50 Mental Health Memes To Help Trick Your Brain Into Thinking That You Don’t Hate It Here (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertGoing for a walk. Getting plenty of sleep. Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet. Socializing with friends. Any number of these behaviors can be beneficial for your mental health. But as cliché as it sounds, it’s important to remember that laughter truly can be a powerful medicine.
And if you’re not convinced, perhaps our compilation below of posts from the Mental Illness and Memes Facebook page will change your mind. We’ve gathered some of their silliest posts down below that anyone who’s in therapy might find painfully relatable. So enjoy scrolling through these memes, and keep reading to find conversations with psychotherapists Matt Teal, from Rochester Counseling Group, and Dr. Sonia Jaeger.
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I take zoloft because my body doesn't make enough serotonin. I take thyroid pills because my body doesn't make enough of that either. Not embarrassed. Why should I be?
Wow, I always thought of myself as more cat-like than dog-like, but this makes it clear. Sorry, people in my life!
I've had cats my entire life, 60 now, I speak fluent cat. Unfortunately, there was one time when one of my staff people, who was also a friend, was being super frustrating at work and I hissed at her without meaning to. Dmn we laughed!
First attempt, be polite about it. I would never dream of raging at my sweet, amazing mother because she wanted a hug.
And it wasn't even the pen with the Swarovski flamingo on it, it was the scuzzy old bic
To learn more about how a sense of humor can be beneficial for our mental health, we got in touch with a couple of experts who were kind enough to share their thoughts on the topic with Bored Panda.
Matt Teal LCSW, CASAC, the practice director at Rochester Counseling Group in Upstate, New York, says it’s absolutely healthy to try to find humor in our mental health struggles.
“Laughter has been shown as a highly effective way to ‘complete the stress cycle’ in the human body,” Matt shared. “It releases tensions and negative thoughts, according to Dr. Emily and Amelia Nagoski.”
I know I'm about to say something mean, but the dam thing comes flying out of my mouth anyway.
My therapist basically said this to me a few years ago and I was like yeah… can’t argue.
AMEN.....I'M DRIVEN TO DRIVE MYSELF CRAZY....and anyone else in my sphere
“Think about the act of laughing, especially when it comes from the gut,” the therapist continued. “You are throwing your head back, exposing your throat, and closing your eyes. When you do this, the body associates the act with being safe.”
“There is also this phrase called the ‘knowing laugh,’” Matt noted. “It's when you share something that you think is quirky or unique to you and all of the sudden the room erupts because everyone else thought it was ‘just them’ who experienced that same thing. Here’s an example.”
Did you know human pee glows in the dark when boiled? An alchemist wanted to boil human pee to create gold when he accidentally blew his house up and discovered something more (ish?)
I do this a LOT, even to the point of paying no-show fees at doctors' offices. But I had a sad awakening recently when I knew I owed my good friend a return phone call but put it off. She died and I lost that opportunity forever.
I am in that same situation right now..wow So it can be done? Well f**k now I gotta try. Im like 2 months behind, I don't even want to move.
All the appointment cards are all lined up nice and neat right here on my desk too. I just sip my coffee and look at them.
Load More Replies...no....you do the ..."I had an appointment???" or "I didn't know you called......so what did you need??"
Don't! Just act normal, it will make others question their own sanity or at least their understanding of normal 😁
We also got in touch with psychologist, psychotherapist and digital nomad Dr. Sonia Jaeger to hear her thoughts on this topic. She agrees that humor can be a powerful coping t**l when it comes to mental health. “While it shouldn't replace professional support or minimize real struggles, finding humor in our experiences can offer a sense of relief, validation, and connection,” the therapist shared.
They tried. Somehow, from the moment I could cognitively form thought, I thought...'no'.
Load More Replies...My wants and needs were always ignored because I had to tend to others' wants and needs.
Not religious but raised by a self centred, narcissistic mother & a mostly absent father (who was too busy supporting said narcissist). At 55, I'm still unpacking s**t she did to me & why I still feel unworthy of having needs & wants. I'm a work in progress!!
"Give it up for God!" Well, exactly what does He plan to do with it?
I was raised to believe that having wants and needs makes you weak, and that people will use that weakness to hurt you.
