at that coed washing the car in the rain."

We're not lying, exactly. We're just making things...easier. But Glenn Good, Ph.D., a relationship counselor, disagrees, and maybe he has a point. "These white lies are pretty innocent, but they can turn confusing," he says. "Many women think, If he's lying about himself, is he also lying about something else? Is he having an affair? To establish trust you have to tell the truth about the innocuous stuff."

And so, in the interest of uniting the sexes, we've scoured the country for guys willing to share the private truths they wouldn't normally confess. Some are a bit crass. Some you've always suspected. Some are surprisingly sweet. (Guys don't like to reveal the mushy stuff, either.) But read on, and you may discover that the truth about men isn't all that ugly.

Secret #1: Yes, we fall in lust 10 times a day -- but it doesn't mean we want to leave you

If the oldest question in history is "What's for dinner?" the second oldest is "Were you looking at her?" The answer: Yes -- yes, we were. If you're sure your man doesn't look, it only means he possesses acute peripheral vision.

"When a woman walks by, even if I'm with my girlfriend, my vision picks it up," says Doug LaFlamme, 28, of Laguna Hills, California. "I fight the urge to look, but I just have to. I'm really in trouble if the woman walking by has a low-cut top on."

Granted, we men are well aware that our sizing up the produce doesn't sit well with you, given that we've already gone through the checkout line together. But our passing glances pose no threat.

"It's not that I want to make a move on her," says LaFlamme. "Looking at other women is like a radar that just won't turn off."

A Woman's Guide to ED

2009-10-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Andrews, 46, an occupational therapist near Daytona Beach, Fla., realized there was a problem the first time she and her husband, Glenn, 53, tried to make love.

She guessed it was ED, or erectile dysfunction, but didn’t know the cause, or the remedy. As the host of Functional Fitness, which airs on her local PBS station, WDSC TV, Andrews is used to solving challenges at work -- and she was equally determined to find a solution in the bedroom.

Erectile dysfunction, which affects an estimated 15 million to 30 million Americans and is more prevalent in men over 40, is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection adequate for sexual function. It can be precipitated by medication, depression, stress, hormonal abnormalities, and other factors.

"It’s really common," says Ira Sharlip, MD, a urologist in the San Francisco area. "There is good evidence now that erectile dysfunction, in some cases, is a precursor or future marker for cardiovascular disease."

Sign of a Bigger Problem?

Sharlip recommends getting your guy evaluated for cardiovascular risk if there is a persistent erectile issue that lasts for three months or longer.

Recent research has also shown that ED may be linked to diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, as well as the early stages of heart disease, so encouraging your man to set up a checkup with his doctor is a good starting point.

"The problem is, there are men who don’t come in because of embarrassment and denial," Sharlip says. "If a man develops erectile dysfunction, he has a window of opportunity to make some lifestyle changes that may reduce his risk of having a heart attack."

How to Talk to Your Man About Sex

Every couple has issues in the bedroom, so that’s normal, says Marianne Brandon, PhD, clinical psychologist, sex therapist, and author of Reclaiming Desire.

"I would encourage her to acknowledge how normal it is to have some sexual concerns," Brandon says. "If she can say, ‘I know we have a great sex life and everyone has concerns,’ that’s going to help him feel less criticized."

If couples don’t talk about their concerns, those issues tend to gain momentum over time, Brandon says. "Even though those conversations can be difficult to start, think about the conversation as being good for the future of your relationship," she says.

Her advice: The most important thing is to start with praise.

Andrews followed that advice in talking with her husband and stressed that she wanted to work through it together. "I told him that I loved him," she says, "and it didn’t make him any less of a man because he had this problem. I said, ‘I’m going to be there for him and support him.’"

Humor Therapy - Topic Overview

2009-10-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

What is humor therapy?

Humor therapy (sometimes called therapeutic humor) uses the power of smiles and laughter to aid healing. Humor therapy helps you find ways to make yourself (or others) smile and laugh more. When you think of humor therapy, picture clowns in the children's ward of a hospital cheering up sick children. Some hospitals now have humor carts that provide funny materials for people of any age. Many nurses have learned the value of providing a good laugh to those they care for.

