Humor and Trauma

Post-traumatic growth and humor: real-life examples of people who’ve used humor after setbacks

On the night of August 3, 2012, comedian Tig Notaro walked onto the stage at the Largo nightclub in Los

The fine line between humor and harm: navigating humor in sensitive mental health contexts
When humor becomes avoidance: using jokes to deflect rather than process
Toxic positivity disguised as humor: when it’s OK not to laugh
Laughter logs or humor diaries: a way for readers to track what makes them laugh and how they feel afterward
Humor challenges: practical prompts at the end of chapters to help readers incorporate humor into their lives
Expert interviews: comedians, therapists, doctors, and researchers weigh in
Real-life stories: first-person narratives of people who credit humor with saving their mental health
Humor in marginalized communities: how humor has been used as a survival tool among BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities.
The ethics of humor: punching up vs. punching down — how to stay funny without harming
Cultural variations in humor: what’s funny in one culture might be taboo in another — and what that means for mental health support
Humor in the workplace: its role in burnout prevention and team morale
Neurodivergence and humor: how people on the autism spectrum or with adhd engage with and use humor differently
Depression and humor: when humor helps, and when it hides pain
Humor and anxiety: How humor can short-circuit the stress response
Social benefits: humor as a bonding tool — reducing loneliness and improving relationships.