I'm currently in therapy for depression. My therapist has given me some homework; she wants me to go to some comedy clubs. Does this make sense to you? -- D.G., Irvine, Calif.
Absolutely it makes sense. Laughter heals.
Humor finds its origins in the Latin umorem, meaning "fluid, moisture." In ancient and medieval times, human temperament was thought to be determined by the changing proportions of the body's four fluids: blood, phlegm, choler and melancholy. Today, modern science knows better. But still, the idea of humor as fluid is a fun metaphor. Because humor makes us "fluid." Humor is the "hydraulics" of living well.
Amusement is the inspiration of creative distraction, and the word "amusement" finds its birth in the Greek myth of the Muses, nine sister goddesses regarded as the inspirers of learning and the arts. To the goddess Thalia was attributed the inspiration of comedy. We can behold the great mysteries and tragedies of life (pathos) for only so long before we begin to take ourselves far too seriously. It is then that, quite literally, we require some comic relief.
The pursuit of humor does not mean that everyone should become a comedian. Humor is not necessarily about telling jokes; humor has more to do with the ability to notice the "jokes" going on all the time, within us and around us. Good humor brings the absurdity of life and the folly of being human into the light of day.
Physiologically, laughter is a rhythmic movement of the diaphragm cleansing the lungs of unexpelled carbon dioxide and other toxins, stimulating the release of endorphin. This is especially important for depressed patients, D.G., because depressed patients usually exhibit "depressed breathing" (shallow breathing). The rhythmic movement of laughter forces us to breathe deeply and efficiently. Exercise does something similar.
Note that this rhythmic movement is virtually identical when we cry. Actually, laughter and crying have a lot in common in terms of physical and psychological benefit. In the face of outrageous circumstance, pick one.
Well-placed humor is a delightful way to create psychological safety in relationships. Humor is a great ally in dispelling exaggerated fear, insecurity, self-consciousness and other such debilitating -- and optional! -- baggage as we often drag through life.
Laughter is both a sign that an emotional or spiritual wound is healed and a way to begin the healing. Even deep social wounds -- injustice, bigotry, violence -- can find the path of healing illuminated by laughter.
Laughter puts needed distance between us and our self-absorption. It returns to us a sense of power in overwhelming circumstance. Part of good humor is noticing what is ludicrous and amusing in us, and so laughter is a path to humility.
Laughter pries us open in a way nothing else can. It lets us see ourselves clearly. It makes our hearts pliant and open to change. Laughter banishes shame and ushers in hope and celebration. Then, anything can happen.
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. It is a universal human phenomenon.
Author Norman Cousins (1915-1990) wrote the 1979 book "Anatomy of an Illness" chronicling his 1964 battle with a life-threatening form of arthritis. Cousins chose to fight the disease with mega-doses of vitamin C ... and laughter. He watched Marx Brothers films.
Cousins was convinced that laughing bolstered his immune system and lessened pain. He writes, "I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep," he reported. "When the pain-killing effect of the laughter wore off, we would switch on the motion picture projector again and not infrequently, it would lead to another pain-free interval."
Laugh, D.G. Your therapist is right.
Steven Kalas is a behavioral health consultant and counselor at Clear View Counseling Wellness Center in Las Vegas and the author of "Human Matters: Wise and Witty Counsel on Relationships, Parenting, Grief and Doing the Right Thing" (Stephens Press). Contact him at skalas@reviewjournal.com.
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