Scientists have been researching the relation between the mind and the body, especially in connection with the body's ability to heal (a field called psychoneuroimmunology). Laughter appears to change brain chemistry and may boost the immune system.

Humor may allow a person to feel in control of a situation and make it seem more manageable. It allows people to release fears, anger, and stress, all of which can harm the body over time. Humor improves the quality of life.

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 have a negative effect on mood and attitude, which can make the disease worse. Humor therapy helps reduce 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.

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 specific medical benefits that may result. Because it is 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.

Guidelines For Using Complementary and Alternative Methods

2009-10-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

What are complementary and alternative methods?

"Complementary" and "alternative" are terms used to describe a number of products, practices, and systems that are not part of mainstream medicine. They can include things like herbs and dietary supplements, body movement, spiritual approaches, pills, extracts, and creams or ointments. Some are done by a person with formal education and training, such as art therapy. Others may be recommended by the person who is selling the product in a store or on the Internet, such as herbs or other dietary supplements. The methods can involve everything from enemas, like colon therapy, to no-touch "energy work" such as reiki. Some take a lot of time or cost a lot of money, such as strict diets or travel to another country for special treatments. Others are fairly cheap and easy to use, like vitamins or homeopathy. Some can be done at home on your own, such as meditation and prayer, and others require another person to give them, like massage or acupuncture. Some almost never cause harm, while others can be dangerous and have caused deaths.

You may hear about one or more of these treatments from friends, family, co-workers, salespeople, and others. The treatment may be something you've never heard of before, and it can be hard to get good, unbiased information about it. Here we will go over what you need to know before you decide to try one of these unconventional treatments. We will give you some ideas about how to look at these methods and what questions you might want to ask as you think about what might be best for you. It may also help you find out more about the treatments that interest you.

The American Cancer Society considers complementary and alternative medicine to be different from each other:

Alternative medicine is used instead of standard or mainstream medical treatment, often with serious outcomes for the patient.

Complementary medicine is used along with mainstream medical care. If carefully chosen and properly used, some of these can improve your quality of life.

People with cancer might think about using alternative and complementary methods for a number of reasons:

to relieve the side effects of mainstream cancer treatment without having to take more medicine

to find a less unpleasant treatment approach that might have few side effects

to take an active role in improving their own health and wellness

because they prefer alternative theories of health and disease, as well as alternative treatments

The decision to use alternative or complementary methods is an important one, and it is yours to make. We have put together some guidelines to help you think through the issues and make the most informed and safest decision possible.

Doctors Chat

2009-04-23T02:05:00.001-07:00

A British doctor, a German doctor and an American doctor were chatting.

The British doctor said, "Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man put it in another and have him looking for work in six weeks."

Then the German doctor bragged, "That's nothing, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in four weeks."

The American doctor, not to be outdone, says, "You guys are way behind. We took a man with no brain out of Texas, put him in the White House, and almost immediately afterwards half the country was looking for work."

A Short Time to Live

2009-04-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

A man hasn't been feling well, so he goes to his doctor for a complete checkup.

Afterward the doctor comes out with the results.

"I'm afraid I have some very bad news," the doctor says. "You're dying, and you don't have much time left."

"Oh, that's terrible!" says the man. "How long have I got?"

"Ten," the doctor says sadly.

"Ten?" the man asks. "Ten what? Months? Weeks? What?!"

"Nine..."

Breast Enlargement

2009-04-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

A woman says to her husband that she wants to have plastic surgery to enlarge her breasts.

Her husband tells her, "Hey, you don't need surgery to do that. I know how to do it without surgery."

She asks, "How do I do it without surgery?"

Her husband answers, "Just rub toilet paper between them."

"How does that make them bigger?", she asks.

"I don't know, but it certainly worked for your ass."

Good and Bad News

2009-04-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

An old man visits his doctor and after thorough examination the doctor tells him: "I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?"

Patient: "Well, give me the bad news first."

Doctor: "You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left."

Patient: "Oh no! That's awefull! In two years my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this??"

Doctor: "You also have Alzheimer's. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you."

