Tears of a clown...help wanted please.

As many of you lovely posters are aware, while I am normally a happy cheeky ickle scamp poking peeps and dreaming my cookies dreams, I live with a rather dark cloud over my head called Body dysmorphic disorder. BDD for those not in the know or have read a lot of rather rubbish stuff in the media is a form of OCD with the focus being on the physical self. It is a horrible psychological illness to suffer from and while I do have a fair bit of control, it affects my everyday life. If you want to know a bit more you can look at my BDD article here.

However with my condition I have a theory. I truely believe that if it wasn't for my condition, I would not have my rather odd and cheeky sense of humour that has served me very nicely most of my life. Thinking back on my life, especially before I was dianosed, I have used humour (and charm of course) as a way of attracting and winning over people. I felt as long as I could make them laugh, I could win them over.

There is a theory that a lot of comedy comes from people with demons. Spike Milligan for example is considered one of the greatest comics of all time. He was also a manic depressive and would lock himself away for days on end. Graham Chapman was an alcoholic, John Belushi was a drug addict, and Richard Pryor made a huge living discussing his issues with his childhood, drugs, and alcohol in front of thousands of people.

It's not just the guys. Gilda Radner was anorexic, Joan Rivers has in the past struggled with bullima, Ruby Wax has had mental breakdowns, and Sarah Silverman is a clinical depressive.

I am quiet interested in looking into this further and writing an article about this subject. I would be interest to know as we has so many comics here if they feel that any of their personal demons have affected their sense of humour and if they include any of this in their acts or scripts? I would also like to hear the opinions of anyone interested in giving their views on the relationship between comedy and mental health. Anything you would like to discuss would be helpful. If you don't want to do it on this thread, do PM me. I won't disclose anything discussed in private without permission.

I would also please ask that we avoid any attacks on each other. I would like this thread not to be closed within two minutes.

Thank you .

It's an interesting subject, certainly. My feeling is that the desire (or need) to develop and demonstrate a good sense of humour is probably in some way compensating for areas in which one feels deficient/different from "normal" people. Then again, depression, addiction and other psychological/psychiatric conditions might be just as prevalent in non-comedy types.

It's true that most of the best comedy/comedians tread the thin line between comedy and tragedy. People with mental health issues tend to look at the world from a distorted angle compared with "normal" people. Finding humour in people and the world is often achieved by a similar process.

When I gave up the booze I was genuinely worried that it would affect my ability to write funny. It didn't. It's still as difficult as it was before.

I was a veryyyyyyy sarcastic, cold hearted boy who was always thinking darkkk thoughts =/

then for some reason the primary school teacher thought I should go anger management classes so I thought "ok then you absolute c**ts I'll just go around being the class clown and pretend to be happy"

7 years later, after getting booted out of college and many many animadversions I'm the greatest guy you could ever wanna meet

Everyone has something or other. Even when they haven't actually got anything wrong with them. Sorry to hear you have BDD.
I've met plenty of f**ked up types and they weren't funny, they were deviants. So I don't think there is a direct correlation between problems and funniness.

I remember Peter Cook once said that he'd like to set up a support group for comedians - 'Melancholics Anonymous'...

Quote: The Giggle-o @ November 9 2009, 2:13 AM GMT

I've met plenty of f**ked up types and they weren't funny, they were deviants.

View original

But enough about BCG meet-ups...

I think comedians are just people who have too much time on their hands to realise how shit life really is. Everyone else is just too busy getting on with things. Mind you my opinions are so ill-formed you're best to just take them with a pinch of salt.

Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 2:25 AM GMT

But enough about BCG meet-ups...

View original

Quote: The Giggle-o @ November 9 2009, 2:28 AM GMT

Mind you my opinions are so ill-formed you're best to just take them with a pinch of salt.

View original

we should all meet up and cry :]

I think in some cases, there is most certainly a relationship. Just from personal experience - until recently I wasn't a very happy chappy, but I found myself constantly trying to be funny around my friends, almost as a way of trying to be accepted by them (even when I was already) when I didn't feel comfortable being 'myself'. And making them laugh was making me feel better. But being in a dark place meant a lot of the humour was very dark. But thankfully I have filthy friends who didn't give a shit.

Annoyingly I don't have the book with me, but in Russell Brand's autobiography he mentions a few quotes that sound relevant. One was what his mate said I think - "I thought I had to be a comedian, cause my life was a f**king joke", or something along those lines. There was another even better quote, which I'm bloody annoyed I can't remember now, that was something Russell had just written himself.

I'm babbling a bit, but yes I think there is a relationship, and I've often thought about this relationship myself. If you do write an article I'd love to read it

Quote: Mike T @ November 9 2009, 2:34 AM GMT

we should all meet up and cry

View original

I'll be wearing my big red nose, over-sized shoes and squirty flower.

Quote: The Giggle-o @ November 9 2009, 2:35 AM GMT

I'll be wearing my big red nose, over-sized shoes and squirty flower.

View original

wooooooooooooooooo

Hi Ruby
I think Spike Milligan said it best when he said 'Good mental health is having the same diseases as the neighbours'. We've all got something, but you usually only hear about things affecting those closest to you, and sometimes not even then, giving the impression that it's rarer/odder than it is. I have more than a few OCDs myself but I know that particular one's a doozy so I do sympathise. Best wishes.

I was the class clown for a few years, before I sort-of decided (all by myself) to give it up. It was actually quite tiring having to be "on" all the time, plus rather sad and depressing to go into school every day believing you would only be valued if you got laughs. Didn't like the feeling of only being useful to my group of friends as a source of amusement.

I certainly don't envy the blokes who carry on this kind of behaviour well into adulthood, thinking they are only worth something if they are always the funniest person in the room. For one thing, it must be knackering.

Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 2:42 AM GMT

I was the class clown for a few years, before I sort-of decided (all by myself) to give it up. It was actually quite tiring having to be "on" all the time, plus rather sad and depressing to go into school every day believing you would only be valued if you got laughs. Didn't like the feeling of only being useful to my group of friends as a source of amusement.

I certainly don't envy the blokes who carry on this kind of behaviour well into adulthood, thinking they are only worth something if they are always the funniest person in the room. For one thing, it must be knackering.

View original

I feel your pain Tim, I feel your pain.

Quote: Tim Walker @ November 9 2009, 2:42 AM GMT

I was the class clown for a few years, before I sort-of decided (all by myself) to give it up. It was actually quite tiring having to be "on" all the time, plus rather sad and depressing to go into school every day believing you would only be valued if you got laughs. Didn't like the feeling of only being useful to my group of friends as a source of amusement.

I certainly don't envy the blokes who carry on this kind of behaviour well into adulthood, thinking they are only worth something if they are always the funniest person in the room. For one thing, it must be knackering.

View original

being the joker is the most tedious thing in the history of history =/

its still the only way I get to be sarcastic and not look like a c**t

then its back home to sit in darkness and think =]