We’ve all heard the saying that “laughter is the best medicine”, yet it appears that the significance of this is not taken very seriously by most. (Now, if your sense of humor is a little like mine, you’ll immediately pick the potential pun in that last statement; ….. but let’s overlook that for now).

Here’s what happened to me less than an hour ago
that inspired the writing of this post
Can you relate ?

I’m generally a very positive sort of guy, with rare bouts of depression. But for whatever reason, I found myself in a downward, emotional spiral this afternoon. It felt like the sunshine around me had disappeared and I was enveloped in this thick, dark cloud. Not fun at all !!!

I moped around for a while, wallowing in a kind of “self-pity”, until my obviously-dimmed state attracted a questioning comment from Karen. So I relayed an account of what I was feeling to her.

As I did so, I sensed a part of me sitting back “watching” all of this and saying to himself, “Wow, isn’t THIS interesting !”

I said a couple of half-hearted sort of positive comments about how this was “just a passing cloud”, but really, in that moment it didn’t seem like it was ever going to end.

……

Interestingly, earlier in the day, I had made a note of a few real-life accounts of funny experiences submitted by medical staff. I decided to read these out loud to Karen, more for something to do than any conscious effort at therapy.

As she genuinely, roared with laughter, I found myself soon laughing too and you know what?

Within moments,
that “dark cloud” of depression
around me was gone !
My sunshine had returned !!

As I think back, I am still quite amazed at what took place during that experience.

What strikes me even more is the fact that it was only a couple of days ago that I posted an article about the the inspiring story of Nick Vujicic (the guy with no limbs) and how inspirational he was.

I was really uplifted by that and yet, here I was, LOST for a time, in this feeling of depression. While I was IN the experience, it FELT like I was very much, alone; but I know that that just comes with the territory. It is just part of the nature of that particular self-centered state.

It seemed important to share my story with you because I know that it is very likely that there are times when you go through similar experiences yourself (maybe you’re even in one right now?). If so, may this post empower you with some tools for moving through the process.

Perhaps I’ll even come back and read this myself as a reminder. In that case, my prescription for myself would be the following:

• 1. Remember that it IS possible for the “sunshine” to come back in an INSTANT and be willing for that to be the case.
• 2. Give yourself an opportunity to REALLY feel how bad you feel and let it be OK, (without being over indulgent about it)
• 3. Get into a “lighter” environment (physically) and read a few jokes to someone else. Then see what happens.

Just to give you an idea of what all the laughter was about, here are the three, real life, funny encounters that helped turn my lights back on. I’d like to acknowledge www.mercola.com as the source of these contributions.

Story #1: I was caring for a woman and asked, “So how’s your breakfast this morning?” “It’s very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can’t seem to get used to the taste,” the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled “KY Jelly.” Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf

Story #2: At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient’s anterior chest wall. “Big breaths,” I instructed. “Yes, they used to be,” replied the patient. Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes

Story #3: A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room, when a young woman with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, entered.

It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green, and above it there was a tattoo that read, “Keep off the grass.”

Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient’s dressing, which said, “Sorry, had to mow the lawn.” Submitted by RN no name.

Continuing with the medical theme, I was reminded of another humorous “take” on our life experience. “Life is a sexually transmitted disease with a 100% mortality rate.”

Click on this LINK to some interesting scientific studies on the Benefits of Humor and Laughter.  

May your laughter bring tears to your eyes and wiggle your belly button forth and back.

Cheers, Sven