Even as an African living in the diaspora, events of the last two weeks are more than enough to keep any sane person in a state of perpetual despair. From the killing of peaceful protesters in Nigeria to more stories of forced child labour and killings in the Democratic Republic of Congo to updates from Namibia regarding their own peaceful protests, there was almost nothing on the continent to inspire joy. Add to this list the gruesome murder of French professor Samuel Paty, anxiety on the upcoming US presidential election and the announcement that, without doubt, a second wave of Coronavirus infections is currently gripping the US and some parts of Europe, and it seems like the world is now in a state of constant madness.
But we cannot stop laughing, even when there is nothing to be mirthful about. As Nigerians all over the world are confronting a reality that is worse than what they had previously thought, people are looking as though they are finding humour in the dark events around us to the consternation of many. It is not out of place to see comments on social media like, “what is funny?” “Why do you find this funny?” “We play too much in this country!”
Yet, the people who have chosen laughter may be on to something.
According to this New York Times article, humour is not just a distraction from the grim reality of the crisis, it’s a winning strategy to stay healthy in the face of it. Says Dr. Michael Miller, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore that the article featured, “Heightened stress magnifies the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Having a good sense of humour is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety and bring back a sense of normalcy during these turbulent times.”
He also explains that laughter releases nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels, reduces blood pressure and decreases clotting. An epidemiological study from Japan confirmed that those who tend to laugh more have a lower risk of major cardiovascular illness, while another study from Norway revealed that possessing a healthy sense of humour is also associated with living longer, although the correlation appears to be stronger for women than for men.
Based on these studies and many more, Dr. Miller prescribes “one good belly laugh a day” for his patients. It’s not just going “ha, ha,” he explained, but a “deep physiological laugh that elicits tears of joys and relaxation.”
But just in case you are still not convinced that Dr. Miller’s prescription would do you any good, George Bonanno, a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University, offers a more persuasive perspective. According to him, possessing a sense of humour also helps people remain resilient in the face of adverse circumstances. In studying the facial expressions of sexually abused young women who he interviewed, Dr. Bonanno notes, “Those who managed to laugh or smile at moments during their interview were more likely to be doing better two years later than those who had not. Humour keeps negative emotions in check and gives us a different perspective, allowing us to see some of the bad things that happen to us as a challenge rather than a threat.”
Megan Werner, a psychotherapist in private practice also agrees. “Most of the time you try to deflate a painful situation,” she said. “In my therapy work, it’s more like ‘let’s blow it up, let’s make it so absurd that we laugh about it.’ This releases anxiety, and we’re able to approach the topics that weren’t approachable initially. It takes the power away from the trauma and helps to defuse it.”
But be careful: humour is a wonderful therapeutic tool, and one that, when used well, will give you the strength to face dark times. However, it can easily become a tool for further abuse. Sometimes, humorous pieces are a concealed way of perpetuating abuse, promoting harmful stereotypes, bullying others into silence, or minimising other people’s pain to suit your own narrative. To avoid laughing at the expense of others, always practice mindful empathy. A good joke should not take forever to be understood, but reading in between the lines or reading the room should give you a good idea of whether you should burst out into laughter, or rein in your humour.
So, what are you waiting for? Laugh at something today. It does not mean that you are not in pain or have no sympathy for others who are grieving currently. Neither does it mean that the events of the past week have not affected you. However, laughter may be what you need now to gather strength for an uncertain future and gain clarity on the next step to take.
