By Brianna Russell/reporter
A group of women who take part in the Women in New Roles class found an opportunity April 2 to learn how to laugh their way through stress.
Coordinator of health services, Flo Stanton’s presentation, Laughing Your Way Through Stress, was the last of a series of three on topics such as balancing multiple roles and positive self-talk.
Stanton said stress is a response in the body to any perceived significant change or threat, whether positive or negative.
Students took turns giving some positive and negative examples of experiences that cause stress. Stanton stressed that stress is a part of life and that people need to learn to cope with it all rather than ignore it.
“To say you want a stress-free life is unrealistic,” she said.
With the use of a PowerPoint presentation and handouts she provided the class, Stanton shared with the group information about the health consequences of unmanaged stress and told students what they can do to avoid those consequences. Above all of the different stress-buster tips she provided the group with, Stanton promoted laughter the most. She also shared her experiences and reactions to simply hearing other people laugh.
“Hearing people laugh gives you a good feeling,” she said.
She also encouraged her audience to share their personal experiences, including times when they had done something silly and laughed at themselves rather than stress about the mistake.
Stanton said it is important to have humor and include it in everyday life. For example, she suggested people adopt an attitude of playfulness or make a collection of things that make them laugh.
Kathryn Boulet, who attended the seminar, suggested a stress outlet she uses that incorporates the use of laughter. Boulet said she attends a free yoga-laughter class in Fort Worth as often as she can. She said during the Sunday evening yoga class, participants do the usual yoga moves but also include laughter exercises to relax even more and to get rid of stress.
Triesha Light, the coordinator of WINR on South Campus, said Stanton is one of many guest speakers to visit the class.
Spurts of laughter from the students who attended the seminar were not uncommon during the presentation since Stanton worked to provide individuals with an opportunity to laugh while learning. Even though Stanton said overeating is one of the unhealthy ways to deal with stress, she included a humorous stress diet in the handouts that suggested an entire cheesecake and a whole package of Oreos.
