Laughing Through the Pain: Finding Healing in Humor

Healing from trauma isn’t easy—it’s messy, exhausting, and often feels like two steps forward, three steps back. The journey is full of tears, grief, and hard truths. But here’s the thing we don’t talk about enough: it’s also okay to laugh through the pain. In fact, sometimes laughter can be the very medicine that helps us survive the darkest moments.

Why Laughter Matters in Healing

Trauma lives in the body. It weighs down our nervous system, keeps us hyper-alert, and leaves us waiting for the next shoe to drop. When we laugh—even briefly—it sends a signal to our body that we’re safe, that it’s okay to release some of that tension. Laughter lowers stress hormones, increases oxygen flow, and gives our overworked nervous system a much-needed break. It doesn’t erase the trauma, but it gives us a pocket of relief in the middle of the storm.

The Paradox of Humor and Pain

It might feel strange or even “wrong” to laugh when you’re hurting. Some people worry it makes them seem like they’re not taking their healing seriously, or that they’re “avoiding the work.” But the truth is, humor and pain can coexist. Think about how many comedians turn their hardest life experiences into jokes—not because those experiences weren’t painful, but because humor helps make the pain bearable.

Giving Yourself Permission to Laugh

Laughter in healing doesn’t have to be big or loud. It can be small moments:

• Watching a silly TikTok after a tough therapy session.
• Sharing an inside joke with a friend who “gets it.”
• Laughing at the absurdity of how complicated healing can be (“Oh, great, now my trauma has trauma!”).

These moments don’t minimize your pain—they create space where hope can breathe.

Healing Doesn’t Have to Be All Heavy

There’s a misconception that healing must always be solemn and serious, like a nonstop march through the shadows. But real healing is layered. Some days you’ll cry until you’re empty. Other days you’ll find yourself laughing in the middle of the mess—and that’s just as valid. Both are proof that you’re alive, you’re moving, and you’re finding your way through.

Closing Thought

Trauma may have stolen chapters of your story, but laughter is one of the ways you reclaim your voice. It reminds you that you’re more than what happened to you—that even in the pain, joy and humor are still possible. So, the next time you find yourself laughing when you “should” be hurting, remember: you’re not doing healing wrong. You’re doing it human.