I think a real distinction should be made between happy and funny/laughing all the time. People that seem happy, they usually are. They might be hiding it, but usually they find other ways of deflecting their pain/sadness than simply pretending to be happy.
The funniest of people, these are MUCH more likely to be the depressed ones. They have a desire to be funnier and funnier to fill an emotional void. They tell every joke to feel the emotional connection to happiness, but they are never really happy. A joke is just a joke, it doesn't solve problems in your life or make the depression go away. It's a mental pain killer, and often times the reason they are so funny is because they are addicted to that emotional "high" that they don't know how else to get. It's the only way they know how to cope, but it's horribly ineffective as a long term solution.
Funny people aren't happy just because they are smiling. Happiness is a state of being, a status of life. Being funny is an action that produces a similar emotional response, but is only a temporary fix.
Most people use humor as a way to boost their spirits so that they can operate at a much more reasonable basis. It's hard to make rational productive decisions when you're sad. You refer to comedy and laughing as a temporary release to get you out of that slump so that you can effectively engage in your other coping techniques like hanging out with friends, talking about problems, participating in hobbies, making necessary life changes, etc. Some people use humor as their permanent solution, taking it no further.
It's like the guy who gets in a care accident. He uses pain killers enough to get through that initial unbearable pain. Then he eases off them and goes to physical therapy, group sessions, etc. until he's better. A guy who's an addict uses the pain killers to get through the day, because everyday is unbearable pain, just not physical. Humor is the same way. Some use it to help them, others use it because they can't deal. They tend to be so good at it because they get so much practice, and they need it to work. They need the joke to be perfect because if nobody laughs, the joke is like a pain killer that was replaced with a placebo.
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Greg Giraldo, John Belushi, Chris Farley...
All funny men who died too soon, because of the dark side of life. And a lot of drugs.
Patton Oswalt has a funny bit about his depression, and the glee it expresses when he goes off his meds. It's like a little dog when his owner is getting ready to take it for a walk - first the shoes go on, then he reaches for the leash, and by the time he's walking over to it, the dog is doing flips. Depression does the same thing when we go off the Wellbutrin, or whatever. "Oh boy! We're going to get to hang out in a bath robe for two weeks straight, and stop shaving!"
I think most people who feel a bit deeper experience the highs and lows, alternately. Hell, look at all the bipolar diagnoses going around right now. Next year, we'll all be borderline, or ADHD again, or whatever the pharmaceutical reps can lobby into the shrinks' heads the most. link
'Happiest/funniest people are usually the saddest/depressed?'
For starters I want to say:
1.It's true that there are many fun and happy people out there that hide inside many problems,but that doesn't actually mean they are depressed,or sad.
2.People that are (and show it outside) depressed and sad don't nessesary have that many problems,or that severe problems.They just let their problems bring them down.
3.If a person lets his problems bring him down , he can't hide it with laughter or jokes. After some time he can't hide it anymore. (And usually, you can't even smile for starters)... Or that's what I believe,because I have tried many times to hide behind a smile when my problems had bring me down. And even if I tricked people, after a while I couldn't keep up the act.
My best friend's dad is abusive,he hits and insults her and her mom, he doesn't work so she and her mother work all day to pay everything, and when they get home he takes money from them and go to drink and to hook up. Her grandparents whom she loved died recently too. And these are only the family problems.
But when you see her you would never suspect she suffers inside. She is the kind of girl that's always cheerful and stuff and you rarelly see her sad or depressed.
It's not that she's fake.She's actually trying not to let things get her down,because she will most probably get crazy. It's not that she doesn't care either. These things hurt her .
Many people have problems that they keep inside.That doesn't mean they pretend,nor that they are miserable.They just learnt that you have to be strong so that these kind of things don't bring you down , and they learnt how to treasure every single good thing that happens.
Why I told you all these? Because I felt like doing it, and I couldn't resist the urge.
A lot of you may think that depression is ALWAYS visible symptoms in everyone. It's not. While there are physical signs of depression, its more cognitive than anything. Everyone has their ups and downs which is "normal" in life. However, there are people who can never stop self-loathing, thinking of suicide, etc and etc. And you'll be surprised or scared how many people choose to hide those thoughts behind those smiles. A lot of people cope or hide with their depression by faking laughter and smiles when people are around, but once they're alone it comes crashing down. Many hide it because they're scared to ask for help and/or they feel like it's a sign of weakness. Many don't want to bother people with their problems because they feel it's insignificant. Many don't have anybody that they're able to trust to talk to. Many just don't know how to ask for help. I can list an abundant amount of reasons why people may be faking their depression but that will take me forever. And yeah there can be moments when you can actually see the person's depressed state, but most of the time that is when they're at their limit. That's the scary thing about depression, you never know who has it and at times it'll be too late before you realize it. So don't say that the happiest people can never be truly depressed cause you never goddamn know. And NEVER ever tell someone, depressed or not, to "get over it", "it's life", or anything of that bs cause it's not that simple.
