Shirah Vollmer MD
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This blog describes the thoughts of a practicing analytically trained psychiatrist.
Disclaimer: all patients mentioned in this blog are fictional composites created to highlight an issue.
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Shelly Tannenbaum said
It’s good if we can laugh at ourselves, but not if people stigmatize those suffering with anxiety. As an example, Jews can call each other “Kikes” without offending one another, but let a Gentile call a Jew a “Kike” and it brings on a whole other meaning. To say to someone, “After years of therapy….you must miss your suffering!” would be horribly offensive, wouldn’t it?
Dr. Vollmer said
Humor is a complicated experience, and one which I am endlessly fascinated with. The ability to laugh at one’s neurosis is a very adaptive coping skill, but at the same time, as you say, humor so depends on both the speaker and the audience. I agree that when we are dealing with raw experiences, making light is in very bad taste, but as the experience or the pain has time to set in, then there is an opportunity for laughter, which then in turn, eases the pain. Thanks, as always, for chiming in.