Loretta LaRoche is a world-renowned expert for over 30 years in the field of stress management. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Mind/Body Medical Institute of Boston, affiliated with Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In addition, Loretta LaRoche is on the Mass General advisory council for anxiety and depression and was recently awarded the National Humor Treasure Award. Loretta is also founder and president of The Humor Potential, Inc, a company offering programs and products for life style management. Her special brand of optimistic psychology has an incontestable positive effect on the health of all that are exposed to her. Organizations worldwide use Loretta's prescription for laughter to manage stress in the workplace and improve morale. Loretta's energetic meeting openings, trainings and keynotes serve to improve learning skills and put a room in an enthusiastic frame of mind.

Clients such as IBM, The New York Times, Fidelity Investments, Microsoft, the U.S. Dept. of Labor, and NASA, just to name a few, have used her material to defeat stress in the workplace. She is also a well-recognized TV personality on PBS and best selling author. She has had seven one-woman television specials air on 80 PBS stations across the country. She has been nominated for local and prime time Emmy Awards, has appeared on CNN, ABC and NBC affiliates.

She has authored 7 books, The Joy Journal, Happy Talk, Relax: You May Only Have a Few Minutes Left, Life is Not a Stress Rehearsal and, Life Is Short- Wear Your Party Pants, Squeeze the Day, and Kick Up Your Heels Before You're Too Short to Wear Them. Just Released, her newest book, "Lighten Up!" in stores now. Loretta is also on the council for the Mass General Center for Anxiety and Depression.  She was recently awarded the National Humor Treasure Award.  Loretta writes a weekly newspaper column called, 'Get a Life'...

Topics

• HOW STRESS CAN MAKE A MESS OUT OF YOUR BOTTOM LINE AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! In the last several years stress has become epidemic. The latest economic tsunami has exacerbated the problem and added to the feelings of anxiety, irritability, and depression that are sweeping the country. The end result is that no matter what position you hold in an organization, your decision- making process will be compromised. Stress is cumulative and if not handled properly begins to affect concentration, reaction-time, communication skills; abilities to problem solve and can seriously increase one’s propensity toward aggressive behavior. This happens as a result of the body’s increasing inability to handle the chemical reactions that begin to invade the pre-frontal cortex, which controls our ability to deal with situations in a rational, effective manner. Studies in mood contagion show that morale can be greatly reduced in an organization when individuals repeatedly discuss their stressors with each other. Colds and upper respiratory illnesses increase as the feelings of perceived helplessness increase, which in turn impact absenteeism and increased turn over.

• THE POWER OF HUMOR AND OPTIMISM A life that is fulfilling is predicated on discovering how to use thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to enhance our mental and physical well being. Many of us go day to day hypnotized by internal dialogue that leads us down the path of negativity and unhappiness. It is often the result of parental and societal messages, but it can also be an inherited predisposition towards depression and/or anxiety. Optimism, which is a resiliency based model, can be taught. It is not the fairy tale concept of simply thinking “positive thoughts”, but rather an explanatory style. When we add the ingredient of humor, our ability to handle life’s inevitable ups and downs becomes more accessible.

• The “WOW” FACTOR Wisdom, Openness, and Wonder  We’ve all met enthusiastic, energetic people that leave us wondering what they could possibly be “on” to be the way they are. Most individuals today report fatigue and stress as a way of life. There are a myriad of causes, but the most prevalent problem is the notion that life is a constant series of tasks that need to be accomplished and expedited quickly. As a result taking care of one’s health and happiness becomes secondary to making sure everything is done by the end of the day. Ironically this mentality actually drains our resources and dampens the very thing we need to have a productive life which is energy, or a feeling of “WOW”. Our ability to use our wisdom, be open to new ideas and experience wonder in the everyday is exchanged for a robotic mentality based on forging ahead. When we are in a “WOW” mode relationships flourish, success is more attainable, and we tend to feel more energetic.