Therese:
First of all, it’s the wrong link for Doug Duncan — and since I’ve met him a couple of times, I really would like to read that article!!
Anyway, on Colbert … even though he started out as Jon Stewart’s protege, I’m beginning to think he may be even more talented (if that’s possible). And it’s interesting (as the Fr. Martin interview showed — there are also a couple of YouTubes of him with David Kuo I need to check, as I’m not, sadly, a regular COAL-BEAR RAY-POUR viewer) that the right-wing pundit bit isn’t ALL an act, though the non-act part is more a Jim Wallis compassionate Christianity than from the Religious Right.
Yes, humor is an essential part of the toolkit. And in more ways than one — it’s also a thermometer for where I’m at emotionally before I even realize. I know I’m feeling good when my humor is sardonic — wry observations about flawed human nature that aren’t, however, nasty. I’m not feeling so good when I’m brutally sarcastic, verbally tearing down everyone and everything unlucky enough to cross my path.

I guess you could say, it is like coming out of the closet, letting people know you are a depressive. Sometimes the facade of being happy and smiling is toooooooo much.
Mental illness is still treated by normal people…as being crazy?
Thanks to your website, I m making it through each day…one at a time Thanks…Deb

Yes!! Humour is the glue that holds my fractured soul together! It pleases me to know that I am in good company. I have long suspected the connection between comedians and the ability to make an otherwise painful situation downright funny. It would seem also that some actors have the ability to turn-on emotions at either end of the spectrum at will. I would guess many of them suffer from bi-polar to some extent. Brilliance and believibility come with a high price tag sometimes.

When I was first diagnosed (mistakenly IMHO as bipolar, the mental picture I had was one with Robin williams on one end and Judy Garland on the other. I’ve since discovered (at least in my own case) that in spite of my respect for Judy’s musical talent, I’m happier when Robin Williams is visiting. One caveat: By turning our pain into humor we run the risk of belittling our pain (And I, for one, AKREADY do a crackerjack job of belittling myself, thank you very much. I agree with Larry that humor can at times be “nasty and abraDing, and when we turn that particular kind of humor on ourselves, it can become just another way of belittling our inner children and nourishing our inner critics. Dangerous, shark infested waters!

I think my spectrum is from Will Rogers to some b*stard clone of Don Rickles and Andrew Dice Clay …

Wow , Thank-you.
It’s like getting a breath of fresh air after being in a smoke filled room!
I am a bipolar. I have days where everything is funny and days where death would be a welcomed gift.I try so hard to find the middle but as you well know it is not easy.It really helps knowing that I am not alone in my CONSTANT struggle. thank you again

I like the idea of humour. It never occured to me to see the funny side of my condition because i take it so seriously. I have to learn to laugh at my feelings perhaps that will make things better. Its not easy. Thanks for the idea Therese. Am still going through a bad patch….waiting for things to lighten up a bit. I wish i was just like other people who find things so easy to do that are an effort for me.

Thanks for writing this, I have been a damaged good too. The funny part being, more than me others were afraid of my accepting what I was going through or not going through. The silly part was/is people have sympathy but no compassion and understanding. I still can laugh from the heart.
When anybody says she is out of her mind or lost it. I say thank you God if I am out of mind I am doing something good, being good because at that moment I am putting my goodness into better action. If I have lost it.Then someone might be in possession of my mind , but no use it wont work the way for the person as it does when it is with me.

Stephen Colbert is a gift to society.
If only all of us could have our own “ephiphany,” wouldn’t the world be a better place for sure?!

