When you are dealing with something like anxiety or stress, the only way you can imagine the presence of laughter and humor in your life is to see it as a temporary distraction from the anxious and stressful thoughts and feelings that seem to dictate the way you see and act in the world. But there are many ways that humor can be a therapeutic tool in your struggle with anxiety.
Anthropologists talk about the role of laughter in the life of individuals and communities. Humor can play a role in reducing conflicts and increase social bonding. Studies show that human babies have a laughter response that shows up as early as four months. Some cultures use laughter in their rituals to initiate newborn into the community. Several years ago, as I was learning how to be a counselor, one of my supervisors shared that one of the diagnostic criteria he used with new clients was to see if there was any hint of a sense of humor. For example, in his work with couples, he new that the therapy was going to be a challenge if there was the absence of smiles, laughter, or any kind of playful banter.
Norman Cousins was a physician who explored the role of laughter in his own life. In his book Anatomy of an Illness, Dr. Cousins was diagnosed with an illness and given only six months to live. He brought a projector into his home and watched Marx Brothers movies, because he thought they were funny. He was amazed to discover that 30 minutes of belly laughter gave him up to two hours relief from pain without anesthesia.
I am not saying that humor is a way to trivialize or minimize your struggle with anxiety and stress. Instead, humor offers another perspective on an experience. You could say that humor turns a situation on its head so you can see it differently. Think about many of the great comedians. Most of them do not tell jokes. Instead, they make observations about simple, ordinary events, and they way they talk about them invites you to experience them in a different, lighter way.
So how can you make laughter a part of your life? The simplest way to do this is just think about what makes you laugh. You might spend some time writing down all the people or activities that lighten your mood, even in some small way. Who makes you laugh? A friend, a coworker, a professional comedian, a TV show or movie, a book? Write down their names and find ways to spend some time with these people or activities. Let’s say you watch a show that really makes you laugh. When the show is over, just stop and feel what is happening in your heart and mind. Do you feel lighter? What do you think that means for your anxiety?
Another way to use humor. Think about some of the things that you spend a lot of time, maybe too much time worrying about. It might be anything from critical comments to bad drivers, from rude or insensitive people to the demands and expectations of others. Write them down, and as you look at them, sense what it is like to notice these things that worry you. How long have they been around? Now, pick one of these moments and see if you adopt a lighter view of it. Create a humorous story about an encounter with a bad driver or a critical comment someone made toward you.
Again, the role of humor is not to distract you from or eliminate the anxiety and stress in your life. But laughter can help you step back and see and experience an anxious or stressful moment differently. If you would like to know more about how to deal with anxiety and stress, I invite you to visit my anxiety treatment page.