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• January 8, 2010 8:02 p.m.

  I have a writer friend who claims that her early suffering as a child has made her a better writer. I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer to cull my creativity from a happy state of mind. Who needs to suffer? Yes, I know people do suffer and many times pain can precede productivity. But why instill into my mind the need to cry in order to create? Barbara A. "cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery." coming SOON

  - Barbara A

• February 6, 2008 12:55 p.m.

  whenever I talk to my girlfriends I live around or my long time high school girlfriend it is so nice to talk and laugh and be happy that you have good friends that care about you..I'd laugh all the time if i could. Learn to appreciate people while their still in your life.

  - Eileen

• December 26, 2007 6:53 a.m.

  My dad passed away a few years ago and I will never forget the comments at the funeral. "I never saw that man without a smile on his face". Every day I try to live up to that comment. God Bless

  - Jim

• November 27, 2007 8:58 a.m.

  Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle My daughter broke off with her first real boyfriend this summer. When it was finally evident that it was completely over and she was REALLY down in the dumps, she asked us to take her to the library and promptly rounded up nine dvd's and nine tapes of The Marx Brothers and other such classics. We watched them for the next two weeks. Just do a search on line for "laughter" or "laughter is the best medicine" etc and you'll come up w tons of stuff. Two examples below. http://www.quotegarden.com/laughter.html http://www.freewebs.com/laughtertherapy/index.htm LA

  - No name given

• November 20, 2007 4:37 p.m.

  Laughter makes my days and sometimes I have to deliberately see the humor in situations. I have a few belly roll laugh memories I can bring up and lighten my day at anytime. Thank you for reminding me to laugh right now. Life is very stressful on the personal level and I am overdue for some good laughter.

  - Sue K

• November 7, 2007 1:39 a.m.

  At this stage of life(over 60), that life is much better. Each day I try to have a "laugh/smile a day". An apple & exercise doesn"t hurt either(smile).

  - Mace

• November 2, 2007 12:41 p.m.

  I am a 30 year veteran nurse. I have always used humor in my nursing practice when you would think there would be nothing funny. It always makes the situation better.

  - Terri

• October 24, 2007 10:44 p.m.

  Ditto to what Carol said about crying as well as laughing. They are both valid emotions and when felt and expressed appropriately can make one feel good. Fay

  - Fay

• October 24, 2007 6:49 p.m.

  to marcel; you teach the use of humor, tell me how does one attain humor? i would love to bring some fun into my home but i,m not very funny.seems one has to have the outlook first?

  - sam

• October 24, 2007 6:43 p.m.

  regarding those of humor/suffered; i am blessed with a friend whose life seems a never ending suffering and she is sooooooo humorous and smiles , amazing!

  - sam

• October 24, 2007 2:12 p.m.

  I like to think of something in my life that has made me laugh, laugh silly out loud. My dog enjoys rolling over on her back. She looks around and when she sees me laughing at her she gives me a look as if to say "wha', wha' you laughing at?" We are temporarily 3000 miles apart and I look forward to our reunion. Also, the memory of a loving memory of your family member or friend. Something that was formative in my personal development is helpful to. We have our memories to help us. Use the most joyous of them.

  - DaVideo

• October 23, 2007 11:39 p.m.

  First time, but had to add this: It isn't just the laughter, I can and do laugh at things that others do not see--until there is the laughter. On the other hand, most people react to a free smile immediately! I love those reactions! Talk about breaking stress....

  - Susan

• October 23, 2007 2:07 p.m.

  The use of humour has been proven to aid in the avoidance of many things. As a quasi-educator/law enforcement officer, I teach the use of humour to deal with bullying situations. This is very effective if, as usual, used properly. I have also used humour to ease a very stressful situation. My sister was hospitalized with lung and liver cancer. It was a rough time for the family but with the proper and timely injection of humour, the atmosphere in the room changes almost instantly . It is not a matter of minimizing the situation but rather facing reality. there is nothing more that can be done so why dwell on the past? Make the present as comfortable for the unfortunate as well as family and friends. I know it was very effective for our family and brought us closer together by being able to share a chuckle or two. In June our mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Yes we were shocked but we laughed our way through to the final day. She left knowing we loved her.

  - Marcel

• October 18, 2007 4:12 p.m.

  Be secure enough to laugh at yourself for making mistakes. If one is defensive and tries to cover-up errors things are only going to get worse. Besides that no one will have ammunition to get back at you later--you've already confessed to your goof-up!! There's alson entertainment value for your co-workers.

  - Elizabeth

• October 17, 2007 5:09 a.m.

  Just make sure that your sense of humor is not used to deflect attention from the true level of emotional stress you are under. Sometimes, humor is a defense mechanism that only serves to keep us distant from others - I say "us" because it was effective for me (or ineffective for me) for years to avoid addressing the real issues. Now, I know there are times for humor and times for honest expression of where my head is at.

  - Li-Li

• October 17, 2007 4:56 a.m.

  I've learned at long long time ago that smiling and laughter are gifts that you can give and share with others. Too many people are caught up in this game we call life and forget that every day is a gift. Come on people, smile laugh and be merry the alternative is unthinkable!

  - Wanda

• October 16, 2007 8:41 p.m.

  I used have a great sense of humor, I say used to because lately it's like I lost it - a broken heart will do that, especially when you laughed so much with the person who left you, he was an alcoholic and he could be very funny but he wasn't willing to discuss anything serious (like his alcoholism), I hope I'll laugh again soon. One thing I know that is kind of funny, is if you want people to smile while your walking in the street - wear a hat - for some reason whenever I wear a hat everyone smiles at me! It took a while for me to figure out why but I know it's the hat.

  - Myra

• October 16, 2007 4:59 a.m.

  Here's another quote I learned early on! "He who laughs last laughs best"

  - Larry

• October 15, 2007 6:25 p.m.

  This is a great article, I try to make people smile and laugh when I can..The world is getting sadder. Smile some people say what does he want from me when I say good morning have a great day so keep up the smiles and good humor I try, but we need more happy people.

  - johnturnbull

• October 15, 2007 2:03 p.m.

  We mostly laugh at others' suffering, at least some degree of suffering (e.g. Three Stooges slapstick). Mostly, we are relieved it is not us.

  - RAP

• October 15, 2007 12:03 p.m.

  Dr. Creagan may be observing something very basic, yet profound. Finding humor usually involves a process of reframing an event, situation, or even photograph. My kids laugh at my high school photos. Look at the hairstyles! I have to note that that some of the three Stooges (the Horowitz brothers) lived well into their 80s, as did Larry Fine, also of Jewish descent. It is not stress that kills, but rather our maladaptive or inadequate means of transoforming it. But ethnic or national origin need not be the defining characteristic. Being able to reframe is a skill, and it can be honed with practice. Go and check out the book by the scholar Erasmus entitled, In Praise of Folly. From the right perspective, all of our human pretensions to knowledge and our grimly pursued endeavors can appear somewhat comical. Learning how not to take ourselves so seriously is an adaptive coping mechanism. It's all about perspective--i.e., framing. Cheers!

  - Alan

• October 14, 2007 7:59 p.m.

  This is a very interesting article about stress. The only sad thing about it most of the people that laugh because of hard times die early. Stress even when you know how to handle it seems like a time bomb ticking Fitness website

  - Clinton Walker

• October 13, 2007 10:38 a.m.

  I have noticed over the years that when I see a funny TV show, read a book with a funny author, or hear a good joke, that it does make me feel good. I have also found after reading different articles you have written, that I end up crying every time. Laughter is a gift, but I guess tears are also.

  - carol