Need a good laugh? (That's a rhetorical question, of course you do.) These memes about depression might help.
13 Depression Memes that May Make You Feel a Little Better
Updated on Dec. 02, 2024
Coping with depression through humor
Exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, therapy, and medication are all important treatments for depression. But humor can also help you deal with the day-to-day darkness. And one way to laugh is with depression memes.
But aren’t depression memes… depressing? For people who are diagnosed with depression, spending time looking at depression memes—even those that may feel “dark” to others—may be a good thing, according to a 2020 study published in Nature. People with depression found the depression memes to be funny, relatable, shareable, and most importantly, mood-boosting, far more than those who weren’t depressed.
Depression memes may be beneficial for a number of reasons, explains lead author Jennie Drabble, PhD, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. They may help people see their situation in a humorous light and feel more connected to other people with depression, as well as act as an outlet for dealing with their feelings, she says.
So with that, here are some of the best depression-related memes on the internet that you or someone you know may relate to.
1. Wait, that’s not what I meant at all
It can be a real challenge for people with depression to turn a negative thought into a positive one—and yet it’s ridiculously easy for our brains to turn a positive thought into a negative one. This may be why cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of therapy that focuses on discovering and changing negative thoughts—is such a powerful tool in fighting depression.
For people with treatment-resistant depression, those who received CBT plus medication were three times more likely to get at least a 50% improvement in their symptoms than those who received only antidepressants, according to a randomized, controlled trial published in 2012 in The Lancet.
2. They’re not wrong?
Instant noodles are the ultimate depression food, followed closely by peanut butter straight from the jar and candy you find in your bed. In a pinch, food can help you feel better for a little bit—they don’t call it comfort food for nothing. But don’t turn to emotional eating as a long-term strategy for dealing with depression. And definitely don’t use alcohol; drinking can make you more depressed.
3. This should extend to all regrettable actions while depressed
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Sometimes a little retail therapy really does help the pain go away… that is, until the credit card bill comes. Compulsive shopping isn’t the only unhealthy habit depressed people may indulge in to try and manage their feelings. This is why talking to your doctor and coming up with a treatment plan is so important. Depression rarely goes away on its own.
4. Depression always seems to trump everything else
Another one of my therapeutic cartoons.
Don’t forget to reserve your copy of my new book.
Check it out here: https://t.co/SwiwofsWaG#darkdad #darkhumor #cartoonbook #cartoonstrip #comicstrip #comedian #comic #funnymemes #depressionmeme #moderation #artist #artwork pic.twitter.com/Kv5zQX7w86— Dark Dad (Corey Van Duinen) (@whosyourdarkdad) July 23, 2019
Sometimes it feels like things are going well and you’re making good progress—but then the depression hulk shows up to smash some stuff. It’s especially frustrating when you feel like you’re doing every “right” and still aren’t feeling any better. But remember, it’s worth it to keep trying. After all, you’ve already made it through 100% of your bad days.
The next time you’re feeling particularly down, check out these depression quotes that capture exactly what you’re feeling and will help you feel less alone.
5. Any progress is good progress
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Whether you live in an apartment or in a house, every little effort to push back against your depression and take care of yourself is worth celebrating. Showering, cooking a meal, calling a friend, taking a walk—all of those little things add up over time and make a difference. Self-care is so important when you are depressed, and you are worth it.
6. Best use of the “report post” function ever
It’s hard to know what to say to people who can see the sadness in your face but don’t know how to help. However, dropping the “everything’s fine” mask and letting others in is an important first step to feeling better. Feeling lonely and isolated is a big risk for depression. (Not sure how to reach out? Try these totally doable tricks to not feeling lonely.)
7. Sometimes depression does give you an edge
Nailed it #socialdistancing #coronavirus #covid19 #depressionmemes #anxietymemes #depressionsucks #bipolar #anxiety #depression #mentalillness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness pic.twitter.com/wVMSC84s9p
— Jessica Molina ✧ Lettering & Illustration (@seejessletter) March 19, 2020
Following social distancing guidelines and being in quarantine was tough for a lot of people, but for those with depression, it may have felt like official permission to carry on business as usual. But while it’s OK to laugh at how society was finally telling you to do what comes naturally, be sure you don’t continue to completely avoid people.
8. Of course, the answer is obvious
When you suffer from depression and somebody tells you to just cheer up… #meme #depression #depressionmeme #lol #fun #funny #omg #true #life #depressed pic.twitter.com/pIFQNYivhU
— Tattooforaweek.com (@Tattooforaweek) January 27, 2019
This is like telling someone with a broken leg to stop limping and it wouldn’t hurt so much.
Depression is a symptom of an underlying issue, whether it’s a chemical imbalance in your brain, being stuck in a bad situation, or all of the above. Like, if just thinking your way out of a funk was a viable option, no one would have depression.
However, people who say this usually aren’t trying to be mean but rather they don’t understand that mental illnesses are real illnesses too.
9. What the world thinks depression is versus what it really is
It’s hard to understand what depression really means if you’ve never experienced it. It’s like saying “I’m so OCD!” because you like a tidy kitchen. Depression isn’t all sob-fests and days in bed.
You can’t tell how someone is feeling simply from looking at them or from an off-hand answer to a casual question. Sometimes the people who appear the most together on the outside actually have high-functioning depression.
10. You can’t compare pain
There’s this idea that you aren’t allowed to feel sad or down if your life is “good” or if anyone else has it worse than you. Of course, logically that would mean only one person on the planet would get to be sad at a time, which is nonsense.
The truth is that depression hurts, no matter what. You’re allowed to feel your own feelings with no judgment.
11. Depression is so much more than feeling sad
This meme rings true because, while the stereotype of depression is feeling too many sad or difficult feelings, the reality is that depression is a collection of symptoms that include other feelings like fear and anger. Sometimes people with depression aren’t able to feel anything at all. Anhedonia, the inability to experience joy or pleasure from things that you used to enjoy, is one of the classic signs of depression.
12. When you care about others’ feelings more than your own
One of the hardest parts about having depression is needing to talk about it but being terrified of dragging others down with you or burning them out. You don’t want to be known as the Eeyore of the group.
But your loved ones are your loved ones not just because you love them but because they love you too. They want to help. Talk to them. And then talk to a therapist. Therapy can be amazing if you find the right person. (Here’s how to find a good therapist.)
13. Just when you think you’ve got a grip on your depression…
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…it all falls apart. Depression can come and go during different periods of your life, and sometimes it surprises you by showing up at the worst possible time. It’s so frustrating but remember, you’ve gotten through this before, you can do it again.
Bonus: You’ve learned a lot since the last time. Now you’re better prepared to catch it early and start taking steps to feel better right away.
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Sources
- Nature: "Exploratory study on the role of emotion regulation in perceived valence, humour, and beneficial use of depressive internet memes in depression"
- National Institute of Mental Health: "Depression"
- The Lancet: "Cognitive behavioural therapy as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for primary care based patients with treatment resistant depression: results of the CoBalT randomised controlled trial"
