Using Humor to Cope: When It Helps—And When It Hurts with Mandy Martino

In this episode of SSRI’M OK, hosts Dr. Bijan Zarrabi, a psychiatry resident, and Macey Isaacs, a stand-up comedian, are joined by fellow comic Mandy Martino (from Misery Loves Mandy) to explore the psychology of humor: 👉 Is humor always a healthy coping mechanism—or can it sometimes be harmful?

We dive into research on humor, mental health, and defense mechanisms, and explore how the jokes we make can reflect deeper emotional patterns.

Topics include:

• Mandy’s childhood trauma (yes, involving hamsters) and how comedians often turn pain into punchlines
• How using humor as a child can be a coping strategy—and whether that pattern evolves or gets stuck in adulthood
• The "sad clown" archetype in comedy: from Chris Farley to cult classics like Superstar and Joe Dirt
• Are comedians actually more mentally unwell than the average person?
• Coping mechanisms vs. defense mechanisms: what makes a defense “mature” or “immature”?
• Self-deprecating humor: why comedians  use it, and when it becomes empowering—or toxic
• How humor can be adaptive or maladaptive—and what to do if your humor style isn’t serving you anymore

We also talk about what it means to bring purpose to pain and how comedy can be a powerful tool for healing—but only if it’s rooted in honesty rather than avoidance.

🎧 Whether you’re a fan of stand-up, a therapist, or someone who jokes their way through hard times, this episode offers real insight into how and why we laugh—and what that laughter might be covering up.

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Art by Zoe Zakson

Music by Raul Garcia

Edited by Katie Hettenbach

 

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