Mental Illness: A Funny Way of Coping
There’s a funny thing about mental illness – it’s not really that funny. In fact, it’s one of the most serious issues facing our society today. But as with many things in life, sometimes laughter is the best medicine.
Now, before you start thinking I’m some kind of cruel person who makes fun of people with mental health problems, hear me out. There’s a difference between making fun of someone and finding humor in a situation.
Matt Taibbi once said that “the point isn’t to make light of suffering or to try to diminish its effects; it is to find an outlet for expressing the anger and frustration we all feel when confronted with something as senseless and destructive as mental illness.”
And isn’t that true? When we see something so devastatingly painful as someone struggling with their own mind, what else can we do but laugh?
But how do we find humor in such an unfunny subject? Well, let me tell you about my own experience.
Years ago, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was scary at first – here I was thinking I just had a case of “the blues,” when in reality there was something much more severe going on inside my head.
But after months of therapy and medication (and yes, plenty of tears), I started to see the lighter side. For example:
– Have you ever seen those commercials for antidepressants where they list off all the possible side effects like “nausea” or “insomnia”? Let me tell you something – if those were actual symptoms for bipolar disorder, they’d be lucky.
– Speaking of medications…have you ever tried explaining what mood stabilizers are to someone who doesn’t have any experience with mental illness? That conversation usually goes something like this:
Them: “So wait…it makes you happy?”
Me: “No.”
Them: “Oh, so it makes you not happy?”
Me: “No.”
Them: “What does it do then?”
Me: “It stabilizes my mood.”
Them: “…So…it makes you normal?”
Me: (sighing) “Sure. Let’s go with that.”
– And don’t even get me started on the joys of therapy sessions. It’s like paying someone to listen to all your problems and tell you how to fix them, but without any guarantee that you’ll actually be able to follow through.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking – this isn’t something to joke about! Mental illness is serious business!
And yes, it is serious. But humor can be a way for us to cope with things that are otherwise unbearable. It can help us find common ground with others who are going through similar struggles.
Plus, let’s face it – sometimes we just need a good laugh. Life can be hard enough as it is; why not take joy where we can find it?
That being said, there are definitely situations where humor isn’t appropriate or helpful. If someone comes to you seeking support for their mental health issues, the last thing they want is for you to make light of their pain.
But if someone living with mental illness wants to use humor as a coping mechanism – whether that means making jokes themselves or finding comfort in other people’s humorous anecdotes – why should we deny them that?
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should rely solely on laughter when dealing with mental health issues. Seeking professional help and treatment should always be our first priority.
But if we can find moments of levity amidst the darkness? I say embrace them with open arms.
In conclusion, mental illness is no laughing matter…but sometimes laughter really can be the best medicine. Finding humor in our experiences may not cure our illnesses outright, but it can certainly make them more bearable.
So go ahead and crack a joke about your own struggles – just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. And if someone else shares a humorous moment with you, don’t be afraid to laugh along. It may just be what both of you need to get through the day.