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Sadness mixed with humor in a perplexing, chaotic, and confusing way—that’s what the r/FunnyandSad online group over on Reddit is all about. An old-hand on the net, having been founded in November 2013, it has since then grown into a community of nearly 700k members.

The subreddit does exactly what it says on the tin and documents posts from all over the net that are funny and sad at the same time. It’s a melange of laughing through tears (or is that crying while you laugh?) that will show you that life is far more varied and nuanced than the black-and-white we’re used to seeing on the news and on social media.

Sadness is a very natural part of life and we ought to embrace it, instead of running away from it. After all, we can’t be happy-go-lucky all the time (I would know, I tried). And while being sad can even have certain benefits, like improving our memory and judgment, getting stuck in negative thinking patterns and endless loops of sadness isn’t healthy for our mental wellbeing.

I had a quick chat with an expert in the field of psychology about how to identify what these negative thinking patterns look like and how focusing just on our failures, having black or white thinking, and holding ourselves accountable for everything that goes wrong all harm our mental health.

#1

Aw Man

Aw Man

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denzoren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First I was like "ohhh boy" and then I was like "okay that genuinely made me laugh" I really hope this was a joke right?

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Emma Morton, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, told Bored Panda that, for example, what we tend to focus on more, our successes or our failures, can influence our long-term mental health. For instance, hyper-concentrating on all the things that go wrong or could potentially go wrong can trap us in a perpetual loop of self-criticism and anxiety.

This, in turn, can lead to feelings of very low self-esteem and even depression which, in turn, can make us unwilling to ask for help and support even though we might desperately need both. However, there are other ways how we can end up trapped in negative thinking patterns, too.

#5

Found On Facebook

Found On Facebook

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m probably gonna repeat myself more than once here… Heartbreaking

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#6

10 Year Challenge

10 Year Challenge

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James016
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read somewhere that the person who created insulin didn't patent it so that it could be given to people who need it to live at no cost to them. I may not have that quite right though.

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“Negative thinking patterns can include only paying attention to failures and ignoring successes, black or white thinking (e.g., ‘If I get anything less than an A+ on this test, I’m a failure’), labeling oneself based on mistakes (e.g., ‘I’m a loser, an idiot’), [and] mind-reading (e.g., ‘Everyone will think I’m a loser for not getting this promotion’),” Emma went into detail with Bored Panda how we can end up being overly harsh with ourselves.

#8

Budgeting

Budgeting

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ZombieGirl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I were curious a few days ago about how much rent we have paid to our current landlord. It's over 160k. The house we just found and got denied for is only 149k, lol

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#9

In Dystopia We Were Told To Trust

In Dystopia We Were Told To Trust

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Marie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And when the garbage man clocks out for the day that's it, job is over till you clock back in.

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She continued, adding that another negative pattern includes “holding yourself personally accountable for things that go wrong and attributing successes to luck or the contributions of others (e.g., ‘I only got that award because nobody else applied’).”

#12

He's Right

He's Right

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As such, having unrealistic expectations of what we’re capable of and being unreasonably demanding of ourselves can lead to “feelings of depression and worthlessness” that in turn “make it harder to reach out for help.” So while it’s perfectly fine to feel sadness, we all need to know when to ask for a helping hand if we find ourselves constantly stuck with only negative thoughts.

#13

Mysterious Ways

Mysterious Ways

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Raven Sheridan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically he only had eleven true friends. The other one was a toxic backstabber who literally sold him out.

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#14

I Feel We Are There Already

I Feel We Are There Already

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Lola
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s sad that we have to make jokes out of our healthcare system in order to cope with it.

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#17

You’re Not From Around Here Are You

You’re Not From Around Here Are You

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is right on the nose. It was incredibly sad to see how many people really don't care about anyone but themselves

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#19

"Cries In Millenial"

"Cries In Millenial"

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Bama Belle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Every generation blames the one before..." Good song, true too.

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#23

Sad Truth

Sad Truth

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River Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they are literally permanently embedded into your head, theres no getting rid of them

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#25

Useless Job

Useless Job

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H Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A 29 year old professional footballer had a cardiac arrest last week on the pitch in the middle of an international game. You never know when people are going to need assistance.

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#27

That's Where It Began

That's Where It Began

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ZombieGirl
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

same for me too! and it caused me to not hear everything else read out loud.

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Calypso poet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same! I had such anxiety about speaking in class but I was always reading above my age group. There were kids that stumbled over words I thought were easy and they had no problems. What was wrong with me? I have no problems now, 30+ years later lol

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Layla Corman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait...someone else did this too?!?! I thought I was the only one! I should probably find an online support group now.

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Coleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suspect it started before that, and is what made you feel the need to rehearse.

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Jace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It probably started before that, otherwise you wouldn't have been doing that.

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John C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always hoped my section would span a page-turn - I liked the challenge of reading it out loud through the page turn without breaking cadence.

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backatya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

especially if they skipped a kid or something went wrong lol

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Ivana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have amazing reading comprehension, got a masters degree in political theory, I can't read "See Spot Run" out loud. I completely skip over words and just stumble through the whole thing, suddenly can't sound out words I have said every single day all of my life. Reading aloud is a skill that not every one has. I suck at it. You would never know I read upwards of 100 books a year, you would assume I couldn't read at all.

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Lisa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It feels nice to know other people had this anxiety also, not being alone in that struggle evens decades after still feels comforting.

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Nandina
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In 2nd grade reading group, didn't wait my turn, just went ahead reading the book and didn't pay attention so that when my turn came, I didn't know where my paragraph was. Teacher and the whole class thought I couldn't read.

