Coping Through Humor: Everybody Say “Argh!” Humor is one helpful way to distance yourself, at least temporarily, from the emotional impact of a difficult situation. As we planned our trip to Andi’s burned-out home to see what might be salvaged, Andi joked that we would be like a band of pirates looking for buried treasure. But the house was completely destroyed—there was to be no loot for these pirates. Laughing through tears, Andi led us in a rousing chorus of “Argh!” and then bravely planted the pirate flag on the only thing left standing—her charred exercise bicycle.

Cathy Steiner