“Memes, in particular, have a unique way of capturing complex emotions and experiences in a simple, often humorous format. They can make us feel less alone in our struggles and help us view our challenges from a different, sometimes more compassionate perspective,” Dr. Jaeger explained. “Laughing at a relatable meme can be a small but meaningful way to release tension and feel understood.”
This should be number one. I have a theory. Mental illness is *not* on the rise. We are reacting to the horrors that are happenning. We are not ill, society is.
That type also makes you off yourself without knowing people will come to love your work though..
Sometimes I wish there were time travel just so that I could tell him that he is remembered as one of the greatest painters in the world; that he is one of the ones everyone knows about.
Load More Replies...Does anyone else ever just stop? Like I'm walking down a hall and I just stop. I'm driving and I start to slow down without realizing and I have to consciously make myself keep going. It is like glimpsing just how absurd and useless everything is and so much as breathing feels pointless.
Van Gogh spent a good deal of his life in the "not leaving your bed for days, crying and staring at the ceiling" depression too. He painted Starry Night because he was a brilliant artist, not because he was depressed.
He also was helped and medicated, as much as what possible at the time. You don't create when you're depressed. You create when you feel better.
Load More Replies...Matt believes memes can certainly be useful in therapy. “I use them to help clients understand their diagnosis, describe a symptom we are treating or even a skill they can use to manage symptoms,” he shared.
“I've also had times where my clients, in trying to explain to me what they are going through, will say there is a meme they saw that relates to it,” the expert continued. “It sometimes even helped us get ‘unstuck’ with how to better verbalize and understand what the person is going through. And it started with sharing a meme.”
I'm literally wearing headphones to block out all the noise and you're still trying to talk to me? First of all, look here, you little s**t.
I'm a teacher, so this is every day at work, as well as a lot of other times. Overstimulation is really difficult to get others to understand too.
Y’all have some nerve calling me out like this! 4 books this week!!
If the reading part of my brain stopped working, I think I'd go insane.
Load More Replies...YEP!! WHILE I'm reading my mind shuts off from my life....it can only handle one life at a time and the people in the book get priority.....
Dr. Jaeger also says memes can definitely have a place in therapy.
“They can act as a bridge for communication—especially for clients who find it difficult to articulate their feelings,” she told Bored Panda. “Instead of saying, ‘I don’t know how I feel,’ a client might share a meme that perfectly captures their emotional state. This can spark productive discussions and offer the therapist valuable insight into the client’s inner world.”
You can always leave! I have a friend that will literally c**k her head and say “I think I hear my mom calling me” and walk off. No matter where we are and she’s in her 30s lol
Sounds perfect, I'm stealing it, and I'm even older than Crystalwitch
Load More Replies...To be polite, I wait for the first people to leave, then I'm out the door.
If i want to leave a social gathering, party or whatever, I always tell them I need to go so I can let my dog out so he doesn't mess in the house.
When it comes to how to incorporate memes into therapy, Dr. Jaeger noted that there are several ways. “The therapist can bring in a selection of memes that touch on common mental health themes, letting clients choose ones that resonate with them,” she explained.
On the other hand, the client can source memes as well. “Clients can bring memes they've found online that express how they’re feeling or what they’re going through.”
I don't remember the Collumbo / Wonder Years cross over episode but it must have been epic.
A comedy show? You refer to The Princess Bride like a comedy show? You DESERVE the Pit of Despair AND the ROUS's!!!
And sometimes, therapists and their clients can work together to create memes. “This creative process can help externalize emotions and promote self-awareness in a non-threatening, humorous way,” Dr. Jaeger says. “When used thoughtfully, memes can help ease into difficult topics, build rapport, and encourage reflection in a way that feels approachable.”
can't be done in my condition......my mind cannot do either, let alone both....
I waited too long -- until my mother died -- and spent years trying to please her while my mental health eroded away, to learn this fact.
I read that as the patient is mid breakdown having a whiny teary mid cry voice
Love for your doggo is expressed in just how much of their fur you are willing to accept with said hug... a LOT!
We also asked the experts why it’s so important for people to feel comfortable discussing their mental health struggles, even if they need memes to do so.
“‘A unicycle, car or horse… All that matters is getting there.’ Memes have become part of our world's language and how we communicate,” Matt says. “Millennials and Gen Alphas have and will continue to use this artform as a way to relate and connect with one another. Forming connections and normalizing the human experience is essential for someone's mental health."