Beautiful

2009-04-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

There was a lawyer and he was just waking up from anesthesia after surgery, and his wife was sitting by his side.

His eyes fluttered open and he said, "You're beautiful!" and then he fell asleep again.

His wife had never heard him say that so she stayed by his side. A couple minutes later his eyes fluttered open and he said "You're cute!"

Well, the wife was dissapointed because instead of "beautiful" it was "cute."

She said "What happened to 'beautiful'?"

His reply was "The drugs are wearing off!"

Need Samples

2009-04-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

An old man goes to the doctor for his yearly physical, his wife tagging along. When the doctor enters the examination room, he tells the old man, "I need a urine sample, a stool sample and a sperm sample."

The old man, being hard of hearing, looks at his wife and yells: "WHAT?"

"What did he say? What's he want?"

His wife yells back, "He needs your underwear."

Affair with a Dentist

2009-03-25T02:18:00.000-07:00

Laura fell for her handsome new dentist like a ton of bricks and pretty soon had lured him into a series of passionate encounters in the dental clinic after
hours.

But one day he said sadly, "Laura, honey, we have to stop seeing each other. Your husband's bound to get suspicious."

"No way, sweetie, he's dumb as a post," she assured him.

"Besides, we've been screwing for six months now and he doesn't suspect a thing."

"True," agreed the dentist, "but you're down to one tooth!"

Brain Transplant

2009-03-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

A patient needed a brain transplant and the doctor told the family, "Brains are very expensive, and you will have to pay the costs yourselves."

"Well, how much does a brain cost?" asked the relatives.

"For a male brain, $500,000. For a female brain, $200,000," replied the doctor.

Some of the younger male relatives tried to look shocked, but all the men nodded because they thought they understood.

But the patient's daughter was unsatisfied and asked, "Why the difference in price between male brains and female brains?"

"Standard pricing practice," said the doctor.

"Women's brains have to be marked down because they've actually been used."

Crazy Patients

2009-03-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

A doctor of psychology was doing his normal morning rounds when he entered a patient's room.

He found Patient #1 sitting on the floor, pretending to saw a piece of wood in half.

Patient #2 was hanging from the ceiling, by his feet.

The doctor asked patient number 1 what he was doing.

The patient replied, "Can't you see I'm sawing this piece of wood in half?"

The doctor inquired of Patient #1 what Patient #2 was doing.

Patient #1 replied, "Oh. He's my friend, but he's a little crazy. He thinks he's a lightbulb."

The doctor looks up and notices Patient #2's face is going all red.

The doctor asks Patient #1, "If he's your friend, you should get him down from there before he hurts himself"

Patient #1 replies, "What? And work in the dark?"

Funny Goodbye Letters To Classmates and Coworkers

2009-03-04T00:39:00.001-08:00

Shellaine Enfesta

When the time comes and you have to leave, you may need to write a good funny goodbye letters. With the advancement in technology and the internet it is a lot easier for you to send this letters. You can use a blog or as simple as being a member of an online social utility. Funny goodbye letters should be really funny to avoid the depressing mood when someone is leaving. Instead of sending it through the snail mail sign up for a free membership to an online social utility for easier dissemination.

Every time when someone leaves the company or finish school, it is a bitter sweet situation. On the other hand you are happy because you have finish high school or college. All those grueling days and nights of studying are finished. But then you will feel some sort of depression over the fact that you are not going to see your friends and classmates anymore. You will be starting your own career and family soon and your classmates may go back to their hometowns. Thus a funny goodbye letters should be in the prepared to get every one in a better mood.

If you work in a company and you are laid off or you are leaving for personal reasons or whatever the reason is, you need to write a funny goodbye letters. This will alleviate the depressing mood and atmosphere that has been created by your leaving the company. Some will be asking for your phone number or email address so they can keep in touch with you. But if you are a member of an online social utility so you can always keep in touch with your coworkers and friends. The other benefit too is that you can upload pictures and videos so your friends and coworkers can see going on with you.

