Tragicomedy, as a genre, has existed for more than 23 centuries. It paradoxically blends the sad and the funny, proving that things are rarely just black and white. Seriousness as well as absurdity coexist in real life too, and the “Funny and Sad” online community is just one proof of that.
With more than 1 million members, it shares life's moments that are equally as tragic as they are comedic. After all, life can’t always be sunshine and rainbows, and when hardship hits, it can be better to deal with it in a humorous way.
While you’re scrolling through, don’t forget to check out a conversation with Jennifer Toof, LPC, NCC, an expert in trauma and owner of Trauma Informed Counseling & Consulting, who kindly agreed to tell us more about coping with humor.
#1 I'm Sure This Is Just A Coincidence. Nothing To See Here
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#2 Another Chinese Propaganda. /S
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#3 Thank God It's Not The 1920s Anymore... Right...?
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“Humor serves as a defense mechanism, meaning it can be an unconscious psychological response to protect people from feelings of anxiety, threats to self-esteem, and things that they don't want to think about or deal with,” trauma expert Jennifer Toof told Bored Panda.
“So in tragic or sad moments, some people turn to humor to cope, and, since it's unconscious, they may not even realize they are using humor in that way,” she said.
#4 B(
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#5 Wish There Was Hell; Oh Wait We Live In It
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#6 Thanks Aliens
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Dealing with hard times with humor has physical and emotional benefits, according to research. “Laughter releases endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, all of which are associated with improved mood,” explains Toof.
“It also decreases the release of cortisol, the stress hormone, meaning it can make people feel less stressed and more relaxed. Even the act of smiling has been found to release chemicals associated with happiness and stress relief.
Humor can also distract us from things that are overwhelmingly difficult, and it helps us reframe situations, making a potentially scary, sad, or traumatic situation appear less threatening.”
#7 And The Cycle Continues
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#8 Damn Lol
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#9 Modern Problems, Modern Solutions
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Meanwhile, only focusing on the bad things in life can trap us in a loop of anxiety and even self-criticism.
“Negative thinking patterns can include only paying attention to failures and ignoring successes, black or white thinking (e.g., ‘If I get anything less than an A+ on this test, I’m a failure’), labeling oneself based on mistakes (e.g., ‘I’m a loser, an idiot’), [and] mind-reading (e.g., ‘Everyone will think I’m a loser for not getting this promotion’),” said Emma Morton, an expert of psychology, in a previous interview with Bored Panda.
#10 Happens Every Night
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#11 #medicare4all
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#12 Ha Ha Ha Ha Sports
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Despite all the benefits of coping with humor, like any defense mechanism, it can become an issue when it’s overused to avoid dealing with problems, says Toof. “In the short term, after a difficult situation, humor can help someone put distance between themselves and an overwhelming experience, but the underlying trauma will remain there if it's not addressed and resolved.”
#13 The Ideal Utopia, Simply Being Allowed To Be Safe
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#14 American Healthcare
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#15 And Schools
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Another potential downside is the possibility of hurting others. “That is, humor that is inappropriate or at the expense of others can be hurtful and harmful,” explains Toof. “People would be wise to their best judgment about what's appropriate or hurtful when making jokes in front of other people during hard times.”
#16 Yes!!!
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#17 If And Only If You Have A Job In The First Place
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#18 Jesus Was A Pacifist
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Interestingly, many comedians use humor to cope and hide their struggles behind comedy. Like Robin Williams, who prematurely passed away at 63, or like Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, Richard Pryor, and Woody Allen, who spoke or joked about depression and lack of self-worth that followed them in the past or even present.
#19 Us History Is Full Of Darkness
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#20 Oh No!
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#21 Thought This Would Be A Good Reminder For The Super Bowl Coming Up
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One of the earliest psychological studies of comedians, carried out in 1975 by Samuel Janus, found that 80% of them reached out to mental health professionals at some point in their lives. He included a comment in the article saying, “They repeatedly expressed the fear that if they were successful in analysis, to the point where their suffering was greatly relieved, they would then cease to be funny.”
#22 He's Not Even
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#23 That's Why It's Called The American "Dream"
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#24 We Are All Capitalist In Us, Reason We Pee On Corporate Time
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One thing is clear: humor is a great aid in helping us cope with hardships, but jokes alone can't eliminate the issues that plague our lives. As the author of Brain World Magazine perfectly put it, “Laughter may be the best medicine, but it isn’t a perfect medicine.”
#25 ‘Murica ?? ?
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#26 American First vs. Socialism !
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#27 Found On Fb
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#28 Poor, Billionaires
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#29 Very Rare Photos Of The Us Army Seizing The Weapons Of Mass Destruction Of Iraq
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#30 So Many True Words Here
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#31 Let Em Take My Surplus, I Have Freedom
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#32 The Future Of Ai In America
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#33 What's Next? Society Better Wake Up Before Its Too Late
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#34 "Well That Was Antifa"
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#35 Deer Interview
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#36 Pain And Suffering
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#37 People In Us Need Critical Thinking More Than USD
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#38 But Us Is A Free Society
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#39 Customer Service: Hello, We Are Here To Help You
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#40 She Forgor ?
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#41 I Thought I Was Special
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#42 Free If You’re Under A Specified Income
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#43 A Party That Has Drifted Off The Political Spectrum
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#44 Let's Be Honest... Companies Don't Care
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#45 Us Can See Everything, Except A Revolution
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#46 Take A Chill Pill
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#47 I Was Trying To Prepare Your Schedule
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#48 I Know. I Just Need To Work Harder!
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#49 Not Sure If It's Funny Or Sad That Trump's Nfts Sold Out In Just A Day
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#50 Can't Win
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