April fifteenth is almost here.  The mere mention of this date is stress inducing.  Is it a bad joke that April is designated National Humor Month?  But think about it:  humor is one of the most effective stress relievers.

Many people find simply making it through the day challenging. When things aren’t going well with our family, or when we’re facing a deadline at work, we can feel stressed and even overwhelmed. Everyone deals with stress differently. Dr. Hinda Dubin, a Baltimore psychiatrist, recommends three A’s to combat stress: Alter, Accept or Avoid. We can alter our behavior that creates stress.  We can accept and transcend stress.  Above all, we can change the conditions which cause stress and avoid those triggers.
 
How can a healthy dose of humor help control or diminish stress?

Humor lifts spirits, making us, as well as others around us, feel better. My mother in law, a beautiful person, always had a smile on her face. Her joy in daily living was contagious.  She was a mother and a wife, as well as a Rebbetzin who moved often, as many pulpit Rabbis and their families do.  Reminiscing with a warm smile, she told of her experiences packing and unpacking and driving cross country with her boisterous children, to meet her husband, who was already there.  She believed I could do the same, even though my thoughts were, “Where is the moving company, and can’t we just take an airplane and buy a new car when we get there?”

Humor is also a useful tool for calming tempers and defusing potentially explosive situations.  A light touch of comedy allows us to experience the joy of laughter. There are even physical benefits to humor.  Experts say laughter relaxes tense muscles, speeds more oxygen into your system and lowers blood pressure. A good “belly laugh” not only makes you happy, but helps put your situation into perspective.

Frowning requires the use of more muscles and produces stress in ourselves and others. So the next time you find yourself frowning, make an effort instead to find some humor in the situation and share some sunshine with others.

• Remind yourself to have fun and enjoy life.
• Seek out others who have a positive attitude.
• Look for the good, the bright side of a situation.
• Infuse your life with regular doses of humor.
• Notice ironies and absurdity.
• Spark your own imagination and sense of humor through exposure to theater, movies,  books, comics, and cartoons.

You can fight stress with a positive attitude. The laughter you share is powerful medicine and doesn’t even require a prescription.

So, in honor of National Humor Month, here’s a story.

“The Survivors”
A hurricane blew across the Caribbean.  It didn’t take long for the expensive yacht to be swamped by high waves, sinking without a trace.  There were only two survivors: the boat’s owner, Dr. Eskin, and its steward, Benny.  Both managed to swim to the closest island.  After reaching the deserted strip of land, the steward was crying and very upset that they would never be found.  The other man was quite calm, relaxing against a tree.  “Dr. Eskin, how can you be so calm?” cried Benny.  “We’re going to die on this lonely island.  We’ll never be discovered here.”  “Sit down and listen to me, Benny,” began the confident Dr. Eskin.  “Five years ago I gave the United Way $500,000 and another $500,000 to the United Jewish Appeal.  I donated the same amounts four years ago.  And three years ago, since I did very well in the stock market, I contributed $750,000 to each.  Last year business was good again, so the two charities each got a million dollars.  “So what?” shouted Benny.  “Well, it’s time for their annual fund drives.  They’ll find me,” smiled Dr. Eskin.

As April fifteenth approaches, enjoy a few laughs at http://taxhelpattorney.com/articles/tax-humor.html

By Deborah Schwartz, LCSW-C, Therapy Services, Jewish Community Services, Baltimore, MD

To learn more about how JCS can help you solve life’s puzzles, visit http://www.jcsbaltimore.org or call 410-466-9200.  Jewish Community Services is an agency of THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

I found this article interesting and helpful. It was a great reminder to find humor in life in order to relax and relieve stress. Thank you!

What a wonderful article. Mrs. Schwartz did a great job explaining how humor can help one relieve stress. Thanks for the advice! Keep up the great work. I look forward to reading more.