The hardest part in life is when you loss someone that is very dear to you, like you mom or dad, sister or brother or anyone dearest to you. Second to that is when you finish high school and go to college or university. After finishing high school most of your classmates and friends will move to another state, county or country to pursue higher education. It may be one of the happiest moments because of the fact that you are graduating, but for the most part, tears abound. Because you do not know where and when you can see each other again. Or you may need to know how you can keep in touch with your classmates.

Thus, being a member of an online social utility can help you closer to your classmates, coworkers, friends, and people around you. Because of the advancement of the internet, you can write funny goodbye letters through your social network. You can blog, write on a bulletin, post in forums, or through chatting online. This way you keep the communication line open. And always uploaded pictures and videos for them to keep in touch and see what is going on with you. This tool is very much the norm in staying and keeping in touch with your classmates, friends, coworkers and the people around you.

You can send your funny goodbye letters whichever you like it, but choose the one that is more convenient and easy to accomplish or use. And always make if funny to relieve the depressing atmosphere.

LAUGHTER IQ TEST

2009-02-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

Points
5 pts. if you laugh till you wet your pants. 10 pts. if you wet someone else's pants.
5 pts. if you spit out food laughing. 8 pts. if you spit it across the table. 10 pts. if you spit it across the room.
1 pt. if you laugh once/day. 5 pts. if you laugh 5x/day. 10 pts. if you laugh 10x/day.
5 pts. if you have friends who laugh. You belong to a gaggle of gigglers.
5 pts. for being playful at least once/day. "Life can be the toy in your own happy meal."
10 pts. if you have laughed about a serious issue at least once. If you haven't had a serious issue in your
life, you get 15 points for your amazing luck.
10 pts. if you laugh at work whenever possible. Laughing at those work woes will help you relax.
5 pts. if you enjoy laughing about life. It's just a play, you know.
15 pts if you avoid laughing in ridicule. "No downloading."
10 pts. if you find the humor in your everyday life at least once/day. Of course, it may find you first.
10 pts. if you have no rules about laughing. What a shocking loss of control!
5 pts. if you enjoy a bit of silliness. It's cool to be silly at times.
5 pts. if you wear a funny hat now and then. Let laughter go to your head.
5 pts. if you have personal toys. 8 pts. if you play with them. 10 pts. if you play with others.
10 pts. if you laugh in public without concern others will think you're crazy.
5 pts. if you laugh in public so others will think you're crazy.
5 pts. if you enjoy the absurd. 10 pts. if you enjoy acting absurd.
5 pts. if you can laugh at will. 10 pts. if you laugh right now.
10 pts. if you laugh during sex. Sex doesn't need to be serious.
5 pts. if you enjoy your laugh lines, both facial as well as verbal.
5 pts. if you like shaking like a bowl full of jelly inside and out.
5 pts. if everyone's laugh gives you pleasure. Feelin' good!!!

Now total up your points.

136-165 pts. You are a laughing genius.

75-135 pts. You are an honors laugher.

40-75 pts. You are an average laugher.

0-39 pts. You are in danger of contracting laughter lockjaw. Rx- A spoonful of laughter at least 3x daily until the pain goes away. Note: You will need to be on this medicine for the rest of an interesting life. Abruptly stopping the medication will lead to severe withdrawal and your entire body will rigidify.

The Role of Laughter in Psychotherapy by Enda Junkins In 1990, I had the good fortune to stumble across real Laughter Therapy, not just the "lau

2009-02-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Enda Junkins

In 1990, I had the good fortune to stumble across real Laughter Therapy, not just the "laughter therapy" that refers to everyday laughter in life. First exposed at a conference on laughter and play, I followed up with more formal training in California. This form of psychotherapy made immense sense in a way no other therapeutic modality had. I was delighted to add it to my therapeutic tool kit. It became my specialty and led me to professional speaking, authoring two books, and producing three videos on different aspects of laughter.

None of my clients are pushed into utilizing laughter in their lives. I present them with the opportunity and the skills and leave the rest to them. If they are not ready to laugh, I follow their lead. My intent is to assist people to reach their goals in the way they need to go. However, laughter is powerful, important and a wonderful addition to the therapeutic journey when presented as an option by a therapist who is well trained.

