Therapeutic Use of Humor in Recovery

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Therapeutic Use of Humor in Recovery

• Jest for the
  Fun of It
• Lori Green, DNP, RN, CASAC
• FADAA/FCCMH Annual
  Conference
• Thursday July 7, 2014

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WHO AM I???

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Are you stressed??..
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The Stress Response

• Shallow breathing
• Increased blood pressure
• Adrenalin floods blood stream
• Increased muscle tension
• Digestion slows down
• Increased heart rate

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The Laughter Response

• Promotes Deep breathing
• Oxygen in blood increases
• Blood pressure decreases
• Muscle tension decreases
• Better digestion
• Brain releases endorphins

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Humor is a Therapeutic Communication Technique..

• The shortest distance betweenTwo people is a
  smile
• Victor Borge

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Laughter in Recovery Process

• Humor combats fear
• Humor comforts
• Humor Relaxes
• Humor reduces pain
• Humor Boosts the Immune System
• Humor reduces Stress
• Humor Speads Happiness
• Humor cultivates optimism
• Humor helps Communication

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Psychological Benefits..
Laughter helps with replacing losses
by Increasing self-esteem See new
perspective Reducing internal stress Increases
mental flexibility Helps gain control over
situation
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Social Benefits
Helps to diffuse anger Decrease
conflict Builds trust Decreases fear Eases
tension Enhances group activities
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Spiritual Benefits..
Laughter is universal Decreases prejudice
Reveals connections of all Balances mind, body
and soul Helps towards obtaining tranquility
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Rx Laughter

• Schedule time to have fun/ Block the time out.
• Make this a commitment to yourself.
• Write it on your planner!
• Find humor in a stressful situation (Keep your
  eyes open for humorous Situations and share
  them!)
• World Laughter Day is celebrated May 2nd
• 'Fake It Until You Make It (Laughter Yoga)

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Techniques

• Memorize and be able to tell at least one short
  joke or story.
• Movies/ Music/ cartoons
• Websites and blogs
• Collect use humorous memos, signs, posters,
  bumper stickers, etc.
• Keep a humor journal
• Start a humor library

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Have Fun. Be In The Here and Now/ mindfulness

• Have Friends Over More Often
• Tell Jokes
• Have a Regular Game Night
• Step back/Prioritize/Let things go

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Therapy Homework assignment

• 1. List 5 things you love to do, that you feel
  joyful when you do them,
• that you havent done in the last several months.
  (I.E. lying in the sun,
• taking a cruise, getting a message, reading a
  good book, dancing, going
• to a humor talk, etc.)
• 2. Now, besides each of these things list what
  stops you from doing it
• something either inside (your feelings) or
  outside (lack of money, time)
• that keeps you from doing it.
• 3. Take two things on your list that hold the
  most joy and think of one
• step you can take toward bringing it into your
  life.
• A.
• B.
• 4. Make your calendar with a date and time that
  you will bring each of
• these joyful activities into your life.

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Cartoons..



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Associations/Websites

• Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
  (AATH)
• http//www.journalofnursingjocularity.com/
• www.humormatters.com
• http//www.humorhorizons.com
• http//www.serenityfound.org

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HUMOR GROUP PROJECT
Anxiety decreases the ability to engage
with patients and decreases retention of
information(Parrot, 1994)
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Mental Health Clinical Rotation
Nurses have to deal with a lot of
heavy stuff.humor keeps us grounded and ready
for more.
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Nurses generally become a part of
peoples lives during difficult timeshumor
should be incorporated into every healthcare
setting as appropriate
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Will you incorporate humor into your nursing
practice? How?

• I really feel that throughout my nursing career
  as well as life, I will be able to utilize the
  different techniques and skills we learned
  through this experience
• because I want to work in pedssomething to
  make the children laugh to help with their
  fears.

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Benefits of Laughter

• Increase Blood flow
• Increased Immune response
• Lower Blood sugar levels
• Increased Relaxation and sleep
• Increased Social Benefits
• Increased Job Satisfaction
• Humor is a positive emotion.. Use it!

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SMILE.

• Having fun and exposing yourself to the many
  benefits of humor is an essential part of
  self-care and will make you a better clinician .
• release endorphins, which make you feel better,
  and can lead you to actually feeling more happy

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Improve your life and your skills

• and laugh more this year!!!

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Questions?