Join Mikel & Friends TONIGHT for "Gallows Humor!" with Warriors for Life (WFL) - You Won't Want to Miss It!
- Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Drop in TONIGHT with Volunteer and Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs for "Burly's Warriors" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).
We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support that Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is providing via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.
The "Gallows Humor!"
Join Mikel & Friends TONIGHT as we discuss the "Gallows Humor!"
Tonight’s topic is one that most of the "civilian" world doesn’t just misunderstand—it actually scares them. But for us? It’s the air we breathe.
Welcome to Warriors for Life, the place where the stories are real and the jokes are... well, legally questionable. Tonight, we are diving headfirst into the dark, twisted, and beautiful world of Gallows Humor.
Why We’re Here
Whether you’re a veteran who found a punchline in a foxhole, a first responder who cracked a joke at a scene that would make a normal person faint, or a caregiver finding the absurdity in the hardest days of your life—you know the truth:
What’s on the Menu?
We aren't just here to swap dark jokes (though I expect plenty of those). We’re here to talk about:
The Shield: How humor acts as armor against the trauma we’ve seen.
The Connection: Why a "mucked up" joke is often the fastest way to build a bond in the field.
The Line: Knowing when the humor is healing us and when it’s just a mask for the pain.
A Quick Disclaimer
To our supporters and newcomers: strap in. If you hear something tonight that sounds a little "out there," remember that for this community, humor isn't disrespect—it’s survival. We use the dark to find the light.
So, let’s check the egos at the door, keep the "dark" dial turned up to eleven, and get into it.
Who’s got a story or a joke that would get you kicked out of a Sunday brunch? The floor is open.
Gallows humor is a unique dialect spoken almost exclusively by those who walk the line between life and death. For Veterans and First Responders, it’s often a psychological "body armor" that allows you to process the unthinkable without being crushed by it.
1. How Humor Facilitates Healing
In a high-stress environment, humor serves several biological and psychological functions:
The Physical Release: Laughter triggers the release of endorphins and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). It’s a literal "pressure valve" for the nervous system.
Reclaiming Power: Trauma often makes people feel like victims of their circumstances. Turning a horrific situation into a joke is a way of saying, "This event might have happened, but it doesn't own my spirit."
Instant Bonding: Sharing a "dark" joke creates an immediate "in-group" connection. It signals to others: "I’ve been there, I get it, and we’re still standing."
2. Signs That Humor Has Become a Mask
Humor becomes "maladaptive" (unhelpful) when it stops being a release and starts being a wall. Watch for these signs:
The "Deflector Shield": If every attempt at a serious or vulnerable conversation is immediately shut down with a punchline.
Emotional Numbing: Using humor to distance oneself so much that the person no longer feels anything—empathy, sadness, or joy.
Isolation: When the humor becomes so dark or cynical that it pushes away loved ones (family/friends) who don't share that "battlefield" context.
Minimization: Using a joke to "shrug off" a serious symptom or a cry for help (e.g., joking about self-harm to avoid taking action).
3. Finding the Right Balance
Managing gallows humor isn't about stopping the jokes; it's about situational awareness.
The "Know Your Audience" Rule: Teach the group to distinguish between the "Foxhole" (peers who get it) and the "Front Porch" (family and civilians).
The "And" Technique: Encourage participants to use humor and follow it with a moment of truth. "That situation was absurdly dark (Joke), and honestly, it really rattled me (Truth)."
Check the "After-Taste": After the laugh dies down, does the person feel lighter, or do they feel more cynical and hollow? If it’s the latter, the humor was likely a mask.
Our Vision at Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) is simple: "Where Hope, Support, and Healing come together!"
We encourage you to join us, Everyone is Welcome, Everyone Matters, You Matter to Us, so Talk to Us! — invite a friend!
Veterans Crisis Line (24/7): Dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255, or use online chat.
Warriors for Life (WFL) Peer Support Network Online "Burly's Warriors" edition, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) — (TONIGHT), April 25, 2026 @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87197441247
Remember: Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) meets on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — (7-days) a week. Every week stay connected on Friday Mornings with "Coffee with Kim" and Monday Mornings for "Cup O' Joe" with Derrick at 8:00 AM CT.
“Everyone Matters, Talk to Us!"— Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs
Thank you,
Army Veteran Mikel Burroughs, Founder & Volunteer Facilitator, Warriors for Life (WFL), & CEO, Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV)
Comments