Be aware of the true comedian

[UH82LuvMe]

Ladies... and men, I just wanted to state an observation I've made. It may help those in a new relationship become aware of something that I have just realized after a 5 year relationship. That being that a lot of REALLLLY funny people that just live to make people laugh, might just be naturally funny, OR, may use laughter as a way of coping with an inner depression. Look at Robin Williams for example. There may not be anything wrong with that.There are a lot of reasons a person may be depressed, and that's alright, but it could lead to problems later down the road when those true colors start to show through. My man stole my heart with his quick witted humor. He always makes me laugh. But he's become even more depressed within recent times, and he drinks to numb his pain, and it can be like dealing with Jackle & Hyde. So beware of the underlying reasons of an individuals "sence of humor" Take care and thank you for taking the time to read this. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic as well. Till then~ peace out my friends!.

 

[queenbee1127]

Thanks for the update.

 

[BrassEye]

I've been thinking about this recently. The link between comedy/comedians and depression. The sad clown.

Yeah you could say that someone with a very sharp sense of humor may have developed that sense as a mechanism for coping with.. well, whatever is/was on their plate.

I like to think that laughter is healthier than some coping strategies , but yeah sometimes it's just clown make up hiding something that would be better brought to light and dealt with.


I don't know where i'd be without a few select British comedies from the 90s.

 

[alasdairm]

^ chris morris fan? he's a legend.

op, i think there is some truth to what you say but i'm wary of generalisation.

alasdair

 

[BrassEye]

^ chris morris fan? he's a legend.

Yeah a rare talent, I don't think the world was ready for him.
I've realised also that anything Graham Linehan touches turns to gold.

 

[pofacedhoe]

making people laugh is about giving other people something that has a positive effect..


you might be doing it to distract yourself from depression, express your creative viewpoints, or just to make the work day less boring.

many different reasons but it stems from wanting attention

 

[LuGoJ]

I don't know where i'd be without a few select British comedies from the 90s.

I just started watching the first season of Father Ted again. One of the funniest shows ever.

(I believe it was british even though it took place on ireland)

 

[herbavore]

I come from a family that uses humor to cope. I think it is healthy. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are laughing your way through life in a carefree way--in fact, it usually comes from seeing things without the rose colored glasses on and having to find a way of living with harsh realities. Humor is one of our most endearing human traits. It allows us to explore topics that generally polarize and divide us, like race and gender, religious divisions etc. The comedian as sage may be a stereotype but it can be very apt. Your boyfriend is a whole human being. The fact that he struggles with depression is hard (especially if his coping mechanism is alcohol) but give him your support and encouragement while taking good care of yourself. If you can't take it, move on, but try not to judge him harshly.

 

[P.o.T.u.S]

I think your thread should be called beware of alcoholism..when i was very depressed i did use comedy as coping but when the depression went away i still kept my sense of humor..

i hope when i guy makes u laugh now u dont run away

 

[BornAgainYogi]

I stand in favor of comedy as a coping mechanism. Heard in a speech that those who lived past 100 have a sense of humor because it helps deal with the hardships of life. I watched comedic stand up since I was a young kid without depression and I've also used it as a way of coping with pain in adult life. In some sense I may have used it to delude myself but not in some hugely detrimental way just as a way to soften the blow of what was obvious. It may stem from seeking attention, or it could just as likely come from being a sensitive human being looking for a way out. If it makes others happy is safe and doesn't dread your soul with guilt and shame why not use it? But just to put a caveat on this for anyone like me make sure what you say is funny cause if you just blurt out the first stupid thing on your mind or repeat the same joke over and over again it'll have the opposite affect ie you'll just get on people's nerves and they won't want to do anything with you. I have great friends and every time they tell a joke I'm not questioning if it's to escape pain. I take it for what it is and applaud the creativity and openness it takes to use humor and put yourself out there like that.

 

[H.chrisc]

Robin Williams suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder. I suffer from BPD also and use humor as a self defense mechanism; when you have BPD and you're left alone with your own thoughts you can easy get caught in a graveyard spiral of depression which may lead to suicidal thoughts. You may not intend to complete the suicide but you just want the racing thought pattern to stop.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

This makes sense in a way. Most people never thought or suspected that Robin Williams was majorly depressed, and had other mental health issues, that he had Parkinson's, or needed help for any of these issues.

But a lot of comedians do not have good self images, don't like themselves, and many do get into substance abuse or become addicted to alcohol and other drugs.