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Cars can break down, coworkers can be annoying, and the weather can turn gloomy, and occasionally, these things (along with a few extra ones) can happen all at once.

When that happens, we need to remember that the world hasn't conspired against us and that other people are having bad days, too. Call it fate or chance, but they're part of life.

However, it helps to have someone or something that provides a little solace. Like a social media page that's dedicated to emotional support memes.

Luckily, we just found one. Its content is fresh, relatable, and, most importantly, can pick you up if you're feeling down.

More info: Instagram

To learn more about our well-being and the ways we can keep it in check, we contacted Dr. Jonice Webb, who has a PhD in clinical psychology and is the author of the bestselling books Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect and Running On Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships.

"One of the biggest mistakes most of us make with our mental health is not paying enough attention to our feelings," Webb told Bored Panda. "When you are aware of what you are feeling and why, you are empowered to act in your own best interests and less likely to make mistakes."

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For those wondering about the scope of these problems, one out of every two people in the world will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime, according to a large-scale 2023 study co-led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of Queensland.

The findings are based on structured, face-to-face surveys of more than 150,000 adults across 29 countries of varying wealth from all of the regions of the world.

The researchers said the results illustrate the high prevalence of mental health disorders worldwide, with 50 percent of the population developing at least one disorder by the age of 75.

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The study showed that the most common mental illnesses were mood disorders and that the risk of certain mental disorders differed by sex.

The three most common mental health disorders among women were: depression, specific phobia (a disabling anxiety that interferes with daily life), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The three most common mental health disorders among men were: alcohol abuse, depression, and specific phobia.

The researchers also discovered that mental health disorders typically first emerge in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood.

Of course, a lot depends on the specifics, but Dr. Jonice Webb suggests that we need to be honest with ourselves if we want to cultivate resilience.

"First, be aware of your feelings about the challenge you are facing," she said.

"Second, as you consider your feelings, think about what those feelings are telling you and whether those feelings are taking you in a healthy direction or not."

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"Third, determine what you need in order to determine the next step," the psychologist added.


According to Webb, as you go through the first three steps she mentioned, you may realize that you need more information.

"Maybe you need the observations of someone who knows you well, data or facts about the thing you are considering, or some help sorting through your feelings and thoughts."

And that's perfectly fine. But "if you decide to seek input from another person, always make sure that you are consulting someone who is able to be objective, who has shown they can make good decisions in general, and who has your own best interests at heart."

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#17

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JK
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my cats would always settle his ample body into a 12 pack box on the floor and watch me and a guest eat. Once we had cleared the table, I'd just put the box on the table, and he'd join us for conversation and after dinner drinks.

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However, if you decide to stick to online content for the time being, just make sure the content isn't entirely gloomy. Doomscrolling—or the rabbit holes we often find ourselves in on the internet, reading, searching, and 'investigating' the toils and troubles of the day—has been found to cause symptoms similar to PTSD such as anxiety and despair.

Some experts suggest consciously incorporating some 'kindness scrolling' into your online activities.

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By looking at more positive things that make you smile—whether they're funny cats, wholesome parents, or "emotional support memes"—you are not only boosting your mood but are also creating a healthier relationship with your device and the internet.

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I Need More Espresso
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, one method of delivering inhalant anesthesia is a nose/mouth cone (or face cone for some veterinary patients). This made me think *anesthetized by cat breath!*

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cerinamroth
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mum had a TGA attack and completely had absolutely no idea where she was, or how she'd driven there. Despite this, she had still managed to give a speech at a meeting to people she knew. Pretty scary stuff. The first thing she thought of when she got her memories back was "I need my phone! Where's my phone? Otherwise I'm going to lose my 400-day-plus Duolingo streak!" (eyeroll)

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DennyS (denzoren)
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1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always wanted to look up how Chile basically ended up with the entire west coast lol

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Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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