The ‘Mentally I’m Here’ Meme Brings Solace and Laughs During Tough Times

There’s no doubt 2020 has taken a heavy toll on our collective mental health.

Between the ongoing health crisis, the worldwide fight for racial justice, and highly contentious presidential race, it’s no wonder why many of us are yearning to just get away so that we may wring all the stress and anxiety out from our brains. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made it even more difficult to simply pack a bag and disappear for a few days; so, people have had no choice but to resort to mental escapes. 

Over the past couple of weeks, social media users have been flooding timelines with the “Mentally I’m Here” meme, which amusingly illustrates the desire to leave reality behind.

The concept is pretty simple: Social media users share a picture of a place and/or activity that either brings them peace or distracts them from the current shit storm we’re living in. The majority of these posts are pop culture references that use recognizable stills from TV shows and film. The Kingdom of Far Far Away seen in Shrek, the kitchen in Ratatouille, Hogwarts Castle in Harry Potter, and an apartment unit from Friends are among the meme references.

If you’re looking for a distraction or a laugh, check out some of the posts below.