It’s finally okay to talk seriously about depression and other mental illnesses, in particular, bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed 24 years ago, and people didn’t really talk about it. Having freedom to discuss it with family , friends, and others who may be suffering has really helped me in my daily struggle. Thank you

Thank you for reminding us to use the best medicine in the world: Laughter!!!
As a survivor of my sisters’ violent death 16 years ago, as well as being blessed with SAD which mimics Bi Polar in the winter, I could not have done the necessary ‘grief work’ without the accompanyment of my ‘humor therapy’ program.
The first book I read was Norman Cousins’ “Anatomy of an Illness” which helped me to cope with my daily distress. After many authors, speakers, movies, I as well wrote a book of how humor saved my life! This was no joking matter; yet the dichotomy of misery and humor is!
I developed a program using humor to de-stress, and have a ‘humor library’ which I use daily, in my home.
“When Nothing Is Funny, We Need Humor Most” Maureen Joy 10/22/07

HUMOR IS OUR BEST FRIEND – TEMPER OUR WORST ENEMY!!!!!!
(Being a cognitive leader for over 30 years, if we could laugh at our mistakes and not take ourselves so serious, this is a good tool for life) I think sometimes we try to be toooo perfect, if we are just good average people, that is so much better for us and others. Exceptionality is too painful and only God is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is nice to know I am not alone about losing someone dear to me. It is nice to know how to handle the sadness and turn it into a different direction. I was given an email that sparked a note with sadness but instead of concentrating on the depressing term I innocently looked further to see what the email was about and discovered if I had deleted it I would not know what the message was about.
So it is like I said nice to turn what was suppose to be sad into a positive up beat way of thinking.

I was so surprised when Therese wrote about Stephen Colbert’s article in Parade Magazine.
I, too, read “his story” and was moved to tears by his losses, a father and two brothers, how he felt and lived in “fear” for so many years.
What struck me so remarkably was his paraphrasing of worry from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in fact, it struck me “right between the eyes” as it did Stephen.EUREKA! I memorized it, went to my room where I spend a great deal of my time and looked at the picture of Jesus on my bureau and then began to repeat His words over and over again concerning “Worry”.
It’s been many years since I read His “Sermon on the Mount”, His wisdom and humanity, all that He verbalized through his 33 years on this earth again “struck home.” I knew that these words were meant for me to hear over and over so I repeat them everyday.
Stephen Colbert is a wonderful man, and by trying to banish his “fear” with his humor has been granted an “epiphany”. Again, I say “humor” is the key to diminishing and lessening a great deal of the darkness and despair that so many of us are burdened with, deal with, despair with, hope with, cry with…
For, as he said: ” you cannot feel fear when you are laughing.”
God bless you, Stephen Colbert, for you found the “key” to helping you cope with fear and I am trying so hard to apply the same.

Just read your article on laughter and depression. I’m stunned…I thought I was the only one in the world who lived daily with the wish to die and get rid of the pain. It isn’t that we don’t want to live… we just don’t want to live in the mental/emotional torment of our minds for the next 60 or so years. There is no pain like it, and no pill will fix it. No one can comprehend it’s depths unless they too suffer from it. I am a born again Christian and have been for the last 30 years. If it were not for God giving me a reason, and hope for the future, I would not be here now. Now I know I am only one of MANY; there are others just like me hurting, suffering, wanting to die, afraid to take that step for fear there is nothing better waiting. Thank Jesus Christ for delivering me from that desire, and thank God for people like you who are willing to step forward and say “Yeah, I’m one of them”. God bless you all.

I would have loved to read this article.
It all boils down to fear, and turning it into comedy, so that you can laugh instead of cry—which is how Colbert describes the lesson of the Sermon on the Mount:
However, everytime I click on the lesson of the Sermon on the Mount, I get this message: The webpage cannot be found
What’s up with that?

NO, I just want to read this article.
What did I do wrong?

God bless you and more power to you. You are an inspiration to so many people.

What a great article to share with people. Laughter truly is one of the healing balms that god has given us. Many years ago, someone taught me to laugh when I was afraid. It has made all the difference! Laughter breaks up ineficient brain wiring. A very wise person once told me ” If you ever meet someone who claims to be enlightened and they’re not funny, they’re not really englightened”.

I am learning to relax and be nice and it is amazing how people respond.
Flickerings of self-destruct remain but someone told me once “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”. Is life a gift or burden? truly we don’t know but is is I think what our attitude allows. Releasing my desire to control and my fears certainly permits me to at a minimum to tolerate life and often now I enjoy it. The human comedy is actually just that.

