Humorist Lightens Depression's Darkness By Talking (And Laughing) About It

Humorist Lightens Depression's Darkness By Talking About It Enlarge this image toggle caption Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images Malte Mueller/fStop/Getty Images For much of his life, humorist John Moe has dealt with clinical depression that's triggered by stress. You, your wife, the three kids — one of whom is home from his freshman year of college, that he was excited to get to, the other two are home from their school that they love — and you're going to be locked up for an indefinite period of time," I would say, "Oh, so we'll all be dead within five days, four days? And so, by that standard, I think we're doing great.. We're trying to kind of recognize the reality — and when the breakdowns come, we try to say, "Yes, of course." On how humor can change your perspective and make depression feel less isolating I think humor allows you to see the same world everybody sees, but in a new way and in a new perspective, and I think that's part of the grand intelligence of comedy..