Denial is defined as, "the refusal to recognize the reality of a traumatic situation" (Webster's, 1993). This method is used when reality is just too disagreeable and the individual chooses to sort of candy coat the situation he or she is in (McNeil, 1974, p.387). For me denial is an in effective tool in fighting stress. For a long time it was believed that denial was maladaptive because it distorted reality for some. Later it was discovered that denial can also be adaptive in such times like after a traumatic event, but can .
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also cause damage if it remains for an extended period of time. There are two types of denial, short-term and long-term. The short term denial according to Horowitz prevents us from being overcome with great panic (Coleman, 1970, as cited in McNeil, 1974). This is a very obvious point when you think about it. People would be in a constant stated of worry and nervousness all the time. Long-term denial is a harmful thing. Most of the time it comes in to play after a catastrophic event occurs like the loss of a loved one or some kind of life-threatening incident. .
Humor is another way we as humans struggle with stress. We laugh about our problems, or we are cheered up with jokes by our family and friends. Humor is, "The complex of feelings which includes amusement and mirth" (Krech and Crutchfield, 1968, p.253). There are multiple types of humor and they all have their own, different meanings. For this reason, attempts to uncover a pattern in humor have been a waste of time. When a person laughs there is no particular way to describe the laugh. It was a giggle, but it was very similar to chuckle or a cackle as well. On the reverse side, laughter may have nothing to do with humor. The laughing may just be a way to release tension and bring about a sense of small comfort to an individual who is experiencing an overflow of stress (1968). There are only .
