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Mental health may be openly discussed nowadays, yet many people still hold misconceptions about depression. These are the folks who merely perceive it as a bout of extreme sadness that a stronger-willed individual could snap out of. 

So, to provide a clear enough picture of what the disease looks like, we have the Depression Memes subreddit. Sure, none of these include actual medical information, but they paint a picture of how depression manifests itself in different ways. 

For those battling the illness, these memes and posts we’ve collected from the page will likely hit home. For everyone else, hopefully, these can enlighten you, even just a bit.

#1

Tweet meme showing a woman half aged and half young, humorously relating to funny and relatable memes.

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That’s all what I yam
Community Member
18 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in the 70s when I was in college, my Biochem professor said the same thing.

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    Most of these memes and posts make light of depression, some even poking fun at it. That begs the question: Is it OK to joke about the illness? According to licensed social worker and mental health expert Hannah Owens, there is nothing wrong with doing so. In fact, it is something she encourages.

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    #4

    Relatable meme showing a man reflecting on life and feeling like he’s on autopilot with no purpose or destination.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    17 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, these posts are too much a downer for me. I'm certain it is somewhat trivial for me to say that the only person that can change that is you. So do it. I'm definitely not a pull on the bootstraps solves everything, or even does maybe much at all, but do something to get off autopilot. You're the only one who can.

    #5

    Woman with short black hair and tired expression illustrating relatable meme about not caring and living life on autopilot.

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    That’s all what I yam
    Community Member
    11 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's sad but if you attempt to keep a positive attitude and be friendly, you also tend to become a target for being taken advantage of.

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    #6

    Tweet by Ginny Hogan questioning if feeling depressed is a relatable reaction, shared among funny and relatable memes.

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    That’s all what I yam
    Community Member
    6 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have to take breaks from keeping track of what's going on both nationally (US) and the world in general. After I've recovered some, I tend to repeat the cycle.

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    In an article for Verywell Mind, Owens summed up her thesis: “Sometimes, you have to laugh so that you don’t cry.”

    “Making a joke about how you’re feeling makes it 'safer' for others to come into your world and understand what you’re going through,” she wrote, adding that joking about it explains your emotions without inviting a larger conversation.

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    #7

    Tweet by James Ellars about the phrase earn a living, a funny and relatable meme to scroll through instead of problems.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    20 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One could rephrase your statement to: You absolutely deserve to be alive. But it is not unreasonable that you must (at some point in your life) do / earn enough to remain alive. That would be a brutalist nature viewpoint, but it's that how alive things (life) works?

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    However, Owens offered a caveat, stating the importance of thinking about how you want other people to perceive you and your battle. She noted how making light of it too much may create an impression that depression is not a big deal, which may backfire. 

    “If all you do is make jokes about what you’re going through, that might make it harder to earnestly and honestly discuss your symptoms and the challenges you are facing with a therapist or psychiatrist,” Owens explained.

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    #12

    Funny and relatable meme showing a person humorously responding to therapist advice about excessive sleeping and depression.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    15 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Excessive sleeping MAY (say "May" a hundred times) be a sign of depression. Some of us just really like to sleep.

    Jokes about depression may fall flat because of the lingering misunderstanding about it. According to author and certified professional life coach Sherri Gordon, many people also don’t know what to say to someone who is depressed. This is why she urges having a deeper understanding of the condition first. 

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    “Understanding your feelings and coming to terms with your diagnosis helps you be more confident about sharing with others without feeling afraid or ashamed,” she noted.

    #15

    Screenshot of a funny and relatable meme about the apocalypse, illustrating humorous thoughts on will to live.

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    Megalodon Meg
    Community Member
    44 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    TMI but my colleagues asked me if I thought I'd survive the apocalypse I said I could but wouldn't want to, they said "Knew it!" I've never felt so seen.

    When you do decide to speak about it, Gordon advises reminding yourself that doing so can be healing. 

    “Having a few supportive people in your corner when things feel overwhelming can do wonders for your mood. Good friends remind you that you are worthy and that your life is worth living,” she stated.

    #16

    Tweet meme with humorous text about walk-ins to the morgue, featured in funny and relatable memes collection.

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    BarBeeGirl
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They take walk-ins. What they don’t take is walk-outs

    #18

    Funny and relatable meme about parents’ response to mental illness, highlighting humor in everyday struggles and coping.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    13 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is very important to realize that both viewpoints are simultaneously true.

    #22

    Tweet about mental health highlighting the need to change the world, part of funny and relatable memes collection.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    9 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too fatalistic for me. If possible, and I realize it might not be possible, hang around some other people.

    #24

    Text meme about struggling to stay on top of exercising, eating, cleaning, work, and social contact, funny and relatable meme.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    11 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The rest of people are NOT doing that, just projecting that. Don't feel pulled down because you are real and normal.

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    #27

    Social media meme showing funny relatable tweets about age and things people can't do for humorous scrolling.

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    Stardrop
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i'm [REDACTED] and i cant do this for much longer

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    #29

    Woman with a confused expression paired with a relatable meme about mental illness from funny and relatable memes.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    10 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Finally, a simple straightforward comment: F*%# Them!

    #37

    Sad cartoon duck meme alongside a relatable tweet about family and mental illness in funny and relatable memes.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    7 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, this is not true. Maybe happens more often than realized but words like "Every" and "None" aren't real when applied to people.

    #40

    Cartoon characters in a funny and relatable meme about posting depression status and getting unhelpful responses online.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    6 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is why I am NOT saying that to a lot of these posts. I "get" dark humor, kind of love it actually, but too far is too far.

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    #49

    Funny and relatable meme showing a humorous conversation about being healthy and living longer to scroll through.

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    BarBeeGirl
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly my opportunity to die young and leave a good looking corpse has passed

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    #58

    Funny and relatable meme about unhealthy coping mechanisms and listening to depressing songs when feeling depressed.

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    Jeff White
    Community Member
    2 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And hoping the depression wraps around to happiness ...

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    #66

    Close-up selfie of a young person with a nose ring and relatable meme text about not planning a future, funny and relatable memes.

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    BarBeeGirl
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I know someone who’s retirement plan was to die at 55. He’s now 64 and broke

    #71

    Relatable meme text about isolation as an undefeated coping mechanism for funny and relatable memes.

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    Annabelle
    Community Member
    57 minutes ago

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