Everyday life can feel either too stressful or boring, which can be frustrating. Sometimes, we just need a fun distraction to help us stay sane. Memes are great at giving us a laugh when we need it most. Even the most random memes, without any context, can brighten your day or make you smile a little. You can find some shared by people in a recent Threads post. Feel free to share them, save them, or just enjoy looking at them. Remember to upvote the ones you like best.
Experts have noted that memes do not require context to be funny or relatable. Their absurdity can make us laugh, which comes from our brains recognizing breaks in patterns. Clinical psychologist Christine Schneider explained that when our brains seek meaning and realize there is none, it surprises us and leads to laughter.
Schneider also highlighted how memes create a sense of community. This is likely why many memes go viral; people find them relatable. She mentioned that understanding a strange meme can feel like being part of a joke with others who get the same humor, even if the joke doesn’t really make sense.
Memes are often used as a way to cope during tough times. They helped many people during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been found helpful for those facing mental health struggles. However, Mary Eldridge, a trauma coach and founder of Mind to Thrive, pointed out that the happiness memes provide is usually temporary, especially if the main issues are not addressed.
Eldridge made a comparison between memes as a coping mechanism and trying to keep a beach ball underwater. While it may seem like the ball is gone when it’s submerged, it still exists. She explained that if we do not focus on our problems, they can resurface later when we are faced with something that triggers us.
People often seek memes for a brief escape from a dull or overwhelming moment. However, this can turn into mindless scrolling or avoidance, which isn’t beneficial. Schneider suggested that to know if taking a “meme break” is effective, you should see how you feel afterward. If you scroll for ten minutes, feel lighter, and return to your tasks, it likely worked. But if you scroll for an hour and find yourself using humor to avoid responsibilities or uncomfortable feelings, that indicates a different issue.
What do you think about the role of memes in our lives?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Mindaugas Balčiauskas