Just a heads up: in certain context, "pattern recognition", "The Noticing" or "noticing patterns" can be a neo-n@zi dogwhistle connected to antisemitic conspiracy theories.
I really wish n**i/neonazis would narrow their dam focus. It is impossible to keep up with all the phrases and images and c**p that are code for 'I'm a sorry excuse for a human'.
Load More Replies...“For example, take someone who is feeling depressed and they see this meme,” Matt continued. “It is so funny and relatable that they decide to share it with a friend, loved one, or even their therapist.”
“Now that feeling of sadness has also become a moment of connection, understanding and even laughter that is shared between people. The meme has become a conduit for that person to engage with their world where the moment before they may not have wanted to even be in it,” the therapist says.
I’ve been gently told—repeatedly—to keep my thought process to myself. Apparently, it’s “weird,” “hard to follow,” or, my favorite, “mildly alarming.” But honestly, what do you expect when my brain is basically a mosh pit full of bunnies? Not even metaphorical bunnies—just actual bunnies, hyped on espresso, screaming half-baked ideas and occasionally forming a pyramid for no reason.
When I was in my early teens, I told a psychologist that I thought in 'dog'. That was the end of the sessions. Thank God?
Don't ask me what I'm talking about. I'm just the messenger. It has been relayed. I'm moving on with my life.
"I don't have ducks. I have squirrels... and they are all over the place!" Can't remember who said it, sorry.
Dr. Jaeger noted that it’s essential for people to feel safe and comfortable discussing their mental health because silence often leads to isolation, misunderstanding, and shame. “When someone can’t find the words to explain what they’re experiencing, they might shut down—or worse, believe they’re the only one feeling that way,” she explained.
Yep. Food is not enough of a priority to me to add to the problems my head prioitises
It seems that the more I stress the less appetite I have. Ive been dealing with a very stressful situation since April and I've lost 20 lbs.
Load More Replies...Delivery apps and credit cards are the single most dangerous combination for depressed people. I should not have the ability to order "appetizer sampler platters" delivered to my nest when I'm in a bad way. I have had three deliveries in one day before, ordered a taco bell "party pack" for just me, double dashed sushi and milkshakes, delivery driver doesn't know that the large pizza with 2L soda is just for me... If no one is watching and I don't have to pay till next month, I eat like a ten year old in a fever dream.
Load More Replies...I always have cans of baked beans at home. Open can, dump into paper bowl, and don't even cook them, just eat at room temperature. Quickest meal that also has nutritional value.
I always maintain an Emergency Pot Noodle in the cupboard for just this crisis. If I'm not so low I'll eat pot noodle, I can't be that bad.
“Memes can act as a first step toward opening up. They can normalize difficult feelings and remind people that others go through similar experiences,” she continued. “Sometimes, seeing a meme that ‘gets you’ can be more validating than hearing a clinical explanation. If it takes a meme to get someone talking about their anxiety, burnout, or ADHD symptoms, that’s still progress—and it’s incredibly valuable.”
And if you need to reset your password, you can not use a previous password. WTF. I have so many passwords for so many websites, the whole password insanity drives me crazy.
All my passwords are the same save for that one capitalized letter and the exclamation point.
Load More Replies...THAT'S THE PLAN......pass wording us into insanity.....I write them down now...IDGAF who sees my list....as long as I CAN FIND IT WHEN I NEED IT !!!!!!!
Passwords are designed to frustrate , there is a Password Wizzard behind the curtain laughing manically and changing the password rules
I wish after a couple tries, websites would tell you what their password credentials were! I have similar variations of the same password, some with capital letters, some with symbols, some with neither, and I can never remember what the credentials for that specific site were!
Psychologist here. It happens to almost EVERYONE who has ever taken a psychology class or who has read a single article on psychology. Everyone diagnoses themselves, their families, their friends, their friends' significant others, their co-workers, their co-workers' significant others, anyone who walks by, and DEFINITELY anyone who has ever read and responded to an AITA article. It's a phase and it will eventually die away when you realise how difficult it is to diagnose someone well enough that you have to stand up in court and defend it.
The truth is that everyone has *some* attributes of many disorders. I don't have ADHD, but if you followed me around for a while you'd sure think I did. Same for a half-dozen others. The only one they've ever been able to successfully pin on me with clinical confirmation is depression - and I'm ignoring it so it doesn't count.
