COMEDY AND LAUGHTER (It's Abilities and Inability) Part 2 ~ Precious Victor Akah

Why are some comedians and comediennes neck-deep in depression even though they're more opportune to attend comedy shows, and laugh more often than anyone else? Aren't they supposed to LAUGH AWAY their SORROWS?

Comedy can often be a defensive posture against depression,” said Deborah Serani, a clinical psychologist who treats performers with depression and other mental health problems.

Dr. Michael Clarke, the vice chairman for clinical affairs in the department of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said, "Many comedians tend to be depressed because they are trying to get out of their dark world by being funny,” 

Let's consider the lives of some popular comedians around the world who died by suicide as a result of depression:

• In 2014, Robin Williams, an American Comedian, committed suicide by hanging at the age of 63. The comedian had suffered from depression throughout much of his adult life in addition to alcoholism.

 

• Swedish comedian Micke Dubois committed suicide by hanging in 2005, at the age of 46.

 

• In 2013, Shinji Maki, a Japanese Comedian, committed suicide by jumping from a bridge at the age of 78.

 

• In 2008, Richard Kemble Marsland (an Australian comedy writer and comedian) committed suicide in his car at the age of 32. His parents said their son had suffered depression and attempted suicide about 10 years ago but few people knew. He recovered after extensive counselling and had been "happy and in control" ever since. But professional and personal difficulties in 2008, including a relationship break-up, wore down his coping mechanisms. He relapsed and reached his lowest ebb in October 2008, telling his parents he felt "lonely and alone". And on December 6, same year, he took his life.

 

• Ray Cameron, a Canadian comedian, shot himself in a Hollywood apartment in 1993.

 

• 48 year-old American stand-up comedian, Brody Stevens, on February 22, 2019 took his life by apparent hanging due to age-long depression.

 

• Richard Jeni (American stand-up Comedian) fatally shot himself in 2007, at the age of 49. Earlier that year, he had been "diagnosed with severe clinical depression coupled with bouts of psychotic paranoia."

And so many others....

Dear reader, if you're in sorrow, pain or anguish, don't resort to watching comedies to heal your heavy heart. It won't be of much help. It's not helping comedians, so it can't help you either. It can't provide the deep, permanent healing you need and seek. 

Most comedians will honestly tell you that their one and only goal is to make you laugh. So does it then make sense when you resort to watching comedies to erase or heal from any pain of the heart you may have? Of course it doesn't. Because you'll never get what you're seeking to get. Comedy was strictly meant to make you laugh not to erase any pain you feel. 

But, we have SOMEONE who can provide the healing of the heart you need: JESUS CHRIST. He actually said, "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Psalm 147:3 speaking about Jesus says, "He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and their sorrow]." 

Did someone hurt you terribly or broke your heart, and you're filled with deep sorrow, don't seek comfort in comedy, let Jesus heal your heavy heart first, then you can watch clean comedies, not for healing, but for fun.

Did you lose your job for no good reason and you're filled with pain for being treated unjustly? Let Jesus heal your heart and fill it with joy.

If you have a heavy heart or are dealing with depression or sorrow of any kind, don't run to comedy, run to Jesus.

Come to Jesus today and He'll heal your heart of all sorrows and fill your life with joy. Expose that wound to Jesus and let His healing power rest on it. Take that sorrow to Jesus in prayer and exchange it with His joy. 

Come to Jesus in repentance and total surrender if you're not born again. After being born again, eat (feed on) God's Word. God's Word is a source of joy. You can't eat it and remain sorrowful. Eat enough and live a sorrow-free life. 

Also, you have the Holy Spirit living in you as a child of God. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy. As long as you do and are doing what pleases the Holy Spirit by keeping God's Word and instructions, He'll ensure your heart, mind and life is filled with joy.

Remain blessed.

Check out Part 1 of this post. 

COMEDY AND LAUGHTER (It's Abilities and Inability) Part 1