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).]