Humor as a Coping Mechanism

Written by: Liz Kaspar, PMHNP-BC

Stress;

we all experience it all throughout our lives. From a project or test at school to a health issue or a big project at work. Some stress is healthy for us and motivates to get our projects done, but stress left unchecked can have a negative impact on our bodies and our mental health. For example:

It’s Monday morning, you are getting yourself and your two elementary-aged children ready for the day. You are showered, dressed, kids are dressed, lunches are packed, coffee is in hand and you are walking out of the door to conquer the day. You get to your car and realize that you have a flat tire. You have an important presentation for work today that you cannot miss, the kids still need to get to school, and now your coffee has spilled down the front of your new outfit you got for the presentation. Your normal Monday morning stress has just escalated to a much more elevated level. Cortisol levels have started to rise and you are starting to experience some physical symptoms all in a matter of minutes. 

The American Institute of Stress states that 77% of people regularly experience physical expressions caused by stress that include headaches, dizziness, gut issues, and fatigue (stress.org). Chronic stress can lead to chronic physical and mental health problems. Stress is not an uncommon experience. It is how we manage our stress that changes our relationship with it. 

How do we manage stress?

Scientific research has shown that there is curative power in laughter to include the ability to relieve stress, burnout (nationaltoday.com), and decrease perception of pain. Laughter decreases stress hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol which also have a role in depression, anxiety and insomnia (Mayo Clinic, 2024).

If you’ve seen the film ‘Legally Blonde,’ the main character Elle Woods played by Reese Witherspoon plays a non-stereotypical law student. In the movie, she is in the courtroom defending her client stating, “Exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins makes you happy, happy people don’t kill their husbands.”

When we laugh our hearts, lungs, and muscles are stimulated, our brains reward system is lit up and endorphins are released which are natural pain blockers within our body (MHA, 2024). As you can see, there is therapeutic potential for laughter.National Humor Month was established in 1976 by Larry Wilde because of this evidence. 

Using humor as a coping strategy

“Humor operates as an effective coping strategy to be adopted in the face of stress (Dionigi, Duradoni & Vagnoli, 2023).” During times of adversity and difficulty in our lives, when we can find humor, we are able to cope more effectively. 

Those who can use humor as a coping strategy are more likely to approach stressful situations that come up in life with a more positive perspective and are overall less likely to develop anxiety or mood disturbance (Dionigi, Duradoni & Vagnoli, 2023). Humor as a coping mechanism develops a protective factor around the individual allowing them to more effectively cope with stress. 

What is your humor style?

What do you find funny? Do you like to watch a comedy special on T.V.? A comedy movie? Do you listen to a certain podcast? Or do you find humor in having conversations with those who are close with? Maybe it’s a video of an animal doing something cute or silly.

Whatever it is, knowing what will get you laughing is the first step to using humor as a coping mechanism. 

Humor tips/ideas

Now you know what you find funny, what brings laughter out of you and a smile that makes your eyes crinkle and your face light up. Finding your funny and incorporating that Humor into your daily life will allow you to use that humor when significant stressors come up in life. 

Can you “schedule” a laugh?

When stress starts increasing, can you pause and find humor? 

“Laughing is like taking a deep breath and bringing everything back down to earth (NAMI,2020).”