Latest revision as of 23:28, 1 January 2026

Sheila Bishop[edit]

I'm a stand-up comedian. Have been for twenty years. Making strangers laugh is what I do. It's what I'm good at.

Here's what I don't say on stage: I've had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. The jokes are real. The laughs are real. But underneath? For most of my career, I was barely holding it together.

Comedy was my armor. Great armor, actually—better than most. Make people laugh and they stop asking how you're doing. They assume you've got it figured out. Meanwhile, you're alone in a hotel room at 2 AM, wondering if anyone would notice if you didn't wake up.

I started being vulnerable—really vulnerable—about five years ago. Not on stage at first. In therapy. Then with close friends. Then, eventually, in my work. Taking off the armor.

It was terrifying. It still is sometimes. But something happened when I started letting people see the mess: they connected with me differently. The laughs got deeper. The performances got realer. And I stopped feeling so goddamn alone.

This wiki is about taking off the armor. About letting people see what you're actually carrying. About discovering that the thing you're most afraid to show is often the thing that connects you.

You don't have to be funny to be here. You just have to be tired of pretending.

— Sheila Bishop, laughing so I don't cry (and sometimes both)

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 = Sheila Bishop =
-Hello there! I'm Sheila Bishop, a stand-up comedian who's been making people laugh for the past two decades. But here's the thing nobody wants to say out loud—behind all those jokes and smiles, I've also been living with depression and anxiety for what feels like forever.
+I'm a stand-up comedian. Have been for twenty years. Making strangers laugh is what I do. It's what I'm good at.
-I know, it might seem like an odd combo. But humor has always been my coping mechanism. It's how I make sense of the world and navigate through the tough times.
+Here's what I don't say on stage: I've had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. The jokes are real. The laughs are real. But underneath? For most of my career, I was barely holding it together.
-== My Journey ==
+Comedy was my armor. Great armor, actually—better than most. Make people laugh and they stop asking how you're doing. They assume you've got it figured out. Meanwhile, you're alone in a hotel room at 2 AM, wondering if anyone would notice if you didn't wake up.
-Growing up, I was that kid who could find a joke in any situation—even when things were far from funny. Comedy became my safe space, a place where I could express myself without feeling vulnerable. Ironic, right?
+I started being vulnerable—really vulnerable—about five years ago. Not on stage at first. In therapy. Then with close friends. Then, eventually, in my work. Taking off the armor.
-But as I got older, I realized that laughter wasn't just about entertainment; it was also about survival. I started performing stand-up professionally and quickly discovered that people loved my unique perspective on life's challenges. However, behind the scenes, I was struggling with mental health issues that often felt overwhelming.
+It was terrifying. It still is sometimes. But something happened when I started letting people see the mess: they connected with me differently. The laughs got deeper. The performances got realer. And I stopped feeling so goddamn alone.
-Eventually, I decided to turn my personal struggles into something positive. Instead of hiding my mental health journey, I chose to share it openly through my comedy and writing. I wanted to show people that it's okay to talk about depression and anxiety, and that finding humor in our struggles can make them a little more bearable.
+This wiki is about taking off the armor. About letting people see what you're actually carrying. About discovering that the thing you're most afraid to show is often the thing that connects you.
-== What Drives Me ==
+You don't have to be funny to be here. You just have to be tired of pretending.
-My driving force is simple: I want to help others feel less alone. Mental health is still a taboo subject for many, and I believe that by sharing my experiences honestly—and with a healthy dose of humor—I can make these hard topics approachable.
-I've learned that laughter doesn't dismiss the pain; it just makes it easier to carry.
-I write about vulnerability because it's something I understand intimately. Whether it's depression, anxiety, or any other challenge, I want my readers to know they're not alone in their struggles. My goal is to make you laugh, then think, and finally feel seen—because sometimes, just knowing someone else gets it can be a lifeline.
-== What You Can Expect ==
-If you stick around, here's what you can expect from my articles:
-* A healthy dose of humor mixed with raw honesty about mental health.
-* Personal stories that will make you laugh and maybe even cry (but mostly laugh).
-* Practical thoughts on how to navigate life's challenges with a sense of humor.
-* Reminders that it's okay to have bad days—and that it's also okay to ask for help.
-I'll be tackling topics like depression, anxiety, and the art of finding connection in the midst of chaos. I promise to keep it real, keep it funny, and always keep it approachable.
-So, if you're ready to laugh a little, think a lot, and feel seen, welcome! This is your space to connect, share, and maybe even find some comfort in knowing that someone else out there gets it.
 ''— [[User:Sheila_Bishop|Sheila Bishop]], laughing so I don't cry (and sometimes both)''