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GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!
David Granirer - North America's Psychotherapist/Stand-Up Comic
Volume 2, Issue 7
Editor: David Granirer, david@psychocomic.com
Publisher: David Granirer
www.psychocomic.com

Please help us grow by forwarding this e-zine on to others!

IN THIS ISSUE
1. Welcome From The Publisher
2. Humoring Your Trauma
3. What's Good Stories
4. An Opportunity To Help
5. Classified Ads
6. Contact Information

PRIVACY STATEMENT: WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO ANYONE. PERIOD. 

1. WELCOME FROM THE PUBLISHER

Hi Folks,

This gave me a chuckle:

"There was a man so imbued with science that he sent two of his kids to Sunday school and kept the other two home as controls."
Lloyd Smith MD
 
 

****Come Have A Laugh!*****

My stand-up comedy shows start again on January 12 at Cafe Madeleine, 3763 West 10th Ave., Vancouver. Clean, intelligent comedy in a smoke-free environment, Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Reservations recommended (604) 224-5558. Bring in this newsletter and buy one entree, get second for 50% off. Opening the show are students from my Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic Course.
 

2. HUMORING YOUR TRAUMA

Most of the 566 Vietnam prisoners of war (VPOWs) that were subjects of a 20-year follow-up psychological evaluation by the U.S. Navy had been in captivity for over seven years. During this time they had been isolated, tortured, starved, and beaten. 

Normally one would expect such a group to have a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Indeed, 50 to 90 percent of POWs from other captivity situations have received diagnoses of PTSD. But in this group the rate of PTSD was the same as youíd find in the general population. And according to Linda D. Henman, author of the paper "Humor As A Coping Mechanism: Lessons From POWs," humor seems to be one of the main reasons for the VPOWís health.

But why was humor so important to this group? PTSD is usually caused by a traumatic situation where we experience ourselves as having no control or power. Think of an earthquake, car accident, burglary, or other traumatic event. Also think of a sudden downsizing, an extremely dysfunctional workplace, an impossible workload, or lacking the proper resources to do a job. Eventually these situations erode our belief that we have any control, and can result in PTSD-type symptoms like anxiety, depression, nightmares, and chronic fatigue, all of which increase when weíre exposed to situations reminding us of the initial trauma.

However, reacting with humor to a traumatic situation changes our experience of it so that we feel more in control, lessening our chances of getting PTSD. Avner Ziv, an Israeli educator, did a study on children who had spent extended time in bomb shelters. He found fewer PTSD symptoms in those billeted with peers having a viable sense of humor. In other words, when the children laughed during their trauma, they felt empowered.

Linda Henman quotes one of the VPOWs as saying, "Believe it or not, even under the worst of conditions over there, under the right circumstances we could laugh." 

Are we creating those "right circumstances" to make the best of our situations? 

Next month Iíll discuss some of the things the VPOWs did to get a laugh and how they can apply to your workplace.
 

For other free articles about laughter go to www.psychocomic.com/Articles.htm

For free back issues of this ezine go to www.psychocomic.com/Newsletter.htm

*****GET MORE LAUGHTER IN YOUR LIFE!*****
Check out David's tapes, posters, buttons at www.psychocomic.com/Products.htm
 

3. WHAT'S GOOD STORIES

It's so easy to see all the bad things around us, that sometimes we forget about all the great things that go on. And we need to hear about good things because that gives us hope and inspires us to go out and do more good things.

In this section, I want to hear from you. What's happened in your life that's good? What things have people done that inspire you to be kind to others? What funny things have happened?

Email your short stories to me at david@psychocomic.com, and if I publish yours, you get a free copy of my tape "I'm OK But YOU Need Professional Help!"
 

4. AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP

Clowns Without Borders can be found at http://www.yoowho.org/cwb.html
They send performers to refugee camps and zones of conflict. If youíd like more information, or to help out, (Theyíre a non-profit organization and could use donations) go to their web site.

If anyone has a good cause they'd like to promote please email me at david@psychocomic.com
 

5. CLASSIFIED ADS

Speakers: Learn how to incorporate stand-up comedy into your presentations. Check out David's stand-up comedy skills coaching for presenters at: www.psychocomic.com/ComedyCourse.htm
 

6. CONTACT INFORMATION

David Granirer gives laughter in the workplace presentations helping hundreds of organizations throughout North America reduce stress, increase wellness, and cope with change. For more information on his presentations, stand-up comedy, products, and articles call (604) 205-9242 or go to www.psychocomic.com

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