I was just wondering if humor can help with PTSD and dissociation. I'm also wondering if there is a humor thread on here - with tasteful humor (not triggering or offensive ones). I miss laughing. I watch shows or read some funny things, but it would be great to connect with human beings. Comedy clubs would be an option if they weren't so vulgar at times, which sends my PTSD into high gear. But laughter is something I miss. I was just wondering if there are groups, treatments, or anything that involves some sort of humor. It's sad to be sad all the time, or stressed from processing so much trauma.

I remember my half-sister's ex who was a police officer say that how they dealt with stress and traumatic encounters is by finding something about the situation to laugh about. I'm not sure if that's the right thing for victims of trauma, as opposed to observers of trauma (secondary or vicarious), but it would be great to be able to laugh about things again.

What do you think?

[bpcyclist]

I also have PTSD, I just don't list it in my sig. I virtually never laugh and almost never smile anymore. Recently. I have found one thing that can reliably get me to do both and that is videos of cats and kittens and dogs and puppies that are homeless being rescued. It makes me feel great!! I try to watch a couple at least every day. You are probably still capable of smiling and laughing, I would guess, you just have to find something that can trigger the response reliably. You need to find what that is for you.

There is a guy from Vancouver or Alberta, can't remember, who has a mental illness. He is a comedian. He trains mentally ill people to do stand up. He came to a hospital where I was an inpatient and did the course for us. We gave a performance for the whole hospital when it was done. It was really fun. I think it helped some people. They made a movie about this guy and his program. I think it's called something like Stand Up or Stand Up for Mental Illness. I can't recall. But you can google it. Might be worth looking into. Keep searching!!

[sarahsweets]

I am a firm believer that humor helps just about everything.

Thank you both!

I was just wondering because I do like to laugh at comedy movies and funny pics on FB about animals. I watched April the Giraffe for both amusement and laughter at times, but also for the socialization through the web cam chat sessions.

But I also considered the late Robin Williams. It saddened me when he passed away from suicide years ago. He was funny, but I wonder if he performed more than enjoyed laughing. I loved his acting in most films.

Your suggestions and feedback help.

I also think laughter can help! I think it's a good coping skill to utilize! There used to be a Wholesome Memes thread somewhere in the social forum here. You can of course make your own thread here too on funny memes in social. Hopefully ppl would contribute bc laughing is so fun and truly, "the best medicine." There are also threads in the pets forum that are very humorous and all about cute and funny animal memes.

[possum220]

Humor can help with most things. My body has learnt effective but sometimes annoying movement. It may look like I am saying yes or no. It can get me into difficulties. I shared this with my hair dresser and she laughed.

When I first started to dissociate years ago I found it very distressing. Finding the funny side of things helps to ease the frustration that goes with my body doing it's own thing.

I'm trying to think of a joke, but they're all dark humor.

I have liked some shows that were sort of funny, but possibly stigmatizing or triggering, such as MONK.

MONK had an episode where there was a "black widow," and Lt. Disher was injured. Capt. Stottlemeyer (forgot spelling) had Lt. Disher on a bell cart and tried to roll him through the hotel so that he could identify the suspect. During that time, poor Lt. Disher's legs kept hitting various parts of the hotel. Lt. Disher was also in a cast. It was a funny scene, so you'd have to watch it to get the humor. There were many funny scenes in MONK, including Det. Monk. There were also tear-jerking scenes, too. That show helped me get over the trauma of giving my daughter up for adoption.

There was an episode about adoption, which brought tears to my eyes but also laughter. It really helped me.

The series finale was also a good combo of tears and laughter.

Anyway, I cannot think of a joke. I think there's a group here, but the groups here don't allow for replies or emoticon replies like they do here in the general forums. It would be nice to hear a funny joke that isn't so dark. All I can think of are dark jokes, which isn't good.

[nicoleflynn]

I think a sense of humor is imperative in life!

[possum220]

Any kind of humor helps even if it is dark. I think we need humor even more in the dark.

Originally Posted by possum220

Any kind of humor helps even if it is dark. I think we need humor even more in the dark.