Back in the and around 2000 in the Boston area I was helping to organize support group meetings for clergy abuse victims (I’m a survivor). From all the telephone calls that I received as well as those who shared their experiences at the support groups I started to realize that we were all one big justifiable pitty party.
As the heat on this issue increased I would often insist that some go to the movies to view a comedy. The ones that did would comment on how it help them greatly. Others preferred to stay in their dark life narrative.
As time moved on I noticed that a group of survivors emerged from the sad sacks. These survivors turned into the most fun people to hang around. They all had their dark stories but they preferred laughter to crying.

Loved the article — I think I know now why I was drawn to my huband of almost 20 years– he makes me laugh !

As someone diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, and being told by different people,(reguarding my manic and depressive eppisodes,) that I MUST be bi-polar, I can relate to Stephen Colbert. I too, have been through many traumatic events in my 48 years; been hospitalized and sedated and put on many different prescribed medications for my anxiety and depression.
Yes, I too, have tried to commit suicide. But my Higher Power, (Jesus Christ), has put me here for a reason and I do my best to keep that thought in mind on my worst days.
Humor is indeed the best medicine, in combatting the deppressive moments in a day, week, month, or year. I try to surround myself with positive people. I find that very attractive in a person, as a single female.
At first, I was shocked to read that Owen Wilson had tried to commit suicide, but I am gratified that he is still here with us and will continue to make us laugh.
My thanks to all of you people, that are comedians and actors, put on this earth to tickle our “funny bone”. Good luck and God bless every one of you!

I love Colbert’s comment on loving “damaged people”. I never thought of it that way but now I realize I’ve always liked damaged people too. Although I’m happy for those souls that have had for the most part an untouched life (free from abuse, depression, etc). I feel “damaged” souls have so much more to say. I think it’s mostly because of all we have learned. Having an alcoholic father and therefore growing up to become a depressed and co-dependent young adult I’ve also become a compassionate, understanding, and emotionally supportive individual to friends and family.
It is ironic too that I’ve had the most “damaged” childhood in comparison to other family members and friends but I’m the funny one or the “Entertainer” as they call me. I think I’m funny because all those things that others see as downers for the day, aren’t really too bad for me. I always tell myself it could be a lot worse. I’ve experienced it! lol.
Now I’m happy to say I’m finally half way through that dark tunnel and I’m able to see the light at the other end. I figure things can’t get any worse from now on because I’ve learned so much from my experiences and am STILL learning about myself and about effectively dealing with my issues.
Thank you VERY much for your article. Best wishes! Like a chinese proverb says: “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

I loved this article…I grew up with my father always saying to me, “Mary Lou, why can’t you be a normally girl?” (My dad was an immigrant who came to this country in ’47.) And I would reply “I don’t know, Papa!!” I truly love to laugh. Woody Allen was my sex symbol from 16-27. I had picures of him all over my room…the first man I slept with looked just like his Wanted Poster photo from “Take the Money and Run”. I loved the line in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” when the detective asked Jessica Rabbit what she saw in Roger and she replied “He makes me laugh” that certainly is my answer to life’s persisitent questions…so I look for humor in my own situation and so appreciate those who bring that light of laughter to the world. Blessings to all who laugh and can create laughter with their being.

I have been through child abuse, being adopted and molested by the adoptive father, spouse abuse and so much more. Several years ago I had a simple acl repair to my knee. The doctors had a problem during surgery and did not bother to let my regular doctors know. To make a long story short I almost lost my leg and my life.
But what my doctor and the staff at my usual hospital could not understand was my willing to laugh and make jokes. I put it in very simple terms.
I have had all the tears I can cry and I am tired of it. But fun and laughter works. There is no room for pity when your laughing, no meanness to staff and the world seems a much happier place.
The only problem I did have was I was cracking so many jokes the doctors did not realize how much pain I was truly in. But oh well, the joke was on them. I recovered and still have my wonderful sense of humor.

