Forgot How to Laugh - Need Help With Starting Again

January 9, 2020 9:24 AM

So I was told that due to health problems (long-standing depression, sadness and anxiety) that I have to change my whole chemistry and this to be done through happiness. Ugh. No really UGH.

But ok, for my healing and longer-ish life, will do it. I just totally have lost the laugh mojo and I can't even remember when I had a good belly laugh. So, I figured I'd go online and check out laugh yoga, stand-ups and all of that. Couldn't find anything that's funny or contagiously so. Movies no longer do it for me, stand-up that's funny without profanity is welcomed, but it really has to be absurdly funny. As for the laughter yoga, I need someone who I can follow easily and who has the most contagious laugh - ever, otherwise this just won't start me up.

Can you help?

posted by watercarrier to Health & Fitness (49 answers total)

If deadpan is your thing, Tig Notaro is your person. I have been laughing heartily at her Funny or Die series, Under a Rock with Tig Notaro.
posted by wellred at 9:29 AM on January 9, 2020 [5 favorites]

This video makes me laugh like nothing else, to the point where even quoting certain lines from it makes me laugh: "MORE NFL" - A Bad Lip Reading of the NFL
posted by capricorn at 9:38 AM on January 9, 2020 [7 favorites]

My go-to for absurdity and belly laughs is James Acaster (he has specials on Netflix). My brain’s a bit foggy at the moment so I can’t recall whether there’s any profanity, though. For a definitely profanity-free taste of his humor, search YouTube for his cabbages story that was part of the TV show “Would I Lie To You?”.
posted by okayokayigive at 9:43 AM on January 9, 2020 [6 favorites]

Being an old, I have just recently downloaded the TikTok app, but I am happy to report that it is full of laughs. When you sign up, you can indicate the kind of videos you are most interested in (comedy is one category I'd recommend; animals is another) and, while you won't' find everything funny, because TikTok is built off of repetition/voiceover/challenges, there are a lot of slapstick challenges, funny visuals for soundtracks that originated with other videomakers, and just general goofery. Other benefit is that the max length of any video is one minute.
posted by correcaminos at 9:57 AM on January 9, 2020

Browsing YouTube is an excellent suggestion, but If you don't find the little things in life funny, I don't know what to say. I have to laugh at all of the little things in life or they would depress me. I think that's my defense mechanism. Like the guy who changes two lanes casually without signalling. It's funny if I laugh at his stupidity without thinking about how unsafe that was. YMMV.
posted by OrionCentauri at 9:58 AM on January 9, 2020

From This American Life's episode Fiasco, "Opening Night" always gets me laughing.
posted by ShooBoo at 9:59 AM on January 9, 2020 [8 favorites]

I hope this isn't racist, but I find Japanese TV ads often very funny. Probably just because I don't understand the language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jOeqZBpmyo
posted by tmdonahue at 10:11 AM on January 9, 2020

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posted by cortex (staff) at 10:11 AM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

I get irrational pants-peeing laughs from weird word stuff, like Damn You Autocorrect, misheard lyrics (there's all kinds of stuff on youtube now too, along with various web repositories), and google translate songs.

I also get helpless at video game glitch videos. Skate 3 is legendary, but there are many.

And then, my most favorite pair of videos of all time that I keep on hand for emergencies: Goats Yelling Like Humans pt 1, pt 2.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:13 AM on January 9, 2020 [9 favorites]

The contagiouslaughter subreddit is still active. It’s generally clips of multiple people breaking into shared laughter organically.

“[your favorite show] outtakes”

Whose Line Is It Anyway compilations do it for me.

Generally, healing laughter happens easiest from something off the cuff rather than tightly scripted. Even better if you can be in the room with other people. Play a silly board game, do improv exercises.

Some of being able to laugh is honestly being open to it. Are you able to laugh at the absurdity of the universe? Are you opposed to there being funny stuff while the world is going to shit? Talk therapy might help you get your brain pointed in the right direction to let it happen.
posted by itesser at 10:15 AM on January 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

Laughing is contagious. Things will seem much funnier if you are around other people who are laughing too. So either invite a friend ( or better yet a couple of friends) or go to a movie or club.

By the way, I am not depressed and even funny things rarely get a laugh out loud response from me. I think this is really asking a lot - to not just be amused but actually be laughing if that isn't your style.
posted by metahawk at 10:17 AM on January 9, 2020 [6 favorites]

Did you try all those funny things alone?

I can watch the most hysterical standup (or experience any typically laughter-inducing event) and not laugh even a little bit when I'm alone.

When I'm with someone else or a group of elses, laughter flows naturally.

