And then there are comedians who use their humor to aid others who are feeling depressed. One poignant example is the late Bernie Mac who just recently died at the age of fifty. Bernie Mac grew up in a large family on Chicago's South Side. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist Church and it was within this setting that Bernie Mac developed his gift to entertain. One of his first skits was performed at the age of eight where he impersonated his grandparents at the dinner table for the church congregation.
Yet aside from the attention and laughs he received, there was a deeper motivation for Bernie Mac's humor. In Mac's book entitled, "I Ain't Scared of You," he relives a childhood memory of seeing his mother crying when he was four years old. But when his mother started laughing in the midst of her tears Bernie Mac saw that it was Bill Cosby on TV who was the cause of his mother's change in demeanor. It was at that young age that he saw the power of comedy and vowed to become a comedian himself. Mac's purpose was to never see his mother cry again. Bernie Mac defines his life mission in his book by saying: "That's a true story, man. That's what made me want to do this, even after my mother passed. That's what inspires my humor. I don't want nobody to cry." It is remarkable that at such an early age this comedian had found the power of humor to change lives. Despite his death, I do think Mac's vision goes on in the legacy of his comedy which we can still view today.
How do comedians deal with their depression and mood disorders?
In an article in The Sun, actor and comedian, Jim Carrey discusses how he has treated his depression in the past and how his views have changed over time. He did try one of the traditional anti-depressants, Prozac, for awhile. But then felt that the medication simply numbed him.
During his interview he explains:
"I tried dealing with depression by taking Prozac.
"It was good for a little bit for my life. But it didn't heal me.
"It didn't get me to the bottom of my anger or my frustration, whatever it was.
"I realised that it is important that we need to feel our feelings. We need to let things out to get to the bottom of things.
"One of the most important things in our society today is that it is OK to let our feelings out."
Carrey goes on to remind us that we all experience our own share of darkness. I agree. I think it doesn't matter if you are rich or famous or a hermit, nobody is immune to the challenges of the human condition. And sometimes this means that we may become depressed.
The lives of some comedians remind us of our own frail souls. To laugh at our life seems a better option than crying over it. Yet there has to be a balance between the laughter and the tears. In the depths of my depression these comics have helped me to feel something other than despair. As a silent voyeur I wish I could stop the pain of those who give us laughter. I am reminded of the famous scene in Hamlet where the skull of the former court jester is lifted up in tribute. Alas poor Yorick! We knew him well. Or maybe...we really didn't know him at all.