While I’m aware that laughter & humor can be good for lifting the spirit, laughter, prayer, positive thinking, self love, all that good stuff, and it is good stuff. But it cannot cure serious clinical depression any more than it can cure cancer, diabetes, heart trouble, or any physical condition. It can offer great healing. But serious depression must be treated by professionals, with medication, therapy, or a combination. Our society needs to be aware that depression is a serious illness and must be taken seriously and treated seriously. It is not a condition that can be willed away. I appreciate all the testimonials here, but I want people to know that depression is widespread and needs to be treated as any other illness.

There are too many “I”s. Who is speaking? Which voice is whose? I cannot follow the writer’s intent, since I don’t know who is speaking.
DottieTy

I’ve had a few near death experiences in my life and each time I’ve found myself laughing hysterically. One example was a time I was in a small sailboat near Cape Cod with no wind to propel me while a huge ferryboat bore down on me. There wasn’t a thing I could do and my friend on the boat (who relied on me for my sailing expertise) implored me to GET SERIOUS. I couldn’t. We lived to talk about it. He now laughs about it. The old adage “tragedy plus time equals humor” applies to him and most people, but I have a chronological disorder. I cut out the middleman, in this case the middleman is time. I’ll probably die laughing and since no one gets out of here alive: What a way to go!

How many times have we all been laughing at something, and someone has said “there’s something wrong with you”!Suprize, your right.The only problem is, we all knew it for a long time but didn’t tell. We just laughed.Isn’t it a sad thing that everyone else looks to us to lighten the situation with humor.I love to laugh, as long and often as possible.I love to see people laugh.During the dark moments of thoughts of taking my own life,there was a point where I laughed and thought to myself,what a ride it has been!I had it all planned, but I was late!Thank God I took out that extra time to find the humor.

I so agree with the statement: “If we didn’t laugh, we’d all go insane”! I use laughter and humor to get through every single day. My life has been easy compared to some, but still has had it’s shares of ups and downs. I usually come across and pretty centered…if only some of those people knew how many times I cried till I couldn’t cry anymore! I hope everyone who has a “sad” moment can find some joy or humor in it and get on with their life. Laughter is only the best medicine if there is someone there to share the laughter with. What a blessing it is to have both!

Hello,
This is good stuff, laughing. What you need to do, as I have suffered with this off and on for years is to figure out what makes you happy.Keep a happiness journal to determine what does the trick. Noone ever knew me at school. I couldn’t bring anyone home because of my fathers violent outbursts although back then people just looked the other way and that a man was just making his woman, equated with children, mind. As far as friends go when you have o6thers involved in your life they steal from you, things just come up missing or they are all up in your business and watching people dying and holding their hand when they pass and knowing that no other could experience this as most people avoid death and dying and avoid those with infirmities, and CHKD children some have never been outside the hospital or had anyone visit them and at christmas time the parking lot is empty.

Commenting on the previous statement about the parking lot being empty on Christmas. When I was in the hospital for emergency surgery a while back the time in included Christmas Day. One of the most helpful thoughtful things was when a group of hospital employees came down the hall singing carols …Gosh they sounded so good and was so appreciated as I never had missed Christmas services and programs…but they delivered. Also, the family members (inlaws even) also came by on one of the busiest days of the year…it was all so nice to be included – not left out. Felt blessed!! So I am looking for who will be in the hospital this year and make time to visit them!
-CC

I love Stephen Colbert. He’s been through so much and he’s been able to rise above it all, to bring laughter to and reassure so many. I’ve been grappling with depression too, and people like him are the best remedy, that attitude…They remind you that it’s futile to wallow or live in fear, or let your pain control you, that you’ll be missing out on life if it gets the better of you. I really respect a person who can acknowledge their fear, pain, and sorrow and not shut out laughter or life but embrace both. Massive respect to Mr. Colbert, and your brilliant post

Indeed interesting article you have here. I’d like to read a bit more about that matter. Thanks for giving that material.
Grace SANCHEZ