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Laughter Is Not the Best Medicine

© Traute Klein, biogardener

When an attempt on my life brought on post traumatic stress disorder, I found out that laughter is not necessarily the best medicine. It may, in fact, be painful.

A Time for All Things

Laughter is the best medicine, right? It is supposed to be a tonic for whatever ails you. A few physicians promote laughter sessions for terminally sick patients, claiming healing from serious conditions. I am not convinced that there is one cure for everything. I believe what we read in Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. (NIV)
There are times for laughter and times for tears. Both can be healing. There are also times when neither laughter nor tears can reach into the depth of a soul. At those times, a hug or just a listening ear may be more effective. There are even times when silence is more effective than either of these.

Laughter Which Hurts

Ridicule may evoke laughter, but that always hurts someone. Sometimes, however, even genuine enjoyable laughter can hurt. Only those who have suffered from despair can understand that laughter may act like salt on an open wound. This is understood only by those who have suffered severe emotional trauma, but most of them do not recover sufficiently to understand it, never mind explain it. Let me share my experience with you.

Trauma Deadens Emotions

Eighteen years ago, I suffered severe physical and emotional trauma when the drunken driver who disabled me tried to run me down in an effort to escape arrest. I blanked out the details of the event and only know what I have read in the reports which I gave to the police and to physicians. These reports appear to describe a stranger whom I have never met. All I remember is unspeakable pain. Until I got help with the physical pain, I was unable to feel normal emotions. I neither wept nor laughed. After five years, I found a chiropractor who took my physical injuries seriously and alleviated the pain, setting me free to learn to feel normal emotions again.

Teasing

My husband enjoys teasing people. Some of them catch on, have a good laugh, and appreciate the attention which he pays them. Some appear stone-faced, and he does not understand their reaction. I do. I know how they feel. I see the signs of trauma, abuse, or depression, and my heart goes out to them. Occasionally, these people open their hearts to me and I can encourage them or lend a listening ear.

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