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Living in a more progressive society has shined a light on what was once an often-dismissed topic like mental health. It’s also allowed those struggling to find different coping methods, ultimately lessening their burdens.  

Memes can sometimes be a source of quick laughs that uplift the spirits. That’s where platforms like the Existence Is Pain Instagram page come in. Its content doesn’t disappoint, touching on sensitive topics like anxiety and overthinking and presenting them lightheartedly. 

We’ve picked out some of the best memes from the page, which we think you’ll enjoy. For those with mental struggles, hopefully these can make you smile today.

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    #2

    Relatable mental health meme about babies growing on their own, featuring humorous comment confusion on The Sims Mobile group.

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    Tempest
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just put the babies to hibernate back to back! That’s what I used to do in Sims to avoid taking care of them.

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    Many memes you’ll see here tackle serious issues like anxiety in jest. According to licensed therapist Theodora Blanchfield, memes enable people to make jokes about their condition because of their presentation. 

    In an article for Very Well Mind, Blanchfield mentioned a study suggesting that memes can help promote emotional regulation when dealing with harsher subjects like mental health.

    #5

    A humorous mental health meme showing a "Now Hiring Happy People" sign with a witty unemployment caption.

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    CK
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This but unironically. People who don't emote like the stock photo models do have a hard time getting jobs.

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    Human connection is a huge deal for everyone, especially those struggling with their mental health. Knowing that someone shares the same challenges as you do makes the burdens feel more bearable, at the very least. 

    As Blanchfield points out, memes build a connection between people through communal enjoyment and laughter. It also creates a “shared” language. 

    “Missing out on a meme won’t kill you, but having that shared language will help bring you closer,” she wrote.

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    #9

    Relatable mental health meme with stacks of boxes and a lone figure, captioned about downloading PDFs to read.

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    Tempest
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Add to that the stack of books bought months ago that are sitting on a desk untouched but definitely will be started on tomorrow… (I just started reading a new book today while another stays half read)

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    However, we can’t sweep the downsides under the rug. Some studies have suggested that memes may trivialize the realities of mental health struggles like depression by expressing them humorously.

    Others may see it as a way of promoting ideas of self-harm, which have been on a steady rise over the recent years.

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    #10

    Kermit in a grocery aisle, humorous relatable mental health meme about acting natural after leaving without buying.

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    Matt Du
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most of the UK have gates in major supermarkets, so you have to squeeze past people and trolleys at the checkouts/self serve. Which is made more fun when you realise we have made queuing an art form and those that even appear to circumvent our most holiest of traditions are looked down upon with distain. I am not joking, if you want to see what an angry mob with pitchforks and torches looks like, jump a queue in the UK

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    Ultimately, it’s all about finding the balance. For psychotherapist Dr. James Davies, it’s seeing memes for what they really are and taking them with a grain of salt. 

    “The true value of these memes is revealed through analyzing their social function, which is to communicate deep discontent,” Dr. Davies told Refinery29 in an interview.

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    #14

    Sun-headed figure in a chair with text about finding peace, highlighting relatable mental health humor.

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    Dragons Exist
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unfortunately, no matter how much I don't want to do something that others like, peer pressure often makes me do it anyway :(

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    #15

    Relatable mental health meme about waking up and facing the day.

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    Matt Du
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't want this to sound depressing but I stay for my wife. I wouldn't bring children into my world and found someone that felt the same way. If she goes before me, it will be a very short time before I follow.

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    Now, we’d like to hear from you, readers. Do mental health memes help alleviate your struggles even slightly? Let us know in the comments!

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    #33

    Woman petting sharks labeled "Tattoo Artists" and "People who need therapists" in a humorous mental health meme.

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    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've seen tattooists provide a little therapy on the job more than once. It's really sweet, and especially when it's because someone's getting a memorial tattoo, like when I got one in honour of my dog.

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    #36

    Relatable mental health meme featuring a pensive bear sitting by a pond, reflecting on life and the future.

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    Abel
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Antropomorphic cartoons that wear t-shirts and no pants are sus to me. Look at the goddamn Donald duck. It is an exhibicionist!

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    #39

    Relatable mental health meme about socializing fatigue, featuring a woman with a humorous caption on a red curtain background.

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    "Disembodied voice"
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Trust me, you want me take a break from socializing. I'm not pleasant when I don't have a quiet break.

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    #40

    Relatable mental health meme with a surreal collage of a black bird and skulls, captioned about reverse gaslighting.

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    char
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    used to suffer through lunches with my two best friends where they would spend the entire time talking about some video game I'd never played, and then I eventually learned that only one of them had actually played it and the other was just faking interest and lowkey bs-ing the whole time. mad respect for her tbh.

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    #43

    Graphic of head with text showing relatable mental health meme humor about hidden pain.

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    Susical
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ray, I can see your frustration when people say that about issues they have power over. But there are situations we have no control over. Accepting that - even by saying "It is what it is" - can be helpful at those times.

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    #49

    Person in striped shirt mimicking running on a street with a funny mental health meme caption overhead.

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    Matt Du
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate good days which sounds weird. I don't mind better days but good days lull you into a false sense of security, you venture out of your safe zone and BAM, think about your foolish actions while stand in a corner shaking and screaming at the wall, or curled on the floor crying. Now you can flog yourself for the next few days for thinking you deserved a good day.

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    #50

    Inverted meme image of a person with dreadlocks, captioned about worrying, from a mental health memes page.

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    Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In 2024, DJT is going to be president again and NOTHING is going to be alright. Yeah I went there. Who's going to be the first one to downvote me and tell me to STFU about politics?

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    #61

    Man grinning with dog, holding a relatable and hilarious mental health meme about watching a long YouTube video essay.

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    detective miller's hat
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of the time I lost like 3 hours of my Saturday watching youtube videos about Chris Chan.

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    #67

    Barber giving a haircut to a Buddha statue, capturing a relatable mental health meme humor.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Barber, you're an artist. Let my head be your canvas." Later... "Hey, thanks for the nice buzz cut."

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    #77

    Teacher pointing at whiteboard with funny, relatable mental health meme about anxiety and sandwiches.

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    Dawn Marie
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BUT, do you have anxiety BECAUSE you like sandwiches? Maybe, as a very young child. you saw someone being murdered while you were eating a peanut better and jelly sandwich? Now that every time you eat a sandwich, your subconscious goes to fight or flight mode and that triggers your anxiety. No, I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV. I just have a vivid imagination and I am a writer.

    #79

    Inverted-color sculpture with text overlay: "Evil Socrates be like: 'Yeah, I know.'" Relatable mental health meme.

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    Hoi-Polloi
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Socrates: I'm not going to tell you the answers (I know them!), but I AM going to shred all your arguments and expose your poor reasoning until you slink away in shame.

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