When the Vietnam War drew to a close in 1973, 566 military prisoners of war were returned from captivity in North Vietnam. Over 30 years later the medical and psychological tests of approximately 300 of these repatriated prisoners showed FEW medical, social, and psychological problems.
How can this be? The answers are varied and complex, but one thing seems clear. The Vietnam POWs had no say about many parts of their lives but had a system that worked, a system for human connection based on control. They had control over this one thing, and that was their humor perspective e.g. joking and making others laugh.
This emotional regulation strategy is a key ingredient in resiliency - ability to see humor in a crisis - which doesn’t deny the awfulness of the negative experience. It helps you to construe it as less threatening; so that you can think clearly what to do about them.
Hilarity brings clarity.
These POWs were certainly victimized by their captors, but they never saw themselves as victims, no matter what was done to them. They weren’t victims because they took control of the few things they could control.
Humor, even when dealing with negative situations, up-regulates by introducing positive emotions to the situation as well as a broadening of attention to also include more positive aspects of one’s environment, in addition to the stressful event.
There is a whole industry out there ready to turn you into a victim by having you dwell on the traumas in your life. Sometimes it is easier to be a victim and sympathy can feel sweet. In reality, you have considerable capacity for strength, although you might not be wholly aware of it.
A cheerful disposition has long been considered good medicine as well. Research backs up this old adage.
“…Researchers at the University of Maryland … have shown for the first time that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. Laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.” (Science Daily, 2011) Research is increasing our awareness on the positive effects of laughter, while also shedding light on the negative effects of increased stress 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.” (Scott, 2011)
Findings from these studies have important implications for health practitioners working in hospice settings, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Humor has been described in this way: “they turn nothing into something and something into nothing.” It is hard to feel like a victim when you are laughing.
Our life has also become so mechanized and electronified that one needs some kind of an elixir to make it bearable at all. And what is this elixir if not humor? It helps to reduce the expression and repercussions associated with negative emotions.
Resilient people don’t walk between the raindrops; we do have scars to show for our experience - but keep functioning anyway.
A good sense of humor adds a degree of richness and fullness to one’s life, including enhanced enjoyment of positive life experiences, greater positive emotions, a more positive view of self, and greater psychological well-being and quality of life.
Find out what makes you laugh and include it in your daily routine.
Happily ever laughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoS2BU6bbQ
How can this be? The answers are varied and complex, but one thing seems clear. The Vietnam POWs had no say about many parts of their lives but had a system that worked, a system for human connection based on control. They had control over this one thing, and that was their humor perspective e.g. joking and making others laugh.
This emotional regulation strategy is a key ingredient in resiliency - ability to see humor in a crisis - which doesn’t deny the awfulness of the negative experience. It helps you to construe it as less threatening; so that you can think clearly what to do about them.
Hilarity brings clarity.
These POWs were certainly victimized by their captors, but they never saw themselves as victims, no matter what was done to them. They weren’t victims because they took control of the few things they could control.
Humor, even when dealing with negative situations, up-regulates by introducing positive emotions to the situation as well as a broadening of attention to also include more positive aspects of one’s environment, in addition to the stressful event.
There is a whole industry out there ready to turn you into a victim by having you dwell on the traumas in your life. Sometimes it is easier to be a victim and sympathy can feel sweet. In reality, you have considerable capacity for strength, although you might not be wholly aware of it.
A cheerful disposition has long been considered good medicine as well. Research backs up this old adage.
“…Researchers at the University of Maryland … have shown for the first time that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. Laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.” (Science Daily, 2011) Research is increasing our awareness on the positive effects of laughter, while also shedding light on the negative effects of increased stress 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.” (Scott, 2011)
Findings from these studies have important implications for health practitioners working in hospice settings, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Humor has been described in this way: “they turn nothing into something and something into nothing.” It is hard to feel like a victim when you are laughing.
Resilient people don’t walk between the raindrops; we do have scars to show for our experience - but keep functioning anyway.
A good sense of humor adds a degree of richness and fullness to one’s life, including enhanced enjoyment of positive life experiences, greater positive emotions, a more positive view of self, and greater psychological well-being and quality of life.
Find out what makes you laugh and include it in your daily routine.
Happily ever laughter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoS2BU6bbQ
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