Douglas Adams was a genius.  Only a genius could describe "moments of clarity" and how we *all* cope with them im such a humorous way. 

http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Total_Perspective_Vortex 

I visited dad today, and when I left I felt a terrible emotional failure.

I am such a failure to him, to my mother, to all the people I've ever had a serious interaction with.

And then ... as quick as the  moment arrived, it passed again.  Because I am th centre of my universe. 

I think it's the only way humans survive.