That feeling when you laugh at a joke but your mind is somewhere else entirely

I noticed this about myself last Tuesday at my sister's birthday dinner in Columbus. Everyone was laughing at my brother-in-law's stories, and I put on this big smile, but inside I was still replaying a phone call from my doctor that morning. It made me wonder how many people in that room were doing the same thing. Has anyone else caught themselves smiling through a family gathering while your thoughts are in a completely different place?

3 comments

3 Comments

seth_singh202d ago

Dude yes! I had this exact thing happen at my niece's birthday party last month. My mom told a joke about her cat and I laughed so hard my face hurt but honestly I was completely stuck on a fight I had with my boss earlier that day. It's like your body is on stage performing 'happy person at party' while your brain is stuck on a loop somewhere else entirely. I felt so fake afterward but I couldn't help it. The scariest part is wondering if anyone else can tell you're not really there.

stellaperry19h ago

Yeah I started just being honest about it in a quiet moment. Like at my cousin's wedding I pulled my sister aside and said "hey I'm having a rough time shaking something from this morning, just so you know why I seem off." And honestly it took so much pressure off. I could still laugh at jokes and be present but I wasn't pretending my brain was fully there. Most people understand way more than you'd think and they won't call you out if you just admit it beforehand. That little bit of honesty made the fake laughing feel less like lying and more like trying my best.

grantp142d ago

Oh man, this hits way too close to home. Tbh I was at a work picnic last month and someone made a joke about their kid's soccer game and I laughed so hard I almost cried. Meanwhile I was mentally making a list of groceries I needed to buy on the way home. It's like your body just goes on autopilot while your brain runs a separate operating system. My wife called me out on it later and I felt so guilty but honestly I didn't even remember what was so funny.