Is a sense of humor necessary for recovery?

I’ve always been blessed with the ability to find humor in most situations (sometimes inappropriately, I must admit.) And I’ve begun to wonder if that’s a key element to recovering from an eating disorder?

I’m not talking about the kind of humor where you constantly put yourself down, either. I’m thinking of the ability to laugh despite sorrow, smile despite pain.

For me, humor has helped me deal with ana. I can make a quip about my past anorexic days (only with close friends, mind you), though I don’t consider any eating disorder a joke. I’m not making light of the ED; I’m making light of my own experiences to help put them into perspective and move on.

Has being able to laugh a little taken the edge off your eating disorder? Or do you find yourself only able to muster up a “dark humor” that allows ana or mia to lead you into a depression?