2006-10-04 00:50:40 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Yes beleive it or not "Patch Adams" wasnt just a fictional story........
Gesundheit! Institute was founded in 1972 by Patch Adams, MD as a creative response to the health care crisis in America: spiraling costs, dispirited care givers and alienated patients. Begun as a home-based free clinic, Gesundheit! introduced overnight stays and eventually integrated the lives of those giving and of those receiving care. Friendship and fun were vital ingredients towards joyfully sustaining their service. As the demand for care grew, the need for a full facility became apparent.
In 1979, as a response to the growing need for compassionate health care, Patch, his family and a handful of the original group determined that Patch would become the full-time Gesundheit! fundraiser. It became his work to publicly promote the idea of building a Gesundheit! hospital-based on sustaining joyful service. This group moved to the DC area and soon after found land for sale in West Virginia-land where a rural hospital could be built. So in 1980, Gesundheit! bought 317 acres of wooded mountain. A small farmhouse, a large barn and several outbuildings came with the property.
Between 1980 and 1983, little was done on the WV site. Patch continued to FUNdraise out of DC, while a small group homesteaded on the WV site. In 1983 a jump in funds enabled us to build a 6500 square foot workshop. Since then, we have completed many projects in a grass-roots fashion, towards both enhancing our property and our community.
Our main on-site work in West Virginia has been to look after what we have, to restore what we can, and finally to introduce new elements into well-functioning systems. To this date, we have completed a 4-level 6500 sq.ft multipurpose workshop, a 3-acre lake, a 2-mile woodland trail, multiple renovations on the existing farmhouse, tool sheds, a 3-season dwelling for long term volunteers, a five bedroom staff house called the Dacha, and preliminary landscaping and organic gardening.
Patch has remained the persistent, passionate fundraiser throughout this time with occasional special events organized by friends to raise money and to connect our extended Gesundheit! community. He speaks to a wide range of care givers, activists and artists internationally, who all yearn for a healthier social design.
Though it is our dear intention to build our envisioned hospital, we must emphasize that we have not yet begun any hospital construction. We will not see patients or offer health care on the land in West Virginia until we have finished Phases I and II of our building, which will include an out-patient clinic with a clinic staff residential component.
Patch's book Gesundheit! offers more on philosophy and history.
2006-10-04 00:58:09 · answer #1 · answered by Mintjulip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Laughter is a good thing,but i dont see it as a medicine.Laughter doesnt get rid of mental illness or struggle in life,people only say that to make the world a better place.People only want to see you happy because it is a good thing,a smiley face can change a thought of someones reactions.But not mentally.....
2006-10-04 01:06:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you know when people say that they dont mean that you well get cured.. its something to do psycologically... because when you are sick and all you are not feeling good, so if someone comes and makes you laugh then youll feel better and all... thats why they say that laughter is the best medicine...
2006-10-04 00:54:35 · answer #3 · answered by Attu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Negative emotions tend to release harmful "substances" e.g. adrenaline. In nature, they prepare the animal for "fight" or "flight" but at a sustained level, they are harmful. Laughter means the person is relaxed, are amongst friends, not threatened etc, etc. This can only ge good!
2006-10-04 00:57:03 · answer #4 · answered by Tom Cat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been proven that when people laugh out of joy (not condescendingly), several substances are secreted that help the immune system as well as the function of the brain.
2006-10-04 21:25:39 · answer #5 · answered by The Greek Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2006-10-04 00:51:53 · answer #6 · answered by prabhan_a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. But it certainly seems to help by reducing tension and releasing endorphins at the very least.
2006-10-04 01:01:03 · answer #7 · answered by uglygrandmother 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
robin williams in that awful film...he's a doctor but he's wacky...
2006-10-04 00:57:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this
2006-10-04 00:53:22 · answer #9 · answered by michael2003c2003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