Laughter in therapy does not refer to jokes in therapy nor does it minimize a client's issues. It is one of three major forms of catharsis in therapy that also include tears and anger release. With the consent of the client, the therapist works to help find tools to create the laughter catharsis. Each client is unique and the means to be able to play with serious issues will vary from person to person. In order to achieve laughter one combines play with serious issues. Play may incorporate a different way of thinking, word play, props, phraseology, etc. Playfulness is not synonymous with silliness so one need not fear losing one's adult dignity. Interestingly, laughter alone will not suffice to completely deal with issues. As feelings are accessed, crying, anger work and talking are often necessary along with laughter. Emotions are held in the body and all means of catharsis are necessary to heal. Which ones and how much depend on the individual. Laughter is the perhaps the most important because it releases three emotions (anger, anxiety and boredom) and it is the most pleasant and often the most acceptable. Clients who are willing to utilize laughter in therapy will generally move through their pain more quickly.

Stress Management

2009-02-24T01:14:00.000-08:00

A recent survey showed that 70-90% of us feel stressed at work and outside. Today's fast paced lifestyle is putting a toll on us. Unless we learn to manage stress, we will get sick. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are steps we can take to manage stress. We, at holisticonline.com, want to provide you with all the information you need to manage your stress.

You will learn how to detect symptoms of stress, recognize diseases that are often mistaken for stress, and common sense ways to manage and prevent stress. Prevention and cure are the two limbs of stress management.

We are looking for your experience in managing your stress. Please send us an e-mail. Alternately, you can use our discussion forum.

If you are a practitioner or a physician and would like to contribute to holisticonline.com,

. Thank you and enjoy!

Meditation

2009-02-24T01:02:00.000-08:00

Meditation is one of the proven alternative therapies. It can be broadly classified under the mind-body medicine.

More and more doctors are prescribing meditation as a way to lower blood pressure, improve exercise performance in people with angina, help people with asthma breathe easier, relieve insomnia and generally relax the everyday stresses of life. Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person's physical, emotional, and mental states. It is simple; but can benefit everybody.

The use of Meditation for healing is not new. Meditative techniques are the product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. It has been rooted in the traditions of the world's great religions. In fact, practically all religious groups practice meditation in one form or another. The value of Meditation to alleviate suffering and promote healing has been known and practiced for thousands of years.

It has been scientifically shown that meditation works. We, at HolisticOnline, take great pride in providing this in-depth treatment of Meditation. As always, we invite your comments. Or, perhaps, you may have information you want to share with the fellow readers.

Stuttering Problem

2009-01-29T23:15:00.000-08:00

A guy walks into his doctor's office and says, "Ddddoc, I've bbbeen sssttttuttering ffor yyears and III'm tired of it. Ccccan yyyou hehehelp mmme???"

The doc says, "Well, I'll have to examine you first before I can answer you."

The doc examines him and says, "Well, I'm pretty sure that I know what the problem is."

The guy asks, "wwwell wwwhat is it, ddoc?"

The doc says,"It's your penis. It's about about 18 inches long and all of the down pressure is putting a strain on your vocal chords."

The guy asks, "Wwwhat ccan wwe ddo about it?"

The doc replies, "Well, I can cut it off and transplant a shorter one. I can guarantee that the operation will cure your stuttering."

The guy says, "Dddo it!"

The guy has the operation and about four weeks later he comes back to the doctor's office and says, "Thanks Doc. You've solved my problem and I don't stutter any more but I've only had sex once in the past month. My wife doesn't enjoy it any more. I cannot satisfy her. She liked my long penis. I don't care if I have to stutter, I want you to put my long one back one!"

The doc replies, "Nnnnope. A ddddeal's a ddddeal!"

How to dissect a human for facial nerves and facial muscles

2009-01-08T00:53:00.001-08:00

This anatomical video tutorial will show you a deep look inside the parotid gland, facial nerve and facial muscles of a human, much like yourself. If you're a medical student and you need cadaver dissection instructions, this anatomy video will help you along your way. Learn how to dissect a human for the facial nerves and facial muscles. You have to be handy with a scalpel for this, and maybe scissors, and you definitely have to be able to scrape fat off when needed - a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.