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Ms.GB
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my father was little he didn't learn to read because his teacher had all the children read the same thing out loud one after another and by the time they got to him he had it memorized. My grandma spent the summer teaching him how to read.

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Leslie Burleson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm somewhat of an a**clown , but my ability to laugh at myself has been my truest saving grace. Don't fear mistakes. Literally everyone makes them. The US built a spacecraft and it was a collaboration between countries. When it went into space it exploded immediately when it left Earth's atmosphere.They built it incorrectly because one was using metric measurements and one was using US standard , and all those geniuses didn't notice. Mistakes are ok , and they're a lot less painful when you can laugh about it

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Gaya K
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy crap, I did the same thing but ever told anyone. I honestly thought I was the only one 😅

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Xylle Flora
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd just do thar because I often didn't pay attention and just wanted to remember which part was mine

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JitkaBlitka
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did the same but motsly because all the other kids read too slowly and I was bored and wanted to read ahead. So I counted what part will be mine to not be lost when it was my turn.

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TK 421
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent most of those days with the principal, because I refused to make a fool of myself. I could read better than most in my class, but my speaking abilities made me look like the slowest of the school. I hated them for trying to force me to do what made me uncomfortable but chose to refuse to take part in their psychological torture rather than “just do it like everyone else “. I was an still am fully aware of my limitations. It’s a shame adults don’t care about that when it comes to children.

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𝖊𝖆
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SNAP. Socially awkward and anxious people let us unite from a virtual distance and raise a glass

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François Carré
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend did that for me actually, because in the morning I was always having a hard time staying awake and keeping my eyes open, so when my turn came he'd give me a discret nudge and point his finger to the line in the book I was supposed to read.

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Izzy_
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ditto! Most awful feelings ever!!! It's like "wait, I do know how to read, I'm just panicking

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Robert Thompson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I volunteered to be the first to read. This got me out of answering questions. Soon I got good at reading out loud.

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Alex Cross
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought my anxiety started in adulthood but my sister told me she took me to the ER when I was like 6 because I had an anxiety attack. I was like oh I’ve always been this way okay. Then I remembered other anxiety attacks and I was like oh yeah I forgot

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Aamna Shah
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am Asian and we did that as well. Although in case of my class, it was almost always math. I never had to do it for reading out loud or anything like that but we had math quizes often on the board and if you solved the equation wrong, you'd be humiliated in front of everyone. In Asian societies, teachers are respected and you won't dare to cross them.

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#28

London

London

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ElenaK
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If everyone in the train clapped their hands it wouldn't be London. It would be a Disney movie!

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#29

Please

Please

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Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally. I am now halfway through my second health degree and my father still tells me what medical advice he got from the TV, and when I say, "No that is not correct info" he gets irritated, "I watched the thing on TV!!" Yes coz 6-8 years education on the subject has taught me absolutely nothing....What can you do...still love him...

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#30

Is Being Short Really That Bad

Is Being Short Really That Bad

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get it why are we so upset about people who are shorter or taller or fat or skinny or just different in any way??? Snap out of it people

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#31

Sad Truth

Sad Truth

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J. F.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany there is the discussion to raise it to 68 and step by step to 70.

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#32

And Don’t Forget Student Loans

And Don’t Forget Student Loans

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Deborah B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's also because in the US you have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills for prenatal care and labour and delivery, even if nothing goes wrong. You also get 2 weeks maternity leave, if you're lucky. A lot of people literally cannot afford to *have* a baby, let alone raise a child.

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#33

Motivation Is The Leading Cause Of Death On The China/Nepal Border

Motivation Is The Leading Cause Of Death On The China/Nepal Border

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#34

Life Can Be So Rewarding

Life Can Be So Rewarding

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So bloody true. The last couple of years has been one hit after the other and we aren't classed as poor. Struggling yes, poor no.

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#35

I Don't Know If I Would Trust Him With My Pets

I Don't Know If I Would Trust Him With My Pets

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#36

"Millenials Are All Lazy And Entitled!"

"Millenials Are All Lazy And Entitled!"

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#37

Student Loans Put You Through College But Put You Through Debt For Much Longer!!

Student Loans Put You Through College But Put You Through Debt For Much Longer!!

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#38

It Was So Beautiful

It Was So Beautiful

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#39

How

How

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because if we don’t have ice cream we know we will all die a slow horrible agonizingly painful death!!! You’re more than essential

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#40

Welcome To The Show

Welcome To The Show

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a millennial (vowels are too expensive to rent) ' 'm ' m'll'n''l? (Ma'am you can't afford those apostrophes) mmllnl :(

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#42

Spent $11.75 Growing Tomatoes This Year. Here's My Whole Harvest!

Spent $11.75 Growing Tomatoes This Year. Here's My Whole Harvest!

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Mishte Tine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My single beet was a little bigger, but I planted Aton of veggies - got sick and all it takes is one day of neglect for everything to die in AZ summer temps (I’m new at this). I’m surprised your little tomato turned red so soon! Don’t they stay green in early growth? But what do I know - I get oddball things in my “garden” regularly. Going to try a fall planting this year. Your tomato is adorable. Keep trying!

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#44

Hmm

Hmm

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Tiny Dog
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love my cast iron skillet that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. It took 75 years of seasoning to perfect, and I will cut anybody who dares come at it with dish soap!

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#45

I Know It Hurts Sometimes But You'll Get Over It

I Know It Hurts Sometimes But You'll Get Over It

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Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.