Russ's Ravings: The Horrors Of Waiting Mitigated By Laughter

Editor's note: The following is Patch Field Editor Russ Crespolini's, hopefully, weekly column. It is reflective of his opinion alone.

My life, it seems, has two speeds: Lightning fast or dead stopped.

As many of you know, I have been documenting in my column my ongoing medical issue that included a myriad of tests all leading to the conclusion that I have a pair of tumors. One in my brain, attached to my pituitary gland and one somewhere else in the body, most likely in my lungs.

As my last column on the subject noted, my doctor had ordered I repeat all of my tests before we make a decision on treatment options.

And so I did that. Early in the morning before work for a week I went and repeated all of my tests. I was poked and prodded and bled like a stuck pig. And then I settled in and waited for the results.

And the waiting continues.

There are a lot of things you can do to distract yourself from something like looming over your head. Some people distract themselves with vices. I don't drink or smoke so unfortunately that was not an option available to me. I enjoy working and I like to work so I made sure that I put some extra effort in to make sure I was keeping up with all we have going on leading up to the elections and to Halloween.

I also worked hard to try to slow things down in my head and spend more time with my family. My father and my daughter and I decorated my house for Halloween (we put up some pretty ridiculous stuff and I always get a kick out of it). I spent some time with my mother for her birthday.

I also was really happy the fall season of television was back on the CW. I fully embrace escapism as my chosen form of entertainment. I happen to really like nearly everything on the CW lineup because at heart, I am a tween girl.

If I can watch Melissa Benoist punch a questionably rendered CGI alien while espousing the tennants of good journalism in the next scene during an episode of "Supergirl: I am happy. And if I can watch Sam and Dean Winchester save people and hunt things, the family business, I am transported away from my problems for a short time.

The other thing I tried to do, is laugh more.

I am very fortunate in this regard because I happen to have really funny friends. I am a member of an improv comedy troupe that performs for charity several time a year. And when I connect with those few friends I've spoken to about this (despite sharing my plight through work I have not shared it on my personal social media) I find their humor a welcome relief.

Even the dark humor.

In fact, one of my mentors, my undergraduate advisor Dr. Julie Haynes and I were texting and I made a typo that she mocked me for. And I replied it is impolite to mock me, I have a brain tumor.

It felt good to make fun of it. And myself.

It felt good to laugh. Because I haven't felt like laughing in a while.

I am sure you have all heard, like I have, that laughter in the best medicine. Well that sounds like something someone made up who didn't have healthcare. But I decided to look around the interwebs for verification and the Mayo Clinic actually lists health benefits of laughter.

Among short term benefits they say laughter can:

• Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

For long term benefits laughter can:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
• Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.

They even have a list of ways to improve your sense of humor. This part I found offensive. I have a great sense of humor. I don't help to improve it. But one of the suggestions was to spend time with friends who make you laugh. And I am fortunate that one of my oldest, and funniest friends is coming to visit me this weekend.

But I'll never admit that to him (Don't worry, he doesn't read my columns so he will never know I said it).

So what I am trying to say is that I am managing to find ways to cope while I am waiting. And not just cope, but feel better. At least emotionally.

And if these things are helping me (and I am not the brightest or most enlightened person) then I am betting they can help you. And I bet there are other things you guys do to cope with stress. So what is it? Yoga? Fight Club? Drop me a line or let me know in the comments. I would love to give them a try as well.

Russ Crespolini is a Field Editor for Patch Media, adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association.

He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. And because it is cheaper than therapy. He can be reached at russ.crespolini@patch.com