If you are isolated due to anxiety, make yourself go see some live standup, there will be other people there laughing. Might help.
posted by quarterframer at 10:18 AM on January 9, 2020 [12 favorites]

There is this very weird show on Prime called “Documental” where 10 Japanese comedians each pony up 1 million yen, get locked in a room together, and the last one to laugh gets all the money. It is...not free of profanity, but it gets very absurd. Something about watching grown professional people trying extremely hard to not even crack a smile in the face of some wild stuff has made me wake up the whole house laughing.
posted by tchemgrrl at 10:19 AM on January 9, 2020 [5 favorites]

You need access to a puppy. I had been depressed for years before getting my first puppy and I vividly remember how foreign it felt to be smiling and laughing all the time. My facial muscles literally were sore from the unaccustomed exercise.
posted by HotToddy at 10:21 AM on January 9, 2020 [11 favorites]

I always laugh until I'm crying at autocorrect fails.
posted by essexjan at 10:22 AM on January 9, 2020 [12 favorites]

John Mulaney's "Best meal I ever ate" bit will do it for sure.
posted by emelenjr at 10:25 AM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

I swear I'm a fully functioning adult, but the times I find myself crying with laughter is when I see fart jokes/stories on social media and I try to read them to my spouse. There's something about trying to read them out loud that gets me every time.
posted by advicepig at 10:42 AM on January 9, 2020

I laugh out loud, all by myself and often when watching the British TV show Miranda (I watch it on Hulu). Usually I hate physical comedy, but, wow, they do it really well.
posted by Pineapplicious at 10:50 AM on January 9, 2020

David Sedaris does it for me. Sedaris cusses occasionally and can be raunchy, so might not be your cup of tea.

I'm happy to just have a small laugh or a smile. Belly laughs are infrequent and are hard to plan for or seek out. Belly laughs happen spontaneously and the mood cannot be conjured. My belly laughs usually happen when I'm with my sister, mom, or husband and somebody does something absurd or we're forced to do something we find absurd and are trying to keep a straight face.
posted by loveandhappiness at 10:50 AM on January 9, 2020 [3 favorites]

I nearly wrecked the car because I was listening to David Sedaris read the part in Me Talk Pretty One Day where he goes to the butcher shop. I like this video and we bought our Krimpet a bell because of it. So far she shows no inclination to ring her bell, but we will wait patiently for the homegrown laffs.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:11 AM on January 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

Few things I read can make me laugh out loud. Two exceptions: David Sedaris's story about trying to explain Easter in French (I think it was in Me Talk Pretty, but I'm not sure) and Jenny Lawson's book, Let's pretend this never happened. It may be funnier to listen to the audio recordings.

Another thought: if there are any improv shows nearby, go with a friend.
posted by tuesdayschild at 11:17 AM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Two exceptions: David Sedaris's story about trying to explain Easter in French (I think it was in Me Talk Pretty, but I'm not sure)

Yep! It's in there. I remember this because that specific story sent me into a very public fit of teary-eyed laughter on a crowded bus.

So call this another recommendation for Me Talk Pretty One Day.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

I like Frankenstein's Lab, which is a youtube channel that's just a couple of guys watching and reacting to (mostly) stand up comics. They do like Borat a lot, but they jump around to a lot of different comics, I definitely can't guarantee it's all "clean". There's something to me about watching along with these two guys that's some how better than just watching the videos alone, probably the contagious laughter.
posted by smcameron at 11:26 AM on January 9, 2020

I stumbled on the AI Weirdness blog when I was super depressed and still found myself laughing uncontrollably at some of the posts there. Laughing didn't/doesn't cure my depression - what?! - but laughing feels good. Maybe start with the kittens?
posted by centrifugal at 11:35 AM on January 9, 2020 [7 favorites]

When I'm with someone else or a group of elses, laughter flows naturally.

Oh No, Ross and Carrie did an episode about laughter yoga and their consensus is that the fake-it-till-you-make-it actually works and the thing you wind up legitimately laughing about is the absurdity of a whole group of people faking laughter. Except at a certain point it's no longer fake. But the fake part is necessary to get to the not-fake part.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:43 AM on January 9, 2020 [8 favorites]

This list, but especially #68. I don't laugh til I cry too often but did a few times from this list. Buzzfeed has lots of these "best of Twitter" lists.
posted by jabes at 11:43 AM on January 9, 2020

Tiffany Haddish's Groupon story is amazing. She's a beacon of joy with a complicated backstory and all of her interviews are excellent. Even the ones where she talks about difficult parts of her past and isn't explicitly being funny are very inspiring, and she's an incredibly engaging speaker.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:55 AM on January 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

If you have Netflix, the show Nailed It has made me laugh even when I didn't want to. I mean I've literally screamed watching that show. Not much does that for me.
posted by bananana at 11:56 AM on January 9, 2020 [5 favorites]

I just rewatched the Chewbacca Mom video the other day, and laughed until I cried. Her laugh is so infectious, I couldn't help it, even though I've seen it several times.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 12:31 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Irish dad catching a bat made me laugh so hard the first time I saw it.
posted by ilovewinter at 12:44 PM on January 9, 2020 [5 favorites]

This guy gobbling at turkeys always makes me laugh. As a bonus, the man in the video is also laughing.

Also I second AI weirdness for absurdity.
posted by arachnidette at 12:46 PM on January 9, 2020 [5 favorites]

I came here to post that guy gobbling at turkeys!! The first time I saw it I cried laughing.