Load More Replies...“Memes create a sense of Common Humanity,” Matt added. “Common Humanity is a central tenet of Mindful Self Compassion as a therapeutic intervention. And anytime we can feel that, it has been shown to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels and increase feelings of self compassion (which is a naturally occurring analgesic to suffering).”
“Using humor can help us reach people who might not ever otherwise share their feelings with others,” he shared. “Therapy does not need to be a mystical process. We can take the topic of mental health very seriously while also not taking ourselves so seriously.”
My friend held a funeral in her backyard and buried guilt and shame.
In my case it is when my wife passes away. Then there will be nobody daily telling me what I did wrong every day.
That's me looking at my husband after I find something he says is not there.
Not just finding it but having to get up from your comfy spot only to find it EXACTLY where you told him would be
Load More Replies...Finally, Dr. Jaeger added, “Memes might seem lighthearted or even silly on the surface, but they can play a surprisingly meaningful role in mental health awareness and therapy. They speak the language of the internet generation—accessible, relatable, and often brutally honest. When used creatively and intentionally, they can help people feel seen, spark helpful conversations, and even encourage self-reflection.”
Yes that's me! My teachers: wow, you are so self aware for someone your age! My manager: you are one of the most self-aware persons I know! My psychologist: You are self aware and in touch your subconscious. Me: Yes, please make it stop! It s t*****e
I have been seen as particularly self aware throughout most of my life. However, this seems to confer that I should adhere to a higher emotional standard in 'everything', than other people. My parents separated when I was 6 and I wound up with a bāstard of an abūsive step father. Apparently, my self-awareness should have made me able to rise above this. Guess what....
Load More Replies...Nope you let me know of an issue and it will live in my brain overthinking it time and time again.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that, while memes can point to shared experiences or even help someone recognize a pattern in their behavior, they don’t tell the full story. “They’re not diagnostic tools, and sometimes what resonates might just be a piece of a much more complex puzzle,” Dr. Jaeger told Bored Panda. “Used alongside—not in place of—professional support, memes can absolutely enrich the therapeutic process.”
Yeah, and all the people going "oh dont take those, it will slow you down". Do they also tell someone with a broke bone in their leg "oh, dont put a cast on your leg, it will slow you down"?
Load More Replies...They can have terrible side-effects for some people. And that can become permanent. Look up PSSD. Doesn't mean nobody should take them, but one should be aware, and be careful.
There are a large number of antidepressants out there, and many of them function differently. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find the right one.
Load More Replies...Funny thing is....been on antidepressants for 20 years....when do I know if they're working????
I haven't bitten anyone for years, though apparently I sometimes look as if I'm going to, which is good enough for me.
DO NOT play bite your significant other! Did that a few weeks back and I now have a scar on my arm where she scratched me like a feral cat! 🎵…the more you know🎵
"Add to cart". You don't need money, everybody knows you put stuff in your cart and leave it there.
Add walks alone in the woods hoping that nature will make us feel better.
I know how silly it sounds, but it makes me feel calmer knowing that I'm not a freak, that many others feel the same way I do. At least we've been studied and there's medication for us.
Sometimes we feel that our illness or condition *is* us. That by getting better we might lose who we believe ourselves to be. This can be a hard thing to deal with. But the underlying, real you is still there. I'm living proof at age 70. I hope others can achieve this break-through faster than I did.
We build our identities around a perceived image of ourselves, and sometimes this image is distorted. Good thing is we can try again and again.
Load More Replies...Most of the people I know who have a "mental illness" use that condition as an excuse to treat others badly, or to do the bare minimum that is expected of them at work or at life. They revel in their affliction. I've known very few who have honestly put in the hard work to try and make a better life. A close relative refused medication or counseling and committed s*****e after years of dragging people down with him. It is very unfair.
2 Gold Stars for you! One for not biting people so far and then one for when you do bite someone...
Sometimes I wish I were manic depressive. Or bipolar depressive. At least s**t would get done! But nope, it’s just being slow and tired and shlumpy every day.
Load More Replies...OH YESSSSS.....it's now 11:48pm.......I just know it's there waiting for my head to hit my pillow ....another night i won't fall asleep till 6 or 7 am....
And leave the phone on do not disturb 24/7. All those unanswered text messages that I've left to rot in limbo are daunting and make me feel uncomfortably anxious!! I've been known to disable my Messenger app for weeks at a time just so I don't have to feel that intrusive pressure!!
