Week 9 discussion
Humor and Sleep Hygieneâs Potential Benefits for Stress and Immunity
A clown is like an aspirin, only he works twice as fast
– Groucho Marx
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop
– Ovid
Have you ever noticed that no matter how difficult the situation, if you can find humor in it, it becomes more manageable? Even in moments of loss, people remember their loved ones by reminiscing about the funny things they did or said Many circumstances are judged by how they make you feel Even in the face of serious illness, an active sense of humor can lessen its effects and improve the likelihood of a more positive outcome These examples suggest that humor appears to buffer against the effects of stress The effects of a good sense of humor benefit the body in a variety of ways
Participating in a good laugh is not the only activity you might overlook when it comes to managing stress A restful sleep provides a wealth of benefits to the mind as well as the body Think back to the last time you had to get up early and despite having too little sleep, you had to keep going Consider how the lack of sleep affected your mood, appetite, energy level, performance, and your interactions with others People often trivialize their need for sleep, despite the numerous benefits it provides to mood, concentration, and coping with stress The focus on connections between sleep, stress, and health are particularly timely because sleep patterns are changing Between the late 1950s and the early 1990s, the average reports of adult sleep dropped from 8 to 9 hours a night to 7 to 8 hours a night Recent studies report increasing numbers of individuals sleeping less than 6 hours a night The annual direct cost of dealing with sleep deprivation in the United States is estimated to be $16 billion a year Indirect costs are estimated at $50 to $100 billion and include motor vehicle and other accidents, resultant litigation, property destruction, medical costs, loss of productivity, and death
For this Discussion, review this weekâs Learning Resources including the âHumor and Sleep Hygiene: Your Natural Allies Against Stressâ handout Students with a last name beginning with AâM, research articles on the effects of humor on stress and health and then respond to Discussion A Students with a last name beginning with NâZ, research illnesses related to stress and poor sleep habits and then respond to Discussion B
With these thoughts in mind:
D1-A: Post by Day 4 an explanation of humorâs effect on the health condition Then explain how humor might impact the stress response Finally, describe how humor might effectively be used in stress management training Be specific
D1-B: Post by Day 4 an explanation of the relationship between sleep and stress, including any impact the relationship may have on stress hormones Then explain how sleep deprivation and stress might contribute to the development of an illness Finally, explain two concepts you might include in sleep hygiene education and explain why Be specific
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources
Read a selection of your colleaguesâ postings
Respond by Day 6 in one of the following ways to at least one of your colleagues whose posting is in response to the portion of the Discussion to which you were not assigned:
⢠Ask a probing question
⢠Share an insight from having read your colleagueâs posting
⢠Offer and support an opinion
⢠Validate an idea with your own experience
⢠Make a suggestion
⢠Expand on your colleagueâs posting
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made
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