Attenzione Pickpocket!

Hey kids! I’m back.

Let’s talk more about… drum-roll please… DEPRESSION! yay.

We’re actually talking about fighting it. So… laugh. 

To recap, we have so far discussed Connecting With Your Emotions, Being More Open With Others, Trying to Please Fewer People, Prioritizing Your Needs, plus other exciting things. 

This week, a new idea was born when I went on a three-day business trip. Being away from everyone (*whispers* my lovely family) felt wonderful from the moment I arrived. I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time; like I had no obligations whatsoever. Despite the fact that I was there for work, I felt like I had some much-needed alone time. I felt rejuvenated and energized, and I’m at last alone! 

Given that I worked from 9 to 7 on these three days and then went to see friends who lived there, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time alone. So, on my last day there, I felt unprepared to return to my big, demanding family with all its expectations. I made the decision to delay coming back and gave myself two extra days with the goal of allocating the mornings to my self-improvement plan and the evenings to good times with friends. 

I spent some time with myself and asked myself the required questions about how to slide off this black cloak. I wanted to share some of the answers with you but I believe that depression is a very sensitive topic that is very uniquely tailored to each individual. (I’ll find a way to manipulate you, readers, and slide the answers into totally unrelatable to depression topics in the future. Don’t worry, I gotchu). I’m a big hater of articles and self-help books that “tell you” what you “should” do to get yourself out of it, so I would never do that to you. (at least not in such an obvious approach). 

Therapy I’m a big fan of, so that is the only advice/recommendation I would give here, since it’s not a one-on-one conversation. But choose your therapist, don’t go to the first one you’re recommended, make sure you connect with them. Also, try not to go to an opposite sex therapist. I will not be elaborating on this. 

UGH!!! I really should start working on my intros. Too long, FFB, too long. 

Okayyy lezzgoo.

I came across a very intriguing dilemma in that experience that I would like to share with you, lovely readers. One of the most crucial things I realized I should do is to change my “followings” list on Twitter and Instagram. (I am now in the process of changing things around me to fit what I want to change within). When you’re depressed, a certain type of content pulls you, you can relate to it, laugh at it, and go with it. It quickly turns into supply for your monsters, though. 

As I was going through my lists, I discovered these incredibly hilarious meme accounts that mock and make fun of depression habits and behaviorisms. I LOVE THEM. However, they generally reinforce your negative beliefs and add fuel to the fire. *eyeroll*.

Believe it or not, this was the hardest thing to let go of among the list of things to change in my daily life. (I still haven’t done it). Because the comedy is just unmatched. It made me realize that I will lose a part of me that I REALLY have been enjoying throughout this ride. 

Does depression make you funnier? Why and how? 

In my “research”: (sleepless night thoughts), I came to the conclusion that when you’re at that stage, everything seems so absurd and meaningless that it’s too humorous. Just a month later (now), as I read some of these memes, I laughed yes, but with guilt. That guilt wasn’t here when life was all black and not-dandy, it was just pure comedy. (Is healing a pickpocket of joy? hmmm…)

Now I’m scaWed, because I want to still laugh, but it won’t be my depression I’m laughing at, it’ll be other people’s, which will make me a bad person.

But seriously, what’s the connection between humor and depression? 

We are all aware of the Sad Clown Paradox, right? The Robbin Williams and other comedians who made us all laugh but secretly struggled with depression concept. But since these comedians do it for other people’s amusement, this is not the topic of my question. I want to know why we laugh at things we feel.

We all employ coping mechanisms, so it is obvious that this could be one. The “Daddy went out for milk” jokes. A lot of stand-up comedians also use tragic personal experiences as material for their jokes, Pete Davidson losing his father in 9/11 is one example. These are certainly coping mechanisms. 

Which, incidentally, worsens your perception of yourself. What I mean by “supply for your monsters” is this. These jokes affect your self-image, even if unintentionally, which later exacerbates your anxiety. However, can you just think how many jokes you’d be letting go of? (My FOMO would never. They’re too funny, bruh).

So, my lovely readers, I still haven’t gotten the heart to do it. I want to keep the humor. I don’t want to lose it, ever. But does that mean that I would still hold onto my depression secretly and not heal? Or perhaps I could begin relating these jokes to past experiences? I mean, I’d still be qualified, no? I did go through it. 

I don’t know, tell me what you think. Let’s discuss. My DMs are always open. 

Over&out, 

FFB with a side of problem