People Who Turn Their Trauma Into Seriously Funny Stories Usually Share 8 Rare & Special Traits
Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock Some people have the rare ability to turn everything into a joke, including the most traumatic moments in their lives.
It’s normal for people to use humor to deal with the hard times. Still, not everyone feels comfortable using their trauma as entertainment, so those who do have some traits that set them apart.
People who turn their most traumatic moments into seriously funny stories often share these rare, special traits
1. They can feel multiple emotions at the same time
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A lot of people are used to thinking about their feelings in pretty black-and-white terms. They may feel happy or sad, but never both.
When someone can turn something traumatic into a funny story, they have a unique perspective. Even if they went through something terrible, they understand that there’s more to it than just negative emotions.
Experiencing mixed emotions is not only possible, but also pretty common. That’s easy to see when someone is able to laugh about something that caused them pain.
2. They don’t shut down when they feel shame
Shame and trauma often go hand in hand, even when the trauma someone has experienced has nothing to do with their own actions. People may internalize shame to the extent that they feel like they aren’t good enough even when they’ve done nothing wrong.
Everyone reacts to shame in different ways, but many people try to take a step back and hide from the world. That’s not the case for a person who can joke about their painful experiences. Instead of covering up the messy parts of their lives, they’re able to share them openly.
3. They distance themselves from what they’ve been through
Some people can reflect on their past without becoming consumed by it. It’s like they can look back on what’s happened to them as objectively as possible instead of feeling like they’re going through it all over again.
Scientists call this ability people have to separate themselves from what they’ve been through psychological distance. Those who have higher levels of psychological distance remember their trauma without being hurt by it again, which lets them turn it into funny stories.
4. They don't take themselves too seriously
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If someone takes themselves so seriously that they always focus on the negative, it’s basically impossible for them to feel any of the lighter emotions that come with life, too. No one would say trauma is a good thing, but some people can see more nuance in it than others.
Even though what they went through was awful, they don’t see that as the whole story. They allow themselves to notice positive things about the worst moments, so they don’t feel like it’s wrong to laugh about them.
5. They’re natural storytellers
For some, keeping traumatic events private doesn’t feel like an option. They can tell a story better than the average person, and the hard moments from their past provide the perfect material for them to entertain others.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed when they think about their trauma, they’re able to see it clearly and identify each piece of it, from beginning to end. It actually feels wrong not to talk about it.
Personal storytelling has actually been proven to have serious mental health benefits, so there’s a chance that this could also help people heal from their pain.
6. They don’t have to run from discomfort
Most people hate discomfort so much that they do whatever it takes to avoid it. Since we all feel better about comfortable things, that makes sense.
People who can accept discomfort as a part of their growth are usually better off because of it. Someone who doesn’t mind feeling uncomfortable over a story about their trauma will probably notice benefits in other areas of their life as well.
7. They aren’t worried about what other people think
There’s really no way for people to totally avoid thinking about how others might be judging them. Focusing on that too much makes people feel toxic levels of self-consciousness, though.
Letting those worries go helps. It’s easier for people to move on when self-consciousness isn’t holding them back. And it might make it easier for them to open up about their pain in a way that feels safe to them, like through making jokes.
8. They want to be in control of their own story
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People who can find humor in their trauma are taking control of their personal narrative in a way some don’t. Instead of letting the hard things define who they are, they’re using them to create the story they want to tell.
It improves people’s mental health when they can see the way they have control over their life story, just like it does when a challenging story ends on a hopeful note. This reminds people that they are so much more than the things that have happened to them, and they can reclaim whatever they thought was already written in stone.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
