These are emotions that people encounter at a time in their lives. Love and laughter more often than loss. All of them have effects on our total well being
Laughter: ‘Smile, laugh and live longer’
Laughter is a fundamental part of everyday life. Laughter is pleasant to behold and is usually an indication of pleasure. Laughter is the fact of laughing, or the feeling of fun and amusement that you have when you are laughing. It is a response to internal or external stimuli, rhythmical often audible. We gesture and we produce sound, both functions of the complex interaction of the brain, mind and body.
When we laugh, we exhale while the vocal cords close, with the respiratory muscles periodically activating to produce the characteristic rhythmic sound of laughing. The risorius muscle and other muscles of the face are also used to smile
Significance. Social. Laughter is a highly sophisticated social signalling system, helping people bond and even negotiate. It signals acceptance and positive interaction with others. Laughter brings focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions. Laughter is contagious and lifts the mood of people around you.
It has health benefits. An energetic activity, it increases the intake of oxygen rich air, it simulates the heart, lungs and muscles. It increases the release of the pleasure hormone. Which in turn relieves stress. Laughter can increase the overall sense of wellbeing. It can be used as part of stress management.
Love
Everybody needs to be loved and to love.
A complex set of emotions, behaviours and belief
A strong feeling of affection, warmth, respect and protectiveness
And of sacrificial giving for the loved person or object.
We love not in words alone but in action.
Read more about understanding Love >>
Loss, Bereavement
Bereavement is the experience of loosing someone important to us. It is characterised by grief, a process of emotions that we go through as we gradually adjust to the loss. Loosing someone is emotionally devastating.
Bereavement is not confined to the death of a loved one. Other losses can affect people’s emotional wellbeing, such as Divorce. Job loss or breakup of a friendship or relationship
After a loss people go through periods or stage until the pain eases and they come to terms with the loss. In case of death mourning is the natural process you go through. It is personal and may last months. The 5 stages of grief are
- Shock, and denial: A coping mechanism easing you to the reality .
- Anger: A hiding the emotion and pain that is felt. It can be directed at self or others
- Bargaining: A way of attempting to gain control. Creating a lot of ‘What if, and if only statements. The religious may try to God. It is also a line of defence against the emotions being felt.
- Depression: A quiet stage, of trying to work through the emotions in a healthy manner. E.g ‘What am I without her?
- Acceptance: As stage when the bereaved has accepted the loss and understand what it means in their lives now. It is not necessarily a happily uplifting stage or that they have moved past the loss have
Coping with Bereavement
- Allow yourself to grieve. Your feeling is natural.
- Express your feelings. Telling people how you feel helps the process.
- Find caring relatives and friends who can understand your feelings. Join a support group or a bereavement counselling.
- Look after your health. Try to eat well and sleep well. Contact your doctor if your ongoing medical condition changes.
- Be patient, it may take months to accept your changed life. Life must go on and do not dwell on the past. It is hard work making an effort to live again.
- Seek medical help if your grief is too much to bear or affecting your physical ot emotional health. Seeking help is not as sign of weakness.
- Some cultural and spiritual aspects help in the process of grief.
‘Loss is heart ripping, an open wound in the heart.
A reality of the finality of life and existent.
A realisation of the loss of something or someone close.
A mixed emotion of shock, disbelief, pain and sometimes blame.
It asks questions and wishes to know why me, why now?
A slow healing wound, that leaves the scar of memories.’