THE BEST MEDICINE - Dr. Stuart Robertshaw—aka Dr. Humor—talks about the benefits of lightening up.

I ran across a quote that said preschool children laugh or smile around 400 times a day, and adults over age 35 only 15 times a day. As I  came from a  very funny  family and  had learned the benefits of laughter, I thought I could share that knowledge with others.

 

Is that what made you establish the National Association for  Humor Impaired, seeing so many people  afflicted  with  a loss of humor?

Yes, because I realized that laughter and humor are therapeutic and so many people lack joy and appreciation of the richness in their lives. It was a way to dramatize the benefits of laughter, too.

 

How do you diagnose humor impairment?

Well,  flunking  the   humor impaired test that you have to take for joining my association, for one thing. A lack of joy, reacting to life in a negative manner and an absence of focusing on the positive can all be signs that you need to lighten up a bit.

 

So how is laughter really good medicine?

Laughter increases blood flow, improves pain tolerance and improves mental functioning, including alertness, creativity and memory. Humor  reduces  stress, anxiety and  tension; decreases depression, loneliness and anger; and improves your mood. Laughter can be like a lollipop.

 

Your book Dear Dr. Humor shares stories from members of the National Association for  the  Humor  Impaired.

Why are these stories funny?

Readers can relate personally to the stories, as most are situational humor, not jokes. They are not offensive or lacking in good taste, either.

You  have spoken  publicly to different organizations in all 50 states. Have you seen that there is a universal need for laughter both in business and our personal lives?

Yes, laughter coupled with a focus on fun, humor and joy can have a positive effect personally. Businesses and organizations are now realizing the importance of developing strategies that increase fun  in  the  workplace. Making work fun is no longer a taboo.

How do you know when you  have crossed the  line from being funny to being

offensive?

Positive   humor   is   inclusive in bringing people together, and negative humor  actually pushes people apart. When you feel hesitation in laughing, a sense of tension or anxiety, it is generally a clue that the line has been crossed.

 

Finally, what simple daily exercise can you recommend for women to strengthen their funny bone?

Since 10 percent of humor comes  from organized humor such as jokes, and the other 90 percent occurs in our everyday lives, a social connectedness  can occur from this daily interaction. Make a list  of people that  you identify with as your “laughter friends,” and as often as possible find time to include them in your life. When your laughter friends are unavailable, take time daily to laugh out loud for three minutes. Laughter is an aerobic exercise for both the body and the soul.

 

You can purchase Dear Dr. Humor, reserve Dr. Humor to speak at your organization or send him a funny story to obtain a copy of his humor-impairment test at www.drhumor.com.

 

 

Diane Rauum, publisher of Coulee Region Women, enjoys laughter with her good friends on and off the magazine staff.