My partner and I used to be masters at defusing tense situations with humor - it was like our superpower in conflicts and social awkwardness. But our couples therapist told us we were 'avoiding serious conversations' and now we're so afraid of deflecting that we've lost our ability to find lightness even when it would actually help.
More people experience this than they realize.
Professional intervention has severed your access to a genuine coping mechanism.
“Where Are You with The sacred clown?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.