Laughter is Good Medicine for IBS & Pain Relief

1033 Views 35 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Elissa, Mar 31, 1999

LindaB

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 1999

From reading many of our posts, it seems that stress is a major contributor to the onset or recurrence of IBS. I go for regular massage therapy, but am the kind of person who is way too serious about almost everything. Fortunately, I have a husband and friends who force me to laugh at things sometimes.Have any of you ever read a book by Norman Cousins titled "Anatomy of An Illness"? As I recall, one of the things he mentions is that laughter releases endorphins, which are our body's natural pain killers and healers.Check out this web site from the American Psychological Assn. http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep97/humor.html<br[/URL] />A couple of times on this board I've submitted posts (That Search "Thingy") and (A Little Humor for my Fellow IBSers Who Remember the Andrews Sisters) or replies and tried to interject a little humor. Get the feeling it fell flat. It was my feeble attempt to get us to laugh for a second or two at this miserable condition.Bad as it is, we are not in a life-threatening condition and will not die *from* IBS but will probably die *with* it. I was very close to a friend for the 3 years it took him to die from ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). When I get really ticked off at my colon and what I can or can't eat, I try to think of him, and I remember something my Dad quoted to me - "I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." Please remember, I'm not saying we can laugh all the time, or that we shouldn't ######, 'cause we all need to vent and blow off steam. But we also do our bodies a great deal of good just by laughing - the harder the better!With caring and respect. [This message has been edited by LindaB (edited 01-24-99).]

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G

· #2 · Jan 24, 1999

Linda: It didnt fall by the wayside. I appreciated your previous humorous posts. tahnks, belle

LindaB

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 24, 1999

Thanks for your response, Belle. I didn't submit this because of any personal disappointment, but because I sincerely believe that humor is therapeutic (The M*A*S*H concept). Also, it appears that I am by far the oldest current "poster" to the board. I have been through many personal crises in my life, some related to health, and I wouldn't have made it through a lot of them if I hadn't had good friends who could coax a giggle out of me.

G

· #4 · Jan 24, 1999

Hey Linda you are right laughter does help ease the symptoms a bit or so it does with me.

------------------Peter44[This message has been edited by peter44 (edited 01-24-99).]

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G

· #5 · Jan 24, 1999

NO your jokes have not been wasted on us. I think they are great. I feel we should post at least 2 jokes every day so we can all laugh together. Keep up the good work. I'll post mine in a minute.Mary T.

LindaB

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 24, 1999

Thanks, Peter, for a really big early morning laugh. I am so jealous of you computer whizes who can do stuff like that!

G

· #7 · Jan 24, 1999

Ah, I've finally got the hang of this! Please, absolutely keep the jokes coming. I think all of us tend to focus on our illnesses too much and become self-absorbed. We need to look at the big picture, laugh a lot and get out of our own heads. I'll try and pass on some jokes in the future.C

LindaB

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 24, 1999

I'm going to move this back to the top and see if we can lure some more folks so they can enjoy Peter's animated cartoon. Wish I knew how to do that!

Rose

· #9 · Jan 26, 1999

The jokes are great, if not for the healing just not to take ourselves too seriously.Of course, some of us feel envious and quite computer illerate while laughing at Peter's cartoons.

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LindaB

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 26, 1999

Thanks for shoving this back up to the top, Rose. I didn't want to be pushy(er), but was beginning to wonder if a big part of our problem wasn't the lack of a sense of humor.Don't have any good jokes to share - at least not clean ones. Will share if I find any goodies.

G

· #11 · Jan 26, 1999

Two old maids were walking down the street.They came to a place that had a sign hanging outside that said. Drink, Dine & Diddle. The one looked at the other and said Well I don't drink and I 'm not hungry, but lets go in anyway.

LindaB

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 26, 1999

Don't have any funny, clean, short ones yet, but did find a good place to vist, if you haven't already been there. It's www.oraclehumor.com<br />Now why doen't that convert to blue?

LindaB

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 6, 1999

This is an old post of mine, but perhaps it could benefit a few of the new folks. Jean, you might want to visit the American Psychological Assn web site, and I can definitely recommend the Norman Cousin's book. I read that many, many years ago. I also read that medical schools now teach humor therapy.

G

· #14 · Mar 6, 1999

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I'M LOST I've Gone To Look For Myself!!!If I Should Return Before I Get Back ...... Please Ask Me To Wait!!____________I was given this on a really stressed out day! Thought it was a good one!

Jeanette[This message has been edited by JeanetteC (edited 03-05-99).]

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G

· #15 · Mar 6, 1999

LindaB AMEN.your posts always keep me in good spirits, "There was a pirate who decided to retire.Since he had a wooden leg,a hook for his hand and patch over his eye he thought he would apply for disability as well as his retirement. When got to the disability office,they asked him how he came by his injuries. First how did he get the wooden leg?He said "Oh me matey,I was on the deck of me ship when a giant wave knocked me into the water and a shark swam by and bit off me leg." So they said "That qualifies you.So What happened to your hand?"So he says "Oh me matey,I was on the deck of me ship when another wave knocked me back into the sea and a shark bit off me hand." So they said"That qualifies for disability as well." Then they asked about his eye .So the pirate says"Well me matey,I was topside on me deck,I looked up and a seagull dutied in me eye." The disability people say "Well that is unfortunate but how does that qualify for disability?"The pirate says "Oh me matey you don't understand.It was me first day with me hook!"" (Its alot harder to write a joke than tell it!!)Love Pattee I got this from the daily Oklahoman.I loved it so it has become part of my joke collection.[This message has been edited by Pattee (edited 03-05-99).]

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G

· #16 · Mar 6, 1999

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i look forward to the jokes after reading the posts and hearing how miserable we are sometimes the jokes really take the edge off it all. if i can find any good ones i'll post them if you guys will keep yours coming.

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G

· #17 · Mar 25, 1999

A woman walked into a Vet's office and said, 'Dr., I think there's something wrong with my dog.' The Vet put the dog up on the table, examined him, and told the woman, 'I'm sorry, but your dog is dead'. The woman refused to believe this and insisted that the Vet perform a more thorough exam. So the Vet took the dog into the other room and laid it on the examining table. He took a cat and put it on the table with the dog. The cat sniffed the dog, got down off of the table and went back to it's cage. Then he took a black lab and put it on the table with the dead dog. The black lab sniffed the other dog, got down off of the table and went back to it's cage. The Vet brought the woman's dog back out and said, 'I'm sorry, but this dog is definitely dead. And that will be $600.' 'Six hundred dollars', the woman shouted, 'What for?' 'Well', said the Vet, '$50.00 is for me and the other $550.00 is for the cat scan and the lab work.'

G

· #18 · Mar 25, 1999

hahahaha - LynneB - let me wipe the tears out of my eyes! Considering some of the results we get from these tests, they might as well BE performed this way!! Thanks for my laugh of the day!

G

· #19 · Mar 26, 1999

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LynneB, My god L. that was the funniest thing I read all week. I'm still laughing and my side hurts but I don't care that was great. You know I always wondered why everyone went in the other room when they did those testslolololololol

:

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LindaB

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 26, 1999

Thanks, Lynne, for resurrecting this old post of mine. I needed the reminder right now. I think that cat in your story may have been the one who did mine last Tuesday, so maybe I don't have a "filling defect" after all.This looks kind of like the "cat" who did my ct scan:

[This message has been edited by LindaB (edited 03-25-99).]

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