The Power Of Humor And Truth In Anxiety Memes

Thanks to the internet and social media, we’re all familiar with the meme. This little tidbit of information is like an electronic postcard that travels all over the digital world as quickly or slowly as those who view it choose to propagate it. We can create original memes or just pass along the ones that make us smile. Either way, funny memes related to anxiety or humorous depression memes can provide a little comic relief around a serious topic. Depression memes, for example, may be quite beneficial to those who are experiencing challenges with the condition. Funny memes related to anxiety can provide a little comic relief around a serious topic.

Memes can be just an image (i.e., a photo, drawing, etc.), video clips, words, or a combination of all three. They can be sent via email, text, chat, and social media. You can follow meme pages through social media or subscribe to a feed that shows you memes that are relevant to you. You’ve likely seen the photo of Keanu Reeves on a park bench or the meme of Kermit drinking tea, for example.

What you may not realize is that it is very easy to make and post memes. Through many different apps and sites, you can upload a photo or other image, import text or other additions to create your own meme, and then post the meme to social media (or just pass it along to a friend). Memes provide us with a valuable tool for self-expression in an increasingly media-saturated world.

Anxiety and depression memes

For those of us who experience mental health issues, memes can be an important tool for discussing ideas, gaining insight into human nature, and expressing ourselves. Among the millions of memes floating around on the internet, funny anxiety memes are abundant. They allow those who experience anxiety to poke a little fun at themselves, to relate to others, and to help each other understand the truth of anxiety behind the humor.

Coping with humor

It's no wonder memes are so popular. A funny photo or video is a simple but effective way of conveying a message. After all, laughter can be the best medicine. A number of scientific studies conducted in the last thirty years have confirmed the many positive physiological benefits of humor. The more we laugh, the longer we live, and the less stress we feel on a daily basis.

Humor therapy is a real thing. Humor can be incorporated into official therapy sessions or prescribed as part of an at-home practice in de-stressing and managing anxiety. Laughing about all the funny and not-so-funny things in life contributes to the immune system's ability to function and combats anxiety and stress levels in our bodies.

Humor clearly has a positive effect on our psyches. It can be used to reappraise upsetting events or images according to a Stanford University study. Lead researcher Andrea Samson said, "If you can teach people to be more playful, to look at the absurdities of life as humorous, you see some increase in well-being".

That's exactly what anxiety memes do. They enable those who are coping with the negative effects of anxiety to approach it with a bit of whimsy and frivolity. By addressing it in a lighthearted way, they may experience a little bit of relief.

The importance of storytelling

While memes may not be the total anxiety cure, they can help calm an anxious mind. In a way, memes are not just a joke on the fly, but can also be a way to tell one's story. Storytelling increases empathy for those who bear witness, whether it be listening to the story or reading the words. In a study published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology, researchers discovered that people who read stories, mostly fiction, increased their empathy toward others, especially those who would be considered "outsiders".

While memes aren't quite fictional novels, they do tell a story. An anxiety meme is a powerfully concise way of telling the world—through a video, photo, or gif—how you are feeling at a given moment or providing insight into your daily struggles in an off-beat, humorous way. It is a way to tell your own unique story to others, one snippet at a time.

The relevance of social media

While the concept of the meme has been around for some time, its popularity is partially the result of a changing media landscape and the rise of social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook. The power of social media is immense. It can spark social movements in a fraction of the time massive societal changes took to form in the past.

It can divide us by highlighting all the differences we have with each other, subjecting ourselves to judgment and disassociation. But it can also unite us by gaining an appreciation for each other's struggles and helping us all find common ground.

Above all, it serves as a lightning-fast tool for communication that we can use for good or for bad. The use of social media to spread funny memes lets us discuss—and find humor in—some of our biggest problems. It also helps us identify with each other and acknowledge that many of us experience the same challenges.

The power of the meme

Many of us with anxiety, particularly social anxiety, tend to have a hard time connecting with others. Whether it’s during social situations, while doing our job, or when we interact on the internet, it can be hard to tune out anxious thoughts.

Humor is the great uniting factor in our lives. When we laugh together, we automatically form a common connection. Humor has the power to bring the most unlikely people together. We use it to poke fun at life and make it through tough situations.

Social interaction

Some people may feel so anxious about social interaction that we’ve decided to completely avoid it, thereby increasing our sense of isolation. This can turn into a never-ending cycle of negative talk because we can't get ourselves to reach out and form the social bonds we want and need. Anxiety can make it hard for people to go out on a date, network for their job, or even enjoy a night with friends.

Social anxiety memes help us tell the world, "Hey I'm struggling with this, but I do want friends," in a funny way. Thus, they help others understand who individuals with anxiety are beyond their symptoms. Additionally, memes can signal to others that you are willing to discuss the mental health challenges you experience, potentially opening a dialogue.

Helping others understand you

Often, people with anxiety are misunderstood. Some people may come off as snobby instead of shy or rude instead of anxious, for example. When we meet people, we may not make eye contact or run away instead of making a conversation and creating a connection. People may misinterpret this behavior as an affront and take it personally. 

Whether through a photo, gif, video, or just a few funny words, anxiety memes are a way for anxious people to say, "Hey it's not you, it's me!" An informative and funny post can help others understand where you're coming from and not take it personally. It can also help people understand other types of behavior that individuals with anxiety exhibit. They have been used to explain everything from the inability to relax in social situations to the fear of making a doctor’s appointment. 

Feeling connected

Through memes, you can identify and deepen connections with what would be otherwise casual online friends. Connecting with others, even in a virtual way, is one small step in decreasing those feelings of isolation caused by anxiety.

Getting it off your chest

One tried and true method for managing a concern like anxiety is to talk about it (or write about it) to get it off your chest. Memes can be an effective way to unburden your mind of negative or anxious thoughts so they’re not just pinballing around inside your head. 

A licensed therapist can help you learn to manage symptoms of anxiety and find calm and happiness again. Many people experiencing moderate or severe anxiety hesitate to reach out for help, though. In some cases, they may be too anxious to leave the house, or they may have social anxiety that prevents them from talking to new people in person. This is when online therapy may be a better option. In an internet-based setting, individuals with anxiety may feel more comfortable discussing their symptoms. And they can acquire professional help without leaving their home. 

This form of counseling can be quite effective in treating anxiety, too. A recent study found that online interventions can alleviate anxiety symptoms just as effectively as in-person therapy. In this study, college students with anxiety showed no significant difference in outcomes after undergoing traditional and internet-based interventions.