I think its that they feel like they can't show the down, depressed side of themselves. Very few peopke are happy 100% percent of the time as its simply not possible, life does get to you sometimes. I am a very bubbly, chatty person that everyone turns to with their problems but when it comes to me having a bad day everyone makes a big deal out of it. Its like I'm not allowed to feel like sh*t, to want to just be left alone and because it becomes something bigger than it is I have learned not to show that side to most people and as I am quite private I don't like the idea of my life being discussed
I have had friends who seemed like they were on top of the world, nothing could get them down, they were just happy-go-lucky people and then they took their own lives leaving everyone perplexed as to what was really going on and by the time the truth came out it was too late
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There is a kernal of truth to what your saying, I know I am considered the "funny guy" I always make everybody laugh and smile, I'm also the "class clown" and I'm the one in the group who always makes the funny jokes. However I am pretty depressed in actuality (by no menas enough to effect my life like Robin Williams) but enough to cause self doubt, I know humor for me is chance to escape myself and forget all the troubles in my life, humor is making pepole happy, and in turn making your self happy (at least temporarily) however as soon as the laughing ends the jokes's over you are left alone and with your problems. Funny guys often hide behind their jokes that's why when your around them you always feel like you can't quite connect with them (you like them but you would never marry one, understand) Joke same humor are a way to escape all the problems you
Have and male other people happy and your self temporarily happy. I know that at my expericne and my truth, it certinaly isn't being "fake" it's just a way of venting our problems without being a bother, I hope that makes senseNope, I don't agree. Depressed people always have their moments of depression, and it is very obvious that they are struggling. Sure, some of them go through mood swings where they are manic and are hyper ambitious and unrealistic in optimism, and then they crash. I wouldn't call that happiness though... They also tend to be aggressive to people that question that masked reality. Others just get in a down funk and find it had to ever do anything and mope about.
People that seem content and happy, for the most part are really content and happy. Everyone has problems and moments of being down. We all have to face life. Just because something is bothering a relatively happy person doesn't make them depressed. It makes them human. =DYes. I'm like this. I wear a smile on my face 24/7, and I'm always making people laugh, but if only they saw how I truly feel deep down is complete opposite of how I display my emotions. I'm not open with my emotions, well the sad ones. I keep those to myself. However, I'm open only when I'm happy, excited, satisfied, etc. I have my genuine, real happy moments, though.
This doesn't always apply the truth behind matter. Some people are actually genuinely happy all the time. I wouldn't say they aren't sad/depressed, though. Every person is sad at some point in their life.Yes. Now that isn't to say every funny or happy person is extremely depressed but it is a very true pattern.
I can honestly say the funniest people I know are the most depressed and sad on the inside, especially considering I am one of those people. It isn't foreign knowledge for someone who is very depressed in their life to use humour as a way of escaping bad feelings. It's a well known coping mechanism and one that works but of course in the end the real underlying problem needs to be addressed at some time.Disagree! First, while funny people can be sad/depressed, by definition the happiest people cannot be the saddest. If you are really very happy, you cannot be very sad. You may put on a happy face and fool some of the people some of the time, but your question was not about people who pretend to be happy but that actually are "happiest". As I said, if you are REALLY happy ...
When I think of the funniest people I think of people like Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Tim Conway, and Bill Cosby. And I believe those people are (were) actually happy.
Of course, there are always people who will be one way and act another, but the people who stand out as one way generally seem to be actually that way.I don't agree. I believe that people who appear to be happy and funny generally are happy and funny people. Plus, it's pretty hard to pretend to be funny when you really aren't. However, there are some people who try to fool others into thinking they are happy when they really are not.
I'm a very optimistic person. I hide my emotions through my smile etc. But i will say... I'm not depressed. This issue with always being happy and giddy is that when there is a small situation that saddens you or depresses you, you don't really know how to deal with the fact that you are indeed feeling "sad" and not happy anymore. it affects you in a more severe way because its harder to understand why this person, or situation can't be or feel as happy as you. Its one of the worst and best things to be in my opinion (an optimist). Not only that, but once you adapt to being happy, being sad is such a frustrating option, so one tends to hide it with happiness, and jokes cause thats what we are used to.
They say comedians have a gift for seeing between the lines and that's what makes them so funny. However, when you have that gift, you can also see the BS that goes on in the world. I'm usually the funniest one in any group I hang out with, but I'm also the one that tends to see the BS too.
usually people who are sad or depressed try to hide it behind fake smiles and laughs. I went through depression earlier this year and I know that I was laughing at any small joke, maybe over doing it a bit. I just didn't want anyone to know what I was going through..
Agreed. I usually have a smile on my face, always laugh at even the lamest jokes, and give off the impression that I'm alright and very happy. When in reality? My girlfriend of two years left my life recently, I'm a broke college student, and rarely interact with those outside of my classres except for a select few friends. Essentially, I am not happy at all with my life. My friends and family don't know this though.
Nah. Sure, sometime people will use outward humour to cover up for sadness or depression. But there are also people who simply are jovial. People who feel laughter is the best medicine even when they don't need a medicine.
I disagree. Obviously I can't really tell with other people but I for one am a very happy person inside and out. Yeah, I am definitely a person who copes with humor when I am sad, but that doesn't mean I'm not humorous when I'm happy.
Disagree completely. Different people have very different ways of expressing (or not expressing) their emotions. Certainly some people fall into this category, but I wouldn't go as far as to say most.
Not at all. Happy people know how to appreciate what they have and live life to the fullest, more often than not. And for that reason, they aren't depressed.
Im like that... I am always happy and funny in school or when I'm with friends. When I'm home I think of killing myself. None of my friends would know this if I hadn't told them.
To be funny you have tobe intelligent and a skilled observer of humanity. Humanity happens to be depressing.
I don't really agree. It's possible quite a few are, but I'd say those who are legitimately unhappy and show it really are.
Disagree
It assumes that those who use a smile or humor to hide pain underneath is what ALL funny or cheery people are up to.Disagree. It is true in some cases but not in most. It's because some very famous people were like that that people started to think this way.
It can be that a depressed and sad person puts up a front for everyone else and over commits and therefore looks like someone who is super happy and funny. Often the most out going person is the saddest.
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