1. Review the relevant osteology of the skull and mandible.
2. Remove the skin of the face except for eyelids and nose.
3. Expose the parotid gland and its duct, carefully dissecting the branches of the facial nerve passing through it.
4. Identify the branches of the facial nerve within the parotid gland.
5. Identify the retromandibular vein and its divisions and review the branches of the external carotid artery to the face region.
6. Clean and identify the muscles of facial expression related to the mouth.
7. Expose the supraorbital, infraorbital and mental branches of CN V.

How to instantly make hot ice

2009-01-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

Watch this amazing video tutorial to learn how to instantly make ice. This is a simple experiment turning a liquid to a solid with just a touch. Just find some sodium acetate and water to start. Boil it, then chill it, then touch it! And in an instant you have ice! If you want to be creative (or you're just bored on a Sunday afternoon) you can pour some ice sculptures to amaze children of all ages. Check out this awesome how-to video and cook up some hot ice.

How to relieve stress with humor therapy

2009-01-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

You know that they say humor is the best medicine. Using humor is great way to relieve stress. Get advice on reducing and managing stress in this stress management how-to video.

Take Action
Move focus out of the negative & into the positive
Close eyes & breathe with a natural rhythm
Imagine inhaling a white breath of freshness
Imagine exhaling a dark breath of toxins

About this Author
Debbie Mandell is a Stress Management expert, and author of the book Addicted to Stress. She has a Masters Degree from NYU, and has worked as a Stress Management expert for over a decade.

WHY IS LAUGHTER GOOD?

2009-01-08T00:38:00.000-08:00

Laughter is good because of following benefits.

Stress Management Benefits of Laughter:

Hormones: Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and enhances the effectiveness of T cells. All this means a stronger immune system, as well as fewer physical effects of stress.

Physical Release: Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.

Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart.

Distraction: Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more beneficial way than other mere distractions.

Perspective: Studies show that our response to stressful events can be altered by whether we view something as a 'threat' or a 'challenge'. Humor can give us a more lighthearted perspective and help us view events as 'challenges', thereby making them less threatening and more positive.

Social Benefits of Laughter: Laughter connects us with others. Also, laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!

Answered by Mohd Saqib , an ibibo Master, at 12:12 AM on September 29, 2008

LAUGHTER AND OTHER EMOTIONS

2008-12-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

The healthiest type of humor - and the best place to start - is to be able to laugh at yourself. Remember that you cannot laugh and be angry at the same time. They are incompatible. Try laughing and hollering at the same time. You can't do it! In order for you to be angry, you've got to stop laughing. If you can't laugh at yourself, go get a funny tape. Learn to distract yourself. The time it takes to listen to a funny tape is just enough time for you to think thoughts that will calm you and help you reassess your situation.

Laughter puts a bridge between the situation and you. It's your buffer zone, your oasis. It reminds me of the Quaker farmer who was milking a cow that demonstrated a very mean temperament. After much frustration and knowing his anger was rising within, he addressed the cow, "Thou knowest that I am a Quaker and cannot strike thee in anger and cannot curse thee, but what thou doth not knowest, cow, is that tomorrow I am going to sell thee to a Baptist, and he's going to beat thee with a rod."

If you find yourself wrapped in the blanket of depression, my suggestion to you is make a list of how an un-depressed person would be acting. Healthy, normal people would be getting up, getting dressed, going out and doing things. You may say that you don't feel like doing anything. If you want to feel normal, then you need to do normal, healthy activities every day to produce the feelings of normality. Flooding yourself with humorous materials has an analgesic effect. For a few minutes, you find yourself deflected away from your depression into the glorious throes of laughter.

That brings me to the emotion of fear. I am not talking about the kind of fear that comes as a result of a danger or threat toward your life. I am talking about the fear that is the result of speaking in front of an audience, asking someone out on a date, the fear of being embarrassed or even writing a book. Laughter can be the method you can use to help deal with the debilitating effects of fear.

