Laughter Soothes the Pain

Why Comedians Frequently Suffer from Mental Illness

Did you know that the world famous Laugh Factor Comedy Club in Hollywood has an in house psychologist?

It doesn’t come as any huge surprise when you take a look at some of the best comedians in the world and their own personal mental health struggles. Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Sarah Silverman and Ellen DeGeneres are just a few who have been open about their struggle with depression and mental illness.

Why though choose a career in comedy, when typically depression and symptoms of depression leave one wanting to withdraw from exposing themselves to the criticism and critiquing of others?

Patton Oswald, a popular comedian has said “A lot of comedians are people that are very introverted, very shy, very sensitive to humiliation. The only way to combat it is to go to the one place where you are stripped bare.”

It reminds me of a story my dad told me about handling his stutter in elementary school that kids used to tease him mercilessly about, sometimes making him feel like he just didn’t want to try anymore. He started making fun of himself and his stuttering before other kids had the chance to, he brought himself into the joke and therefor by laughing at himself regained his personal power and took away the ability from other kids to hurt him.

Perhaps by exposing your deepest insecurities, your most raw moments on stage in front of an audience that you somehow take back some of your own personal power.

One of my favorite comedians Dan Soder who was a part of the most recent Netflix special The Standups frequently engages in this type of comedy while performing frequently putting himself down as a loser stoner guy who watched movies alone all day and never has sex. He is saying what he knows the audience is thinking before they get the chance to, thereby reclaiming his personal power. It’s kind of tragically beautiful if you think about it.

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