Possible TRIGGER: So, my dark humor looks like this: "Mental illness walks into a bar..."

I don't know how to end it, but the fill-in-the-blanks could be endless.

That was my dark humor.

(I don't do bars or drink, but I could see how that is triggering for those with recovery issues, etc. This is why I'm looking for g-rated humor.)

[lizardlady]

The CoffeeHouse s UK bforum in the socisl forum has a bunch of funnies. The Pets subforum, also in social forum, has long running cat and dog humor threads. I use both to cheer myself up.

[TishaBuv]

The other day I was texting with my son about an issue that has me reeling. I was having a panic attack. He texted me this cute meme of Elmo shrugging his shoulders. It made me laugh and lightened my spirits for a bit.

Humor definitely can help if done in the right way.

[happysobercrafter]

Humor?? Absolutely!!! I laugh and roll my eyes at myself every day!

Of course, there are some situations that are not funny, but humor is a wonderful healing satisfying process.And sharing laughs with friends? That's the best to me! I get to do that on here every day with our Coffee and dog and kitty threads. Omg, there are some hysterically funny pictures on there.

Someone mentioned the Nuremberg Trials in another thread and I couldn't help but laugh (not a the person, but at the fact that I didn't know exactly what the Nuremberg Trials were). When I read up on it for a short bit, I then imagined a huge outcry between two different parties, and for some reason that made me laugh. The other thing that made me laugh was when I responded to that person and admitted my ignorance of the Nuremberg Trials, and then I imagined that the person just laughed at me and rolled his/her eyes - which would have been fine since I can handle that kind of feedback, especially when I am self-aware about my ignorance on topics that I wasn't able to pay attention in grade school/high school. I was laughing in my mind at myself with them, even though I have no idea if I upset that person. I've had many friends in real life laugh at my ignorance, which showed me evidence of my inability to concentrate as a child due to my traumas, etc. I can concentrate pretty well, or relatively well considering my use of many therapeutic tools offered to me over the years, but I laugh whenever I come across some topic or phrase that most people know but I don't. It may seem off-putting or sad to others, but to me it is funny because it is an area I can learn and also laugh about. I cry sometimes, too, but I laughed so much about that last night - in private, by myself - that I felt good laughing for a change. It's a strange type of humor, I guess.

PS: I also have an alter I integrated with a while back whose name was Gloria. She was funny, but she also used laughter to avoid painful feelings. I tend to do that now, which isn't good. I should feel saddened by the fact that I don't know certain things that most people do, but I really wanted to laugh and it just came naturally. I hope that was okay for me. I think comedians do this naturally all the time, too. In fact, one of my veteran friends in the past had told me that she thinks I'd make a great sarcastic stand-up comedian. Little did she know that I actually have stage freight. When I won multiple awards at both a community college and at a university, I wanted to get off the stage as soon as I got on it to receive my awards. The Provost/chancellor of the university I had attended even said, while we were on stage, "You don't want this award, do you." His funny remark (he was laughing when he said that) was in response to my taking the award and proceeding off the stage immediately thereafter, which occurred right before someone stopped me at the other end of the stage to push me back to the center of the stage to take a picture with the Provost and others and face the 5,000 students (my peers). I turned red, and my photos turned out funny because of it. My peers whom I knew were all comforting. One gave me a hug. I almost called in sick that day. So, no, I wouldn't make for a great sarcastic comedian at all. I cannot even write a joke let alone tell one. But I love to hear good humor.

It's funny how I was so brave before my military traumas that I was able to get in people's faces and really speak my mind. After the traumas, I felt afraid to be assertive. I could always get on stage with a group of people, but I never wanted to be the center of the stage. Some people dream of it, and when I won the awards and experienced it, I wanted no more to do with the center-stage thing. I felt so exposed. But, the important thing is, I laughed about it, and so did the Provost/chancellor.

[Anonymous42019]

Having a sense of humour is essential for myself, and when the time is right with any of my young patients, my being humorous can be very beneficial to them.

Laughter is music of the heart!