Is humor your mean to cope with the pandemic and forced isolation?

We are all experiencing a somber time because of the pandemic affecting inevitably our lives. We have to confine ourselves at home to contain the spread of the virus Covid-19. More and more people are infected and dying from the virus. It's devastating. Most of all can't work. All schools are closed and all the students must study from home, which is not quite a positive experience for some parents. It can be for many of us a time of stress, anxiety, sadness and loneliness. We miss our family, friends and co-workers.

Thankfully we are all connected via social media. And since most of us are stuck at home, posts are flourishing.
People share funny memes and videos. Some others create funny Instagram stories and Podcasts to cope with the forced confinement and isolation. 

As I myself been confined and out of work for 10 days now, I am thankful and grateful for the people that keep entertain me and make me smile and laugh in those hard and strange times. For example I would have been devastated if my favorite show called "Les Grosses Têtes " would have stopped during the pandemic. The show lightens my life and make me feel good. I am indeed a die hard fan of the show!

Humor allows us to step back from what we are experiencing.  
It is empirically recognized that humor and its direct effect, laughter, have positive effects on health. Contemporary science has discovered that humor and laughter participate, among other things, in the relaxation of muscles, the reduction of stress hormones, the improvement of the immune system, the reduction of pain.

"A study published in the December 4, 2003 issue of Neuron reported that humor has similar effects on the brain as drug-induced euphoria. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, the researchers measured brain activity in 16 adults viewing funny versus non-funny cartoons. The brain scans indicated that humor not only stimulated the language processing centers of the brain, but also stimulated the reward centers, leading to the release of dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of the pleasure-reward system." ( Humor as weapon, shield and Psychological salve by Nichole Force, M.A.)

Sigmund Freud pointed out a century ago that humor offers us a healthy means of coping with life stress.

Beaumarchais wrote:

 "I hurry to laugh at everything for fear of being forced to cry". 

More pessimistic, Nietzsche says:

 "Man suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter"'

Present time authors said:

"There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt."

- Erma Bombeck 

"Humor is one of the most serious tools we have for dealing with impossible situations."

- Erica Jong


Dark humor is a form of humor that relies on sad or unpleasant elements and makes fun of them.

And you, what makes you smile, what makes you laugh and feel better during those hard times?

I want to hear about it! :)

Take care!

Tatiana.