20 depression memes that may make you feel a little better

Need a good laugh? (That’s a rhetorical question, of course you do.) These memes about depression might help.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting an estimated 264 million people worldwide.

And perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of the mental health condition is that there is no “cure.” (Although there are many treatments that can help.) Some people have a relatively brief experience with depression while others may spend their lives dealing with recurrent episodes or ongoing issues with depression.

There are different types of depression, ranging from major depressive disorder to dysthymia, a low-grade depression that’s on the rise.

Regardless of how long your depression lasts, learning how to manage it is crucial. Sometimes, a good laugh can help.

Exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, therapy, and medication are all important treatments for depression. But humour 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.

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 behavioural 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 percent improvement in their symptoms than those who received only antidepressants, according to a randomised, controlled trial published in 2012 in The Lancet.

Sometimes when two types of depression really love each other… a new type of depression is born. Welcome, Covid-19 pandemic-induced depression. The global pandemic has been incredibly harmful to a lot of people’s mental health, especially those who were already vulnerable to depression.

Here are 8 hidden signs of depression. 

Other times it’s more like a tropical depression. Looking at your mental illness as something separate from you, with a beginning and an end, may help you better weather the intense part of the storm. Plus, you can always secretly name it after your bad boss or frustrating mother-in-law, giving you another thing to smile about.

Instant noodles are the ultimate depression food, followed closely by peanut butter straight from the jar and lollies 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.

Here is some of the best comfort food out there.

Living with depression is an actual skill. Learning to draw on inner strength during difficult times was one thing centenarians cited as helping them live such a long life.

People who’ve never had depression seem to have lots of advice about how to deal with it. And while they’re not always wrong – healthy eating, exercise, sunshine and meditation have all been shown in research to help with depression symptoms – it’s not helpful advice if it’s unsolicited.

Here are more science-backed ways to help improve depression naturally. 

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.

When it comes to diet, these foods may worsen anxiety.