Humour: Do Some People Use Humour As A Defence Mechanism?

There are a number of things that make life easier to handle on this planet, and being able to laugh is one of them. This ability serves a similar purpose to oil; it allows life to flow that little bit easier.

Without oil, a machine would soon end up seizing up, but while the world probably wouldn’t come to a standstill without laughter, it certainly wouldn’t be the same. Instead, it would be like living a life that is in black and white.

A Gloss

Being able to laugh, then, will be what gives life that bit of extra sparkle. So, let’s say that someone is experiencing a fair amount of stress; they will be able to watch something that will help them to relax.

This could be a live comedy show or it could be a series, but it will still be something that allows them to have a good laugh. Their brain will end up releasing feel-good chemicals during this time.

Another Option

Alternatively, one could end up reaching out to a certain friend who usually makes them laugh. Not only could this person make them laugh but, when they get together, both of them could end having a good laugh.

They will then appreciate being with the other person and they will be able to release a lot of tension and to loosen up in their presence. Every other part of their life could fade into the background, allowing them to be fully present.

Weighed Down

If they were to simply sit with their stress and didn’t reach out in this way, it would be a lot harder for them to handed life. The lubrication that laughter provides to their being wouldn’t be there, which would most likely set them up to feel tight and tense.

They could end up feeling even more stressed and they may find that certain symptoms start to appear. For example, they might find that they end up getting headaches, back problems and/or that their stomach hurts, for instance.

It’s Not a Panacea

Now, this is not to say that having a good laugh will solve everything; there will be times when one will need to do far more than this. Naturally, if one had a serious problem in their life and simply laughed about it, it wouldn’t solve anything.

This area of their life would probably end up getting worse and, the sooner they get serious about it, the sooner something can be done about it. So, as with any tool, there will be a time when it has a purpose and a time when it doesn’t.

A Destructive Influence

In addition to laughing when it is time to be serious, using humour during the same moments can be just as harmful. When this takes place, it will be as though someone doesn’t want to face something.

Laughing or using humour will then a way of them to create space between themselves and what it is that they don’t want to acknowledge. It will be like they are putting a blanket over something that they don’t want to see.

A Defence

This is likely to be something that will take place without one even being aware of what they are doing. It is then not that one has consciously chosen to avoid something; it is merely something that just happens.

Through doing this, it will enable them to avoid how they feel at a deeper level. If they were to no longer laugh or to put their humour to one side, they could end up feeling very uncomfortable.

Protection

Ultimately, this will be their minds way of keeping them alive, and this can be seen as a good thing. What is not good about this approach, however, is that it can stop them from being able to change a certain area of their life and to grow.

It this case, it will be essential for them to gradually become aware of what they are trying to avoid. To do this, they may need to reach out for external support – support that will allow them to go where they haven’t been able to go by themselves.

A Deep Wound

If one has the tendency to laugh and/or to use humour whenever it is necessary for them to be serious, there is the chance that they are carrying trauma. Over the years, a number of layers may have been formed over this trauma.

Due to this, they may not be able to go into their body and to instantly connect with what they are trying to avoid. Like any kind of mining, they will need to chip through a few layers until they can find exactly what they are looking for.

Way Back

They may find that this trauma relates to something that took place during their adult years, or they may find that it goes back even further. If it goes back to their early years, it could have been something that completely overwhelmed their system.

And, as they were unable to integrate the experience, they had to split-off a part of themselves instead. This would have stopped them from being able to operate as a whole human being.

Awareness

If one can relate to this, and they want to become a more integrated human being, they may need to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by the assistance of a therapist or a healer.