Parkinson's And Humor

It is believed that people who laugh are happier, healthier, and live longer livess.

Having an incurable disease that makes you feel miserable and gets progressively worse over time should make it hard to laugh but I’m amazed by the courage, heart, sense of community, and surprisingly by how much laughter there is in the Parkinson’s community. It’s not depressing humor, not gallows humor. It mostly pokes fun at having PD and the PD condition. I think it comes from accepting the reality of what is. Acceptance seems to reduce suffering just as dwelling on the negative seems to increase stress and pain. Making fun of your problems signals acceptance and implies that you are in control of and superior to the disease.

I’m James Bond’s favorite bartender. All my drinks are shaken not stirred.

The punch line of many jokes or discussions is “what do you expect I’ve got Parkinson’s”. It is often said when forgetting to do something or not being able to remember a word that is on the tip of your tongue even though forgetfulness is not thought of as a PD symptom. Parkinson’s is no joke and PD is a heavy weight to carry but humor distances us from our problems and lightens the load.

What do you call a pick pocket with Parkinson’s? Either a jailbird or poor.

The terrible truth of Parkinson’s is that it is not going to get better. It is not going away and probably going to get a lot worse. Humor makes PD easier to live with. It is a defense mechanism that makes PD less painful. Resistance magnifies pain and suffering. Acceptance lessens suffering and allows us to better enjoy life now and realistically prepare for the future. Humor helps distance us from the disease and better manage it. It lightens the load and eases the pain.

What does a carpenter with Parkinson's make? Shaker furniture.

Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and relieves stress. Nothing works faster to make you feel good than a good laugh. Humor lightens burdens, and inspires hope. Laughter makes us feel happy, relieves physical tension, and anger. It lessens pain. Humor is contagious. When shared, it increases intimacy and creates a bond with others. Humor unites the joker and his audience, in this case, the PD community. Humor is a way of saying I’m okay and acknowledging we are in this together. Laugh with other PWP. It promotes hope.

What is a Parkie’s cell phone is automatically set to? You guessed it - vibrate.

Okay, my jokes aren’t so funny. I tried. My PD friends would have laughed in support or at least smiled. That is the point. We support each other even when the PD is bad and nothing is funny. It bonds us and helps us go on.  Humor is communal. It happens when you are with other people so don’t be alone with the disease and let me know if you have better jokes.

Typist wwwanteeed. PPParkies nneeed nottt apppplly.