President Dwight David Eisenhower got over his fear of public speaking by envisioning his audiences in tattered underwear. This humorous visualization gave President Eisenhower the courage to stand in front of crowds and give speeches throughout his political career. It is important that you can differentiate between healthy and unhealthy fear and anxiety. Ask yourself, "Is this the kind of fear or anxiety that any body would be experiencing in this situation?"

Applying to McDonald's

2008-12-06T21:20:00.002-08:00

It may be an Urban Legend, but this is supposedly an actual job application that a 17-year-old boy submitted to McDonald's in Florida. Legend says they hired him because he was so honest and funny, maybe like Ronald.

NAME: Greg Bulmash.

SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.

DESIRED POSITION: Company's President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever's available. If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn't be applying here in the first place.

DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that's not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.

EDUCATION: Yes.

LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.

SALARY: Less than I'm worth.

MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and post-it notes.

REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.

HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any.

PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a more intimate environment.

MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 LBS?: Of what?

DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be "Do you have a car that runs?"

HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearing house Sweepstakes.

DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job no, on my breaks yes.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb sexy blonde super model who thinks I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now.

DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Yes. Absolutely.

The Operation

2008-12-06T21:20:00.001-08:00

Humor Therapy for Diabetes

2008-12-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

Eliminate The Negativism and the Negative People

Don't deny yourself your dreams because you're afraid your diabetes might cause some awkward problems. Sometimes you have to take minor risks to discover your full potential in life.

Humor Therapy for Stress Management

2008-12-06T21:01:00.000-08:00

Humor is a wonderful stress-reducer and antidote to upsets. It is clinically proven to be effective in combating stress, although the exact mechanism is not known. Experts say a good laugh relaxes tense muscles, speeds more oxygen into your system and lowers your blood pressure. So tune into your favorite sitcom on television. Read a funny book. Call a friend and chuckle for a few minutes. It even helps to force a laugh once in a while. You'll find your stress melting away almost instantly. Americans were attracted to humor from the stories of Norman Cousins, who had successfully overcome cancer by watching comedy shows on television. These days, there are organized humor meetings even in places like India where laughing in public is not considered good manner.

Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, has produced carefully controlled studies showing that the experience of laughter lowers serum cortisol levels, increases the amount of activated T lymphocytes, increases the number and activity of natural killer cells, and increases the number of T cells that have helper/ suppresser receptors. In short, laughter stimulates the immune system, off-setting the immunosuppressive effects of stress.

We know that, during stress, the adrenal gland releases corticosteroids (quickly converted to cortisol in the blood stream) and that elevated levels of these have an immunosuppressive effect. Berk's research demonstrates that laughter can lower cortisol levels and thereby protect our immune system.

The emotions and moods we experience directly effect our immune system. A sense of humor allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of joy and delight. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immunosuppressive effects of stress.

In his book, ' Stress without Distress,' Selye suggested that a person's interpretation of stress is not dependent solely on an external event, but also depends upon the perception of the event and the meaning he or she gives it. So, how you look at a situation determines if you will respond to it as threatening or challenging.

Humor gives us a different perspective on our problems. If we can make light out of the situation, it is no longer threatening to us. We already discounted its effect. With such an attitude of detachment, we feel a sense of self-protection and control in our environment. Bill Cosby is fond of saying, "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it."

It's sometimes difficult to force a laugh in tense situations. But that's precisely when you need it most. One trick for finding humor in the worst of situations is to blow things absolutely, ridiculously out of proportion. When your scenario reaches the point of absurdity, you begin to smile. The situation is put in perspective. Now you can calm down.

I have recently attended a talk and a workshop conducted by Dr. Paul McGhee, who specializes in humor as a stress remedy. A belly laugh is really good for you. It relieves muscular tension, improves breathing, and regulates the heart beat. Watch comedy shows and laugh. Or attend comedy shows. Read comics or humor books. Share funny episodes with your spouse so that both can relieve stress as well improve communication between the two of you.

More details on humor as a remedy for stress can be found in our Humor Therapy Section on Holisticonline.com where you will also find an article contributed by Paul McGhee, author of "Health, Healing and the Amuse System."