People use irony as a defense mechanism.

I was the fat kid, so as a defense mechanism, I was the jokester.

I knew her well enough to understand that when Delia pushed you away, it was her way of making sure she didn't get shoved first.

I would make people who bullied me laugh, so that's my defense mechanism.

Lying is not only a defense mechanism; it's also a coping mechanism and a survival technique.

Without comedy as a defense mechanism I wouldn't be able to survive.