Wiping Away the Clown Paint

You’re more than the laughs

By Ashley Sudeta

“Moderation” is a word capable of pushing me to my limit. Almost every behavior must be curtailed to some degree, but this rule of thumb usually applies to the most fun habits. The list of things that are healthy to be done at full throttle is devastatingly short, and I’m about to make it even shorter by telling you one thing: you can’t try to be funny all the time. Humor is important; it’s a tool for spreading joy and sharing perspectives. Yet like so many other vital things, it can be damaging in excess. This is a PSA stating that you’re so much more than just a clown.

“The funny friend” has become an archetype, describing someone who frequently tells jokes, often to mask a deep sadness. In fact, comedy and mental health struggles have come to be seen as linked. One example of this is the aptly named “sad clown paradox,” which describes how many comedians suffer from depression and anxiety, sometimes stemming from a traumatic childhood. Humor allows these individuals to gain acceptance and soothe their anxieties. Many people use comedy as a method of coping with their issues, but at what point does this practice cross over into being harmful?

I cannot answer this question, as it's something every individual must personally reflect on. Ask if you degrade yourself through humor. Not just in what you say, but in the act of saying it at all. Do you tell yourself that jokes are all you are good for? You must learn to recognize yourself as a person with value outside of comedic purposes. Behind the clown paint is someone who is intelligent, respectable, and deserves to be taken seriously. My advice is to use humor in the same way one should consume chocolate—liberally, but being sure to stop before the point of sickness.