Also, John Mulaney is good when I need a pick me up.
posted by zoetrope at 1:37 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Also sometimes you need the cumulative effect. Sometimes I have watched several videos on a row and then every one after that is just hilarious to the point of tears. My husband will say "what's so funny" and because he hasn't "prepared" in the same way he doesn't find it as funny as I do.
posted by freethefeet at 1:43 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I'm actually a laughter yoga leader and your situation is exactly what laughter yoga is for!
We often talk about how fake laughing gives you a lot of the same benefits as real laughing, and most of the time fake laughing feels so ridiculous that you end up really laughing after all.

However, I don't think watching a video of it will work well. It really makes a difference to have the other people to interact with. I highly recommend looking for a laughter class in your area--if you're in a city there are probably a number of different ones you can try. Everyone does it differently so you might try a couple and see what works for you.

If there isn't a class nearby, or if you just can't bear to leave the house (I totally get it), try calling the laughter line. At various times during the day (and night) you can call this free phone line and laugh with other people.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions about laughter yoga!
posted by exceptinsects at 2:10 PM on January 9, 2020 [6 favorites]

22words, pleated-jeans are great for lists of funny tweets, tumbler, etc. Bored panda is not raucously funny, but always good-natured. I've been watching the Jeopardy Greatest show and finding it very entertaining and made me laugh. Go figure.

Your library will have comedy DVDs and CDs of some sort, also books.

Not a direct answer, but I find music incredibly helpful at lifting my spirits. Esp. music that makes me want to dance. Good luck; I hope the darkness dissipates soon.
posted by theora55 at 2:12 PM on January 9, 2020

News bloopers never fail to crack me up. (News Be Funny is the best YouTube channel for this, IMO.) Jim Gaffigan and Brian Regan are dependably funny and clean.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 2:35 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Conan O'Brien's podcast Conan Needs A Friend. I legit laugh out loud every episode and the participants laugh all the time too. Many of the best bits are him and his assistant and the guy running the podcast sitting around insulting each other but its all in good fun and there is very little profanity, just whatever people might say in casual conversation.

The theme of the podcast is, I guess, happiness and the value of friendship and laughter, I think it would be a good fit. It brightens my day.
posted by fshgrl at 2:41 PM on January 9, 2020

Subtitle parodies like this one (and in particular that one) are some of my go-tos for laughing my silly ass off. When that doesn't fail, I rewatch The Fenton Video, though maybe it's funnier if you have dogs and know dogs.
posted by jquinby at 5:11 PM on January 9, 2020

If you can be flexible on the profanity ban, I find that the Irish stand-ups Dara O'Briain and Ed Byrne reliably make me laugh -- and my soul is pretty poisoned by irony so not much amuses me any more.

They have done some BBC shows that are clean, but O'Briain's stand up sets in particular are funny and oh so smart. (They should be on YouTube.)
posted by wenestvedt at 5:47 PM on January 9, 2020

I recently discovered Gary Gulman's stand up bit on how the states got their abbreviations. It's 6 minutes long, every minute of it is funny. And, it's absurd!
posted by daikon at 6:29 PM on January 9, 2020 [2 favorites]

Sometimes I read loquacious's comment about the pancakes again when I want to laugh.
posted by deludingmyself at 7:03 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

Videos of animals doing silly things can make me smile, but they don't usually result in belly laughs - with the exception of this one that uses sound and editing really effectively. I've watched it dozens of times and I know exactly what's going to happen but I just can't hold in my laugh at the last shot.
posted by kbar1 at 9:46 PM on January 9, 2020

Along those lines (short animal video w/key music cue) there's in the deer 2nite
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:05 PM on January 9, 2020 [1 favorite]

John Mulaney is probably the purest, funniest standup comedian for me right now. He doesn't curse a lot, his humor isn't terribly mean, or much about sex. But I will laugh at the "ONE THING YOU CAN'T REPLACE" bit every single time I hear it. I also find Bill Hader's laugh pretty infectious. His late night talk show appearances always amuse me because he'll always start laughing and it's great. (Full disclosure, I have a HUGE crush on Bill Hader so that might be affecting my response.)

Agree to laughing with other people. It's much more satisfying to laugh with others than to laugh alone.

Do you like children and if so, can you spend time with small children? Little kids are goddamn hilarious and most people can't resist their infectious laughter. Tickle a two year old and see if that doesn't cheer you up!
posted by Aquifer at 7:40 AM on January 10, 2020

This one just slays me every single time: Joe Wilkinson's poem from 8 out of 10 cats does countdown.
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:05 AM on January 10, 2020

These autocorrect errors get me every time.
posted by Mistress at 1:17 PM on January 10, 2020 [1 favorite]

This 40-second video of Rose the dog gets me every time.
posted by doift at 6:12 PM on January 11, 2020

The Jurassic Park melodica theme thing is just so short and simple, and it makes me laugh every single time I watch it.
posted by pepper bird at 11:59 AM on January 12, 2020

Ooh if we're doing funny metafilter comments, This one by Pallas Athena has me rolling. (The whole thread is good too.)
posted by freethefeet at 2:34 AM on January 17, 2020