Louis C.K, Conan O'Brien and Cell Phones
B.U.D.S | Newsletter 08 | The Comedy Cellar
Now and then, I like to revisit the Comedy Cellar. My last visit to the iconic location in NYC was in the Summer of 2018 during a weekend trip with my wife.
After that memorable summer night in The Big Apple, I kept a playlist of my favourite stand-up bits, and short hilarious clips on YouTube. I named the playlist, The Comedy Cellar. After a stressful shift at work, or a long day with the kids where nothing goes right, or when I'm feeling like shit, I'll revisit The Comedy Cellar.
It never fails. A good chuckle always kills the negativity and helps me rediscover the present moment. That’s the power of laughter.
In my vocation, deprescribing antidepressants and attempting to help people overcome their struggles with mental health, I've reflected a lot on the importance of laughter, especially in the mundane toils of everyday life.
Repetition and routine can be dangerous to the soul, and in a world experiencing a global mental health crisis, we need laughter more than ever.
In conversations with people on antidepressants, laughter can sometimes be an elusive, missing element in their lives. Unfortunately, many antidepressants have that effect — they blunt the emotions of their users, not just the bad but also the good.
Laughter is natures elixir. It repairs old wounds and brings levity to moments of sorrow. There's no better medicine than a good laugh — ones where you're bursting into tears or holding your sides and howling.
It never fails, it kills the negativity and helps me rediscover the present moment. That's the power of laughter.
What does this have to do with deprescribing, or mental health? I’m not exactly sure. But what I do know, is laughter is medicine. So in the spirit of comedy, I thought I’d share some of my favorite clips from The Comedy Cellar.
Here’s a 5-minute clip of Conan O’Brien and Louis CK discussing cell phone use in kids, mental health and experiencing the emotional roller-coaster called life. I hope you find it as hilarious and insightful as I did.
Underneath everything in your life, there’s that thing… that empty.. forever empty.. thing, you know what I’m talking about?
That knowledge that it’s all for nothing and you’re alone…
— Louis C.K
Louis does a masterful job of explaining how instant gratification from our devices distracts us from truly feeling and living through the highs and lows of life. Like him or not, he makes a great point about the importance of feeling and experiencing your emotions.
Sadness is poetic, you’re lucky to live sad moments.
In a society over-medicated, overstimulated and overly anxious, we tend to rely on too many quick fixes that pacify our experiences.
Whether it’s antidepressants. Vapes. TikTok. That sudden urge at 10:25pm to order a medium Dominos pizza and inhale it while you’re kids and wife are sleeping (of which, I know nothing about..). Next time you’re sitting with that feeling of discomfort, just let it wash over you. Don’t let your devices or vices fool you into thinking you need them to get through the ups and downs of life.
Although I agree, sometimes feeling sadness or anger can be intense. But, if you let the emotion fully in, it will pass. And on the other side, something better will eventually arrive and replace it.
As Louis so eloquently puts it, "There are happiness antibodies" that arrive to meet your sorrow, only when and if you fully let the sadness in.
Trust your body. Trust your mind. Like everything, this too shall pass.
Laugh often. Feel more. Give your all.
Thanks for reading.
SG
Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community that's focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe below. Much love. SG