I wonder if the UK girl who is jealous of the US because we have raccoons has seen this one. And I am pretty sure they have raccoons in the UK.
We're all friends/mad here! Would you like a cold drink? Hot drink? Coffee? Alcohol? Iced water? I accept you as you are, fellow Panda!
Load More Replies...My dogs too often hear "Well girls, we didn't get ANYTHING done around here today. We will try again tomorrow." as we go into bed at night.
My ex and I were going through a terrible time and one night he went out, making me very upset. As he walked out the door, he said something hilarious. The picture above was me trying not to laugh in spite of my fury. Now that he's gone for good, I giggle whenever I think about it.
Not to brag, but I keep that sh*t locked away in my shame spiral for like 6 years. So by the time I tell people I just expect they already know because I've lived with it for so long.
You’ve got to let the shame statute of limitations run out….
Load More Replies...And speaking of crying, I cry about a lot of stuff. But, when I get an eyelash in my eye, the best way to get it out is to cry, then I cannot cry.
I can't help but cry even when I know it's no reason to cry. I will give myself a pep talk before hand about not crying cuz there's no reason for it and yet I still freaking cry
When I’m feeling all fancy and purty, it’s time to take the dancing shoes out lol
My mother wouldn't let me have plastic sparkly high heels for dressing up when I was little because I might fall and break my neck. So I put cotton reels inside my socks under my heels instead...
I keep my curtains cclosed so people can't even look into my house.
Load More Replies...Because you always hope that they will pop in a new item that you might like.
But don’t order it cuz you may not like it and then wasted your order.
Load More Replies...I thought that was her, it's so sad what happened to her..
Load More Replies...Yep. You can never have too many people supporting a kid IMO
When I was younger I had some older friends who did this every time I met up with them, and I got into the habit of watching for lines of conversation that were lyrics to a song. It's a hard habit to break, especially as I've gotten older and younger people don't know the songs I know. When I worked in a forensic psychiatric facility I taught a music class on rap music, and you might (or might not) be surprised at the lyrics that pop into my head at times when I hear a phrase here or there, the majority of them that I can't say out loud but inwardly chuckle at.
🎶 It’s a haaard habit to break, habit to break! 🎶
Load More Replies...I do this with Taylor Swift and Harry Potter. There’s ALWAYS a quote from Harry.
Am I the only one who gets tired of whole conversations centered around repeating movie lines and lyrics? Give me original thoughts, people!
My neighbor across the street using her leafblower every d**n day for at least an hour. Yes, yes it is.
Just be a freak. The normies are going to treat you like a freak no matter what.
My friends all behave as tho my home.is not trashed. Becuase they love me and are supportive. But i know they be talkin s$%t when they leave.
These were all so spot on! Not sure if that says bad things about me or good things about the article, but I loved it.
I think this is the right place to say this, but I used to relate to so many of these. Some of them I still kind of do, but I'm in a much better place mentally. I'll admit that antidepressants did help me get to that place, but they worked and I'm grateful that I was able to get out of the horrible rut that was my depression. Sorry, that was probably a lot of s**t that you probably didn't want to read. 😅
Congratulations on getting to a better place. I had experienced major depression. Took antidepressants to no avail. Turned out I was depressed because my knees hurt so badly that nothing gave joy. Once medical science became involved, the pain levels went down and some joy returned. My wish is that no one has to experience the black, empty hole that is depression.
Load More Replies...Yeah duh, you couldn't tell that from the title? Clearly you're too mentally stable for this thread. Must be nice 🙃
Load More Replies...These were all so spot on! Not sure if that says bad things about me or good things about the article, but I loved it.
I think this is the right place to say this, but I used to relate to so many of these. Some of them I still kind of do, but I'm in a much better place mentally. I'll admit that antidepressants did help me get to that place, but they worked and I'm grateful that I was able to get out of the horrible rut that was my depression. Sorry, that was probably a lot of s**t that you probably didn't want to read. 😅
Congratulations on getting to a better place. I had experienced major depression. Took antidepressants to no avail. Turned out I was depressed because my knees hurt so badly that nothing gave joy. Once medical science became involved, the pain levels went down and some joy returned. My wish is that no one has to experience the black, empty hole that is depression.
Load More Replies...Yeah duh, you couldn't tell that from the title? Clearly you're too mentally stable for this thread. Must be nice 🙃
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