Gab's Art & Her Disorder Combine for Cathartic Release, Sense of Peace
Jeannine Luby
Podcaster & Comedian Amplifying Womens’ Voices| Practitioner of Therapeutic Laughter| Communications & PR Professional
Just about two years ago I attended a Zoom event hosted by NAMI Northeast Region PA. I led some stress-relieving laughter yoga exercises and then I listened to guest speaker Gab Bonesso . She spoke a bit about her history of mental health disorders and how she addresses it in her stand-up comedy. Even on Zoom, her electricity could be felt. I was enamored of her high energy and ability to use humor to talk about some of her life's biggest challenges.
When I started my podcast Uncorked with Funny Wine Girl about a month or so later, I knew that I wanted to have Gab as a guest but I was feeling like a bit of a fan girl and wondered if she would even respond to my message through Instagram. Surely she was a busy performer and would probably not have time for some woman across the state that she didn't even know. Gab surprised me...in a good way. She responded quickly and said that she would be happy to be a guest on my podcast.
Since then, Gab and I have become long-distance/virtual friends. She's been a guest on my podcast at least four times. We've enjoyed amazing conversations on Zoom about everything from binge watching shows on serial killers to being raised Catholic and navigating through life today when everyone seems to be under such great stress. And Gab always graciously talks with honesty and humor about her challenges with her mental health through the years. And I cannot wait to finally meet her in person next week when she arrives in Scranton to share her high energy public speaking and performance with the people of NEPA!
NAMI Northeast Region PA, Laugh to Live! and the Humor Therapy Fund are presenting Humor Heals: Opening Hearts and Lifting Minds--events that will feature Gab using humor to educate, entertain and help break the stigma that surrounds mental health.
Gab brings not just humor, but hope to all of those who have suffered through misdiagnoses, ill-suited therapists or medications that were not helpful. Gab says, "I think the fact that I have multi diagnoses has been difficult for me and my therapists to navigate. For the longest time I was only being treated for bipolar disorder. I was managing bipolar and yet I was still suffering mentally and not having a quality of life that I liked. For the past few years, I have been seeing an OCD and Trauma specialist and the progress I have made has been astounding."
Gab will speak at a free community event on Thursday, May 4th at 6:30PM at The Cooperage on Main Street in Honesdale about her mental health journey. She hopes to educate on bipolar disorder, raise awareness and remind people to have compassion for people with mental health disorders.
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"I always say it bums me out that people make such a divide between physical and mental health. Last time I checked, mental health involved a major organ: the brain. It’s physical as far as I’m concerned. So the stigma and judgement that surround our health compared to other sick people is unfair. My mom suffered from diabetes and when her sugar dropped, she was as moody if not more than me with bipolar disorder. But somehow people can be understanding to someone with diabetes," Gab says.
As research tells us, messages delivered with humor incorporated tend to be more memorable to listeners, so Gab's message should resonate with her audience, especially given Gab's natural ability to find humor in life's challenges.
Gab says, "Growing up in a big, Italian family, humor was our language. I don’t feel like I had a choice. I know it was a huge comfort while my Dad was battling cancer. He kept his humor even in his weakest state. It’s my way of telling my story in a palatable way for others — it’s my release. While I was my Mom’s caregiver, we would laugh our asses off at doctor’s appointments, the constant bloodwork. We always made the mundane fun."
On Friday, May 5th, Gab will headline the comedy fundraiser at the SPACE at Olive in Scranton, to benefit NAMI Northeast Region PA. And if you're wondering what her performance will be like, here's how Gab describes it in her own words. "Imagine Robin Williams on cocaine times a hundred. It's like watching a basketball game with words coming out. I cover the entire stage. It is a beautiful cathartic release of my art and my disorder coming together and giving me peace."
Gab will be joined on stage by opening comedians of NEPA: Micki Orlowsky, Paul Spratt, Jeannine Luby and emcee Mary Rapach. The show begins at 8PM but doors open at 7PM. Beer, wine and light snacks will be available for purchase. The event is for 21 and over. Tickets are $20 at the door or you can buy them in advance at: https://www.naminepa.org/nami-fundraisers. There will also be a basket raffle to benefit the Humor Therapy Fund.
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