Nervous Laughing

Does anyone know someone who does this? Not sure if there is somehow to stop this as the non-stop, all day laughing can drive you insane.

Re: Nervous Laughing

Yes, my cousin's wife does this. She has this kind of flighty, dingbat laugh that she does in conversation and it's like a nervous laugh -- or to fill space -- or because she doesn't know what to say -- and she's just generally awkward socially so that adds to it. The odd part is, she went to medical school, graduated, and is a medical professional -- so she is certainly NOT "dumb". BUT HOW ON EARTH she deals with patients when she does that nervous laugh behavior is beyond me. My sister and I always joke, would you go to her and let her be your doctor??!

There's no way to really stop it -- I wish I could because I adore my cousin and when they come over it is so nice to spend time with him -- but being around her, socially, is draining. She means well, she's not a bad person, but it is just one of those things that is enough to drive you batty.

I'm sorry I don't have advice on how to stop it.

If it is a coworker and you find it distracting to your work, perhaps HR can try and talk to the person by keeping you anonymous? I mean, I'm wondering if that is something that the person could even control or if it is almost involuntary at this point.

My cousin's wife - it almost seems uncontrollable to me!

Message edited 12/3/2015 9:14:55 AM.

Re: Nervous Laughing

Yeah, not sure if HR has spoken to them but some days you can go insane listening to it. It is non-stop. There is NO way something is funny ALL day lol.

Re: Nervous Laughing

Re: Nervous Laughing

wear headphones.

I don't think its something someone can control, and its not an HR issue.

Message edited 12/3/2015 9:43:05 AM.

Nervous Laughing

They might have PBA which is a medical condition..Def not an HR issue. Try and tune it out

Nervous Laughing

yes that is my cousin! It is so annoying, and so noticeable that now my entire extended family makes fun of her for it behind her back!! lol

Re: Nervous Laughing

Me -
But not like you described. I do have a nervous/uncomfortable laugh, but I can control it. It's not an all day out of control thing ........and I assure you I'm not flighty or ditzy at all .....Usually i'll make a joke or something to cover it -

But I can tell you more than one time my Mom and I locked ourselves in the car to get it all out before we went into a funeral .......
I have to really work to control it if I'm running a big meeting or something similar .......but I CAN control it -

Message edited 12/3/2015 10:34:21 AM.

Nervous Laughing

Yeah some people have a legit condition- I didn't know about it until I saw that commercial. It sounded like one of those old fake SNL commercials at first!

So it could be that.

I'm sure they don't even realize they are doing it, if it's just a socially awkward thing.

I can never keep a straight face.. Like if something is funny to me, I can't help it. And sometimes things aren't funny - but because you're not SUPPoSED to laugh, that makes me squirmy.

Message edited 12/3/2015 10:50:52 AM.

Re: Nervous Laughing

I do realize that it might be a condition but when you work in an open space with many people, it is really not fair to the other people trying to work. The boss was actually moved into an office because she does the same thing, even worse.

Nervous Laughing

I sit next to this person at work. It's all day with the laughing, giggling, up talking and vocal fry. She does it all. It's maddening.

Nervous Laughing

my MIL. She has anxiety so I am sure its all related and I'm sure there is no way to make her stop. I try to ignore it.

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I remember someone who posts here saying that people have told them they remember their laugh, I think people who worked with them. I think they meant it in a bad way not good and I sometimes wonder if I work with this same person now lol

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wait - this is like a real thing ?
a "condition" ???

No, I don't think I have a condition - I think I just can't keep a straight face, and like someone else said, laugh when I'm 'not supposed to ' - No one would say I was socially akward or anything ......

Now I have to go and look this up - what is this person's exact behavior? and if they're laughing ALL DAY loudly ALL DAY ........are they really nervous ALL DAY ???
That's so odd -

Nervous Laughing

Yup it really IS a condition. I saw the same commercial a while back. What a horrible condition to have....laughing at times that aren't really appropriate. They can't help it though, so accept and move on ;)

Re: Nervous Laughing

Posted by MarisaK

wait - this is like a real thing ?
a "condition" ???

No, I don't think I have a condition - I think I just can't keep a straight face, and like someone else said, laugh when I'm 'not supposed to ' - No one would say I was socially akward or anything ......

Now I have to go and look this up - what is this person's exact behavior? and if they're laughing ALL DAY loudly ALL DAY ........are they really nervous ALL DAY ???
That's so odd -

Nervous Laughing

My grandmother wouldn't do it all the time, but she would laugh uncontrollably whenever someone died. It was really weird the first time I saw her do it, but then it just was what it was.

Nervous Laughing

I have a nervous laugh but it's not an all day thing. I hate it and try to control it. Didn't realize that's a